Understanding Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common functional bowel condition that makes your bowel move either slow causing Constipation or rapid transition leading to Diarrhoea associated with abdominal cramps and trapped wind causing bloating

This is generally associated with fibromyalgia chronic fatigue syndrome.

How do I know if I'm affected with irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome is the diagnosis of exclusion, your doctor will conduct a consultation followed by few investigations and after the exclusion of organic disease diagnosis of functional bowel syndrome called irritable bowel is being made.

What are the common tests done for diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome?

Blood tests- Basic blood tests, CRP/ ESR, Faecal Calprotectin, coeliac.

Colonoscopy

Gastroscopy

X ray/ CT scan

Faecal Calprotectin

Lactose Intolerance test

Bacterial overgrowth

Can irritable bowel syndrome be cured?

Despite irritable bowel syndrome being a common condition, the treatment can be quite challenging, and the doctors who specialise in understanding the irritable bowel syndrome has to approach this condition in a comprehensive multidisciplinary method including patient education psychological support diet modification and medication to address Constipation with the lactulose, diarrhoea but antidiarrheal medication, abdominal cramps with smooth muscle relaxants. 

As irritable bowel syndrome is associated with brain- Gut axis dysfunction, they need medications to support the mood my antidepressants.

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome does have change in the bowel bacteria hence need of probiotics.

Bio feedback mechanisms 

Yoga helps to release the stress.

Dr. Chandra Sekhar Puli

FRCP Edin, MRCP Gastro UK, MRCP (Oxford), MBBS

Consultant Medical Gastroenterologist

Advanced Interventional Endoscopist

KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad.