IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

What is it?

Irritable bowel syndrome is a mixture of repeated stomach pain with diarrhoea and/or constipation, without any serious bowel disease. It is sometimes called spastic colon or nervous diarrhoea.

What causes it?

It is often brought on by stress or tension. You may find you first get irritable bowel syndrome after a bout of food poisoning. Alternatively, you might have a food allergy, although this is unlikely.

Who gets it?

You are most likely to get irritable bowel syndrome if you are a woman in your twenties or thirties. You are also much more at risk if you tend to follow a very stressful lifestyle.

What are the symptoms?

These vary, but you will probably have some stomach pain which may be colicky - it comes and goes in waves - but which is often relieved by opening your bowels. You may find you also get diarrhoea, constipation or both. In addition, you may get stomach bloating or increased stomach-rumbling, or you may pass slime when opening your bowels. You may feel weak and sick when you have an attack, but you are unlikely to vomit.

When should I go to my GP?

Irritable bowel syndrome will not do you any damage, but it can be distressing. It is important to check you do not have anything more serious. You should make a routine appointment with your doctor to talk about your symptoms, to decide whether or not you might need any tests. Even if you do not need further tests, your GP may be able to give advice or medicine to help you.

What tests will my Doctor want to do?

There are no tests that will confirm you have irritable bowel syndrome. However, your GP may want to do blood tests to check you do not have anything else. He or she may also want to refer you to a hospital for further tests - again to rule out serious disease.

What is the short-term treatment?

Your GP will give you advice about your diet and may suggest tablets to reduce any spasms you may be experiencing in your gut.

Will I need long-term treatment?

This will depend on whether your symptoms get better with changes in your diet. You may be given tablets to take whenever you have an attack - or you may need to take tablets on a regular basis.

How can I stop getting worse?

You may need to eat more fibre. This means more bran, more high-bran - or wholemeal - bread and cereals, more fresh fruit and vegetables, and more lentils and pulses. At the same time, you will need to cut down on fatty and sugary foods. At first this may give you a lot of wind, but it should wear off within a couple of weeks. You will also need to think seriously about making your lifestyle less stressful.

Will I need regular check-ups?

You will need to see your GP again if your symptoms get worse, change or if you do not get better despite following your doctor's advice.

Will I need to go to hospital?

You may need to be seen at the hospital once or twice for tests, but you will not need regular appointments there. If you get new symptoms, though, your GP may decide to send you back to the hospital.