Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy To Treat Ibs
When IBS is caused by stress or is a major cause of stress, seeing a psychologist or therapist for your mental health can help. A therapist can help you develop techniques to manage stress and tackle issues in your life that may be at the root of depression and/or anxiety.
While stress and anxiety arent the only factors that play into IBS, stress can aggravate symptoms and make them worse. Many patients find relief by combining dietary changes and medication with therapy.
First Step: Your Symptoms
There are no specific tests to confirm irritable bowel syndrome. Instead your doctor should ask you about your symptoms to help make a diagnosis. Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can vary widely and also change over time, so your doctor should encourage you to describe all your symptoms and how they affect your daily life before asking you any specific questions.
You should be asked if you have had any of the following symptoms that have lasted for at least 6 months:
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changes in your bowel habit
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pain or discomfort in your abdomen
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a bloated feeling.
If you have had any of these, your doctor should consider assessing you for irritable bowel syndrome. He or she should explain that some specific symptoms need to be present for a positive diagnosis. These are either:
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abdominal pain or discomfort that goes away when you empty your bowel
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abdominal pain or discomfort with a change in how often you empty your bowel or stools that look different from usual.
You also need to have 2 of the following symptoms:
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a change in how you pass stools for example, needing to strain, feeling a sense of ‘urgency’ or feeling that you haven’t completely emptied your bowel
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bloating, tension or hardness in your abdomen
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a feeling that your symptoms are worse after eating
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passing of mucus from the rectum.
What Are The Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Some of the key symptoms of IBS include:
- chronic diarrhoea or constipation, or alternating between the two
Some people also report whitish mucus in the faeces , feeling their bowel movement was incomplete even after a poo and nausea.
Often, the pain of IBS can be relieved by passing wind or faeces.
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Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Takecomfort in knowing that IBS is an extremely common problem, and in many cases,simple changes in your lifestyle and diet can provide symptom relief. However,no one treatment works for everyone and treatment will depend on the types ofsymptoms you have, their severity and how they affect your daily life.
Yourdoctor may recommend prescription or over the counter products if your IBSsymptoms are severe and if lifestyle and dietary strategies have not helped.Typically, medications are targeted at the dominant symptom diarrhea,constipation or pain.
Do you suffer from IBS symptoms? NutriProCans IBS treatment protocol by registered dietitians is designed to help eliminate or reduce GI symptoms, including gas, bloating, pain, diarrhea, constipation and stomach upset.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Or Colonoscopy
These tests allow your doctor to view your rectum and colon with a small camera attached to a thin tube. The tube is gently inserted into your anus. As with the lower GI series test, this test usually requires a liquid diet and enema before examination. Taking a sedative may also be an option.
Your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy to rule out the possibility of colon cancer if you fall into a certain risk group based on age, race, or family history.
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Ruling Out Other Conditions
What Can You Do With The Information You Get From Tests
If your tests are all normal and your symptoms match the symptoms that are common in people with IBS, you may feel reassured that you don’t have a serious problem. You and your doctor can then focus on treating your symptoms so that they don’t interfere with your life.
If the tests find that you have another problem, you and your doctor will make a plan to treat it.
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Are There Complications Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
While IBS can be painful, it is reassuring to remember that the condition does not cause long-term damage to the colon or other parts of the digestive system. IBS also does not directly cause other physical health problems.
Although IBS is often a mild condition that can be well-managed by diet and other lifestyle improvements, it can significantly impact some people’s quality of life, and can be stressful to manage. Flow-on effects can include depression and anxiety, migraine, fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome.
If IBS is causing you to feel down, anxious or upset, there are IBS-specific psychological support services. Talk to your GP about whether they are right for you.
A small number of people with IBS may experience faecal incontinence. The Continence Foundation of Australia can help with strategies where this is due to constipation or diarrhoea. Call their toll-free helpline for advice on 1800 330066.
Will I Need A Colonoscopy
Depending on your symptoms, medical history and other factors, your provider may recommend a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to examine your colon in more detail. These two outpatient procedures are similar. The difference is that a sigmoidoscopy examines just the lower half of the colon. A colonoscopy examines the entire colon.
A flexible sigmoidoscopy can help evaluate bowel disorders, rectal bleeding or polyps. Your provider will:
Heres what you can expect during a colonoscopy. Your provider will:
Often, providers can make an accurate diagnosis and even deliver treatment using a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a much less invasive procedure compared to an abdominal operation.
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What Happens In Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a problem with the way the large intestine , or colon, works. The large intestine absorbs water and nutrients from the partially digested food that enters it from the small intestine. Anything not absorbed slowly moves on a pathway out of your body. These undigested and unabsorbed food particles are also known as stool, a bowel movement, or poop.
Here’s why an intestine gets “irritable.” To have a bowel movement, the muscles in the colon and the rest of the body have to work together. If they don’t, what’s in the colon can’t move along as well as it should. It sort of stops and starts, doesn’t move, or sometimes moves too fast. This can hurt and make a kid feel bad. Doctors also believe that people with IBS may have more sensitive bowels. So what might be a little uncomfortable in one person causes serious pain for someone with IBS.
IBS isn’t fun, but the good news is that it doesn’t lead to more serious problems. It’s irritating, but it can be managed and kids can do whatever activities they like in spite of it.
How Can I Best Take Care Of Myself If I Have Ibs
IBS will likely be with you for life. But it doesnt shorten your lifespan, and you wont need surgery to treat it. To feel your best, try to identify and avoid your triggers, including certain foods, medications and stressful situations. A dietitian can help you plan a nutritious diet around your specific needs. Talk to your healthcare provider if symptoms dont improve.
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Prescription Drugs For Ibs
IBS-Dpatients suffer from a multitude of symptoms including abdominal pain,bloating, and diarrhea. The commonly used prescription drugs only address asingle symptom rather than the constellation of symptoms observed in IBS-Dpatients. Recent advancements in the treatment of IBS have produced newermedications that not only treat the multiple symptoms but have beenspecifically studied and approved for use by Health Canada in IBS-D patients.
Physiciansmay now prescribe one or a combination of drugs that:
- reduce abdominal pain byblocking the pain signals to the brain
- relax the muscles in thegut to reduce diarrhea and the urgent, uncontrollable need to use the washroom
- reduce both abdominal andbowel symptoms including pain, bloating, urgency and diarrhea Your doctor candetermine if a combination or a single treatment is right for you.
Think you may have IBS? Read this article.
These resources were made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from IBgard.
Tags: IBS
Review Of Your Symptoms
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and look for a certain pattern in your symptoms to diagnose IBS. Your doctor may diagnose IBS if you have pain in your abdomen along with two or more of the following symptoms:
- Your pain is related to your bowel movements. For example, your pain may improve or get worse after bowel movements.
- You notice a change in how often you have a bowel movement.
- You notice a change in the way your stools look.
Your doctor will ask how long youve had symptoms. Your doctor may diagnose IBS if
- youve had symptoms at least once a week in the last 3 months and
- your symptoms first started at least 6 months ago
Your doctor may diagnose IBS even if youve had symptoms for a shorter length of time. You should talk to your doctor if your symptoms are like the symptoms of IBS.
Your doctor will also ask about other symptoms. Certain symptoms may suggest that you have another health problem instead of IBS. These symptoms include
- bloody stools or stools that are black and tarry
- weight loss
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Should I See My Doctor About Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms
It is important to see your doctor if you develop symptoms. They may check for other conditions before diagnosing you with IBS.
See your doctor if:
- you are concerned about your symptoms, and if they are severe or ongoing
- if you notice any blood in your stools
- if you have unexplained or unintentional weight loss
- you have fever or severe diarrhoea
These symptoms are unlikely to be caused by IBS, and so it is important that a health professional checks them to exclude a more serious condition.
The Healthdirect Question Builder tool can help you prepare for your appointment.
What Are The Different Types Of Ibs
Researchers categorize IBS based on the type of bowel movement problems you have. The kind of IBS can affect your treatment. Certain medicines only work for certain types of IBS.
Often, people with IBS have normal bowel movements some days and abnormal ones on other days. The type of IBS you have depends on the abnormal bowel movements you experience:
- IBS with constipation : Most of your poop is hard and lumpy.
- IBS with diarrhea : Most of your poop is loose and watery.
- IBS with mixed bowel habits : You have both hard and lumpy bowel movements and loose and watery movements on the same day.
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Ibs Can Be Quickly Diagnosed With New Blood Test
Irritable bowel syndrome, the most common gastroenterological disorder in the US, can now be diagnosed with just two simple blood tests, enabling early diagnosis for millions of people affected by the disorder.
Until now, irritable bowel syndrome has only been diagnosed after a long and drawn out process of ruling out other conditions, often involving invasive procedures such as colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies.
Dr. Mark Pimentel, a gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, CA, created the tests. He explains that as there have been no definitive tests for IBS, patients have frequently had to go from doctor to doctor, repeating tests before they have been able to get a diagnosis they are confident with.
Having an early diagnosis means patients can avoid years of invasive tests and visits to specialists that often leave them with more questions than answers, he explains. With these new blood tests, many patients will now be able to proceed right to therapy for their condition.
Around 10% of the global population is estimated to have IBS, with around 10-15% of the US population affected. The condition is characterized by a variety of symptoms that includes abdominal pain, bloating and bouts of diarrhea and constipation that can cause stress and fatigue.
How Is Ibs Severity Tested
Here are a few modified example questions:
Test questions for abdominal pain
- Do you currently have abdominal pain?
- How severe is your abdominal pain on a scale from 0 to 10?
- How many days in the last 10 days have you had abdominal pain?
Test questions for bloated stomach and flatulence
- Do you currently have abdominal bloating or flatulence?
- How pronounced is the bloated abdomen on a scale from 0 to 10?
Test question for bowel habits
- How satisfied are you with your bowel movements on a scale from 0 to 10?
Test question for quality of life
- How much do your IBS symptoms impair your quality of life from 0 to 10?
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How Does Ibs Affect My Body
In people with IBS, the colon muscle tends to contract more than in people without the condition. These contractions cause cramps and pain. People with IBS also tend to have a lower pain tolerance. Research has also suggested that people with IBS may have excess bacteria in the GI tract, contributing to symptoms.
What Tests Would You Have For Your Symptoms
If you have tests, your doctor will decide which ones to do based in part on which symptoms bother you the most.
At your first visit, your doctor may recommend some of these tests:
- Medical history and physical examination
- A blood test for celiac disease. Many doctors do this test, because the symptoms of IBS and celiac disease can be the same.
- Tests for lactose intolerance. Taking a breath test or trying a lactose-free diet may show that you have trouble digesting lactose.
- Blood tests. They can show an illness or infection.
- Stool analysis, which may include testing for blood in the stool , infection , or parasites
Your doctor may also recommend other tests not in this list, such flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Whether you have tests before you try home treatment may depend on your age and health history and which tests your doctor uses the most.
If you have an abnormal test result, it may mean that you have a problem other than IBS. You also may have both IBS and another problem.
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Physical Exam And Blood Test
A diagnosis of IBS begins with a comprehensive physical exam during which you describe your symptoms and medical history. Your doctor may diagnose IBS based on your symptoms and history, but will also look for red flags that suggest the need to look for a different diagnosis. Red flags include:
- Onset of symptoms in someone who is more than 50 years of age.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Evidence of gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Pain or other symptoms that awaken you in the middle of the night.
If you have symptoms of IBS and a red flag symptom, you will probably need a more complete investigation. You may require further testing, depending on what your symptoms are.
Do Healthcare Providers And People With Ibs Agree On The Severity Of Ibs
Healthcare providers and people with IBS often have different theories concerning the cause and severity of IBS, but also concerning the treatment option and the definition of treatment success. Healthcare providers rate the severity of irritable bowel symptoms and the reduction in quality of life on average less seriously than people who live with the symptoms. To date, no precise causes of IBS are known, so patients are often dissatisfied with the answers given by their providers.
Many patients suspect that nutrition, including food allergies and intolerances, or mental health concerns are responsible for the syndrome, although their healthcare providers cannot confirm this theory. All of these factors make the doctor-patient relationship complex and can make it difficult to treat IBS.
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Houghton LA, Heitkemper M, Crowell MD, et al. Age, Gender, and Womens Health and the Patient. Gastroenterology. 2016 150:1332-1343.e4. Doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2016.02.017.
Drossman DA, Patrick DL, Whitehead WE, et al. Further validation of the IBS-QOL: a disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000 95:999-1007. Doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2000.01941.x
Drossman DA, Chang L, Bellamy N, et al. Severity in irritable bowel syndrome: a Rome Foundation Working Team report. Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 106:17491760. doi:10.1038/ajg.2011.201
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