Introduction in to I.B.S
Irritable Bowel Syndrome or I.B.S is a common condition. The exact cause is unknown and may be different for each individual case.
Symptoms can be quite varied but include the following-
Pain and or discomfort in different parts of the abdomen. The pain often eases when you go to the toilet or pass wind. The pain is often described as 'spasm' or 'colic'. The severity of the pain can vary from mild to severe, both from person to person, and from time to time in the same person.
Bloating and or having a lot of wind.
Some people have bouts of diarrhoea, and some have bouts of constipation and some people have a mixture. Often stools may become small and pellet like or ribbon like.
Mucus may also be mixed with the stools.
A feeling of not being empty even after going to the toilet.
Some people have urgency, which means you have to get to the toilet quickly. A 'morning rush' is common. That is, you feel an urgent need to go to the toilet several times shortly after getting up. This is often during and after breakfast.
Other symptoms sometimes include feeling sick, headache, belching, poor appetite, tiredness, backache, muscle pains, feeling quickly 'full' after eating, heartburn, and bladder symptoms.
For some people the symptoms are mild but for others they may be more of a problem and everything in between.
Please note that if you see blood in your stools this is something to see the G.P with. If changes in bowel habits occur always seek professional advice.