Facing Irritable Bowel Syndrome is hard enough – you don’t want to face it alone. While spouses and family can certainly provide support, a qualified doctor, dietitian, and psychologist can provide a professional team of support that can help you manage your symptoms and live a full life, whether you have recurring symptoms or not.

The first thing you need is a definitive IBS diagnosis. And only one person can give it to you – a doctor.  

 

 

Before you begin figuring out how to live with IBS, make sure you don’t have another disorder of the digestive track because they are all treated differently. The source of the abdominal pain may even be your gallbladder. It is important to rule out inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, and other physical, structural, or infectious bowel diseases such as bowel cancer, bowel infection or other bowel disorders.

 

Why, you say, should I bother ruling all these things out when I have all the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Because the differences between the symptoms of all these disorders are subtle. You may not be able to feel the difference between pain in your colon and pain in your gallbladder.

 

 

Diagnosing Irritable Bowel Syndrome is more of an art than a science. There is no single IBS test that can confirm or deny the presence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, because it is not a structural or biochemical disorder. It is usually diagnosed primarily through the absence of other explanations. So before it can be effectively diagnosed, make sure that your doctor has ruled out all other possible bowel problems.

 

While your family doctor can perform some tests, it is a good idea to see a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in the digestive tract and its disorders. You might want further tests or a second opinion before accepting an IBS diagnosis.

 

 

A doctor’s advice on managing the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be helpful, but really it is only a starting point. You need specifics because the instruction “increase your fiber” can only get you so far. What foods have the right kind of fiber? While some vegetables can help, others can hinder – what which does what?

 

To avoid a lengthy (and continuously painful) experimentation period, consult a dietitian for  your personalized diet for irritable bowel. He or she can tell you exactly what to add to your diet and what to avoid. Then as you apply their suggestions and find out exactly how this new IBS diet affects your symptoms, they can help you modify accordingly. They may even have recipes for you to try, and a list of restaurant dishes that are IBS friendly. A dietician can be an ongoing source of support as you work with lifestyle changes.

 

 

Stress can over stimulate the brain and the nerves in your bowel, creating painful bowel activity.  Everyone has stressors in their lives, but if you can manage your life to minimize them, your comfort and overall quality of life can improve. But it’s not easy. A psychologist can help. You need to alter your lifestyle to reduce stressors, and learn stress management tools. In fact, studies have shown that cognitive therapy can reduce IBS symptoms.

 

 

Knowing who to turn to when you need support is valuable. Living without IBS symptoms is priceless. Find doctors who take the time to explain things to you, who answer your questions, and are willing to be there for you through the long haul.