Irritable Bowel Syndrome

For doctors, IBS can be challenging to diagnose, because tests often show no abnormalities even though symptoms are often all too real. As a result, a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome is usually arrived at by process of elimination, if you will excuse the pun, after other disorders with similar but more serious symptoms–such as diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, or intestinal parasites–have been ruled out.

The Rome III criteria (2006) for the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome require that patients must have recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort at least 3 days per month during the previous 3 months that is associated with 2 or more of the following:

• Relieved by defecation
• Onset associated with a change in stool frequency
• Onset associated with a change in stool form or appearance

• Altered stool frequency
• Altered stool form
• Altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency)
• Mucorrhea
• Abdominal bloating or subjective distention

There is no inflammation of the bowel, yet the patient suffers a variety of symptoms. These can be varying degrees of abdominal pain from vague to excruciatingly sharp; alternating constipation to diarrhoea, watery stools, wind, bloating, nausea, sweats and a worsening of symptoms after eating a large meal, during or just before menstrual periods, or while under stress.

While experts have suggested many potential causes for irritable bowel syndrome, no single cause has been established beyond a reasonable doubt. The list of possible culprits has ranged from parasitic infections and lactose intolerance, to food allergies and overuse of antibiotics.

Does any of this sound familiar? It is a good idea to rule out any serious illness, especially if you have rectal bleeding, black or mucousy stools. If you have, check with your doctor.

Some GP’s will prescribe a high bran intake for IBS sufferers, but this may be one of the worst things to do, as bran is particularly irritating to the gut. Because no two people are alike, a notion known as biochemical individuality, there is no single best diet for IBS.

It may be wise to rule out the common sensitivities and allergies to wheat, sugar, cow’s milk, beef, pork, corn, coffee and orange juice as these are the major culprits in the onset of irritable bowel syndrome. As with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s, the ‘Stone age’ or elemental diet may help. This diet is free of all dairy, grains, red meat, refined sugars and processed foods. This can give your gut a rest from allergens and proteins that cause problems.

Those suffering constipation predominant IBS may benefit from occasional use of a natural osmotic laxative such as Ox-C-Bio, along with probiotics and Lactoferrin. Those with diarrhoea predominant IBS may benefit from probiotics and Lactoferrin.

Where bloating and wind is a major factor, use broad spectrum digestive enzymes, along with Lactase Plus when consuming dairy, and Glutenase Plus when consuming grains.