Final diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome - What can you do if you have bowel problems?

Do you often suffer from abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation? 

When bowel problems come to the fore, it's high time to make a change! This is because intestinal complaints massively restrict everyday life and quality of life.

Final diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a collective term for complaints in which no specific disease can be identified. And yet the normal function of the intestine is disturbed. Sufferers report abdominal pain, cramps, flatulence, constipation and diarrhea. Often, other symptoms such as migraine, depression, intolerances or an irritable bladder come along in the process.

The ordeal for people with irritable bowel syndrome is long. For clarity, other diseases must first be ruled out in a series of tests before the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome is finally available. A rectal examination, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, blood and stool examination as well as an ultrasound are performed.

➤ 50% of all people with gastrointestinal complaints suffer from irritable bowel syndrome!

The types of irritable bowel syndrome

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome are often divided into groups based on their different symptoms. However, the boundaries to the other types are often very blurred and intertwine. 

• Type of flatulence: suffers from increased flatulence
• Type of diarrhea: suffers from recurrent diarrhea
• Constipation type: suffers from regular constipation
• Type of pain: suffers particularly from increased abdominal pain

➤ Women are twice as likely to develop irritable bowel syndrome as men!

What irritates our intestines?

The exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome has not yet been definitively clarified. However, it is very likely that the symptoms come from:

• Increased stress: Mood changes, such as stress or rumination, have a direct effect on bowel function. Conversely, diseases of the intestine also affect mood. Thus, it is not surprising that depression accompanies irritable bowel syndrome. Furthermore, stressful situations often lead to digestive disorders such as a nervous bladder.
• Previous intestinal infections: According to experts, the intestinal flora may change after an infection. Especially when antibiotics were used.
• Nutrition and intestinal flora: Compared to healthy people, the intestinal flora of irritable bowel patients is disturbed, unbalanced and thus has a different structure. Possible reasons for this are infections, diets or antibiotics. In addition, irritable bowel syndrome is often accompanied by a food intolerance, which can cause symptoms.
• Genetics: Irritable bowel syndrome can be hereditary

➤ In Europe, depending on the definition, between 2.5% and 37% are affected by irritable bowel syndrome!

How do you treat irritable bowel syndrome?

Unfortunately, there is no single correct treatment, as the syndrome has various causes and symptoms. However, there are some methods that can alleviate the symptoms.

1. Adjust your diet

Fiber can help with diarrhea in particular. Linseed and psyllium (ideally already ground) are particularly suitable. However, other seeds and grains as well as vegetables and fruit are also recommended. Drink plenty of water so that the fiber can swell. If you also have intolerances, avoid these foods. You should also generally refrain from flatulent, fatty or very hot or cold foods.

Tip: Keep a food diary to keep track of what you tolerate well and what you don't. This can sometimes be very revealing.

2. Phytotherapeutics and medications

Nature has a lot to offer when it comes to intestinal complaints. Fennel, aniseed, caraway or peppermint, for example, are suitable for the flatulence type. Probiotics are particularly recommended for constipation and diarrhea, as they help to regulate the intestines and bring them back into balance. Natural painkillers such as turmeric or MSM can provide relief for pain sufferers.

Caution with medication:

• Sharing the Problems: Medications for diarrhea and constipation in particular can easily replace one problem with the other. For example, if the diarrhea medication works too strongly, it can trigger constipation and vice versa.
• Additional strain on the intestinal bacteria: If antibiotics are used for intestinal complaints, this can have the opposite effect. This is because antibiotics destroy all bacteria in the gut, including the good ones. The sensitive intestinal flora is then disturbed and new problems may arise. This is why it is so important to take probiotics after taking antibiotics.

3. Psyche

Irritable bowel syndrome puts an enormous strain on one's own quality of life. A full 60% of those affected also suffer from depression.

Why is that? Our psyche and our gut are constantly connected to each other in interaction via the gut-brain axis. For example, anger and stress affect bowel activity. The result is abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea or constipation. Conversely, digestive problems cause a bad mood, which can even end in depression.

As the psyche and gut health are so closely linked, it makes sense to look after your mental health as well as building up healthy gut flora. According to experts, symptoms can improve by up to 50 % even with placebo administration. This proves that the psyche plays a major role in irritable bowel syndrome.

Tips for the psyche:

• Stress reduction through special techniques, sunlight and nature
• Get rid of stress thanks to natural supplements such as roseroot, ashwagandha or vitamin B complex
• Natural antidepressants such as 5 HTP, vitamin D
• Psychological support

➤ 60% of affected people with irritable bowel syndrome also suffer from depression!

Conclusion:

Irritable bowel syndrome severely limits the quality of life of those affected. Because the causes and symptoms are so different in nature, there is no single right way. Rather, sufferers should try different methods to alleviate the symptoms.

Irritable bowel syndrome can go away on its own in some people. For others, however, it can also become a chronic problem.

So it's important to get good treatment. This can lead to a strong improvement in symptoms. If the living conditions are right, especially the factors of stress, intestinal flora and nutrition, a cure is even possible in the long term.

 

Sources (in English): 

Wall, G. C., Bryant, G. A., Bottenberg, M. M., Maki, E. D. & Miesner, A. R. (2014, July). Irritable bowel syndrome: A concise review of current treatment conceptrs. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 20(27): 8796–8806, doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.8796

Andresen, V. & Layer, P. (2018, March). [Irritable Bowel Syndrome - a Disease]. Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946), 143(6):411-419, doi: 10.1055/s-0043-125224

Surdea-Blaga, T., Baban, A., Nedelcu, L. & Dumitrascu, D. L. (2016, September). Psychological Interventions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases: JGLD, 25(3):359-66, doi: 10.15403/jgld.2014.1121.253.ibs