Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a common condition that affects how the bowel behaves and functions. It causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and changes in bowel habit, without any damage or disease being visible in the bowel itself. IBS is real and can be uncomfortable, but it is not dangerous. The important first step is confirming the diagnosis by ruling out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms.
What are the symptoms of IBS?
Tummy pain
Cramping that often eases after opening your bowels
Bloating
A swollen, gassy or uncomfortable tummy
Altered bowels
Diarrhoea, constipation, or an alternating pattern
Urgency or incomplete emptying
Needing to go quickly, or not feeling fully empty
Triggers
Symptoms linked to certain foods, stress or hormonal changes
When to seek assessment promptly
- Blood in the stool
- Unexplained weight loss
- A new and persistent change in bowel habit, especially over 50
- Symptoms that wake you at night
- A family history of bowel cancer, coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease
How it is investigated and managed
Mr Kimble takes a careful history and examines you, arranging tests where appropriate to rule out conditions such as coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and, where indicated, bowel cancer. A confident diagnosis is reassuring in itself and guides the right management. Most people improve with a combination of measures tailored to them: dietary changes, sometimes with a dietitian and a structured approach such as the low FODMAP diet, adjustments to fibre, attention to stress and sleep, and medication to target specific symptoms like cramping, diarrhoea or constipation.
IBS itself is not an emergency, but you should see a doctor if you notice blood in your stool, unexplained weight loss, a new and persistent change in bowel habit, or symptoms that wake you at night, as these are not typical of IBS and need checking.