Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects 10 to 15 percent of US adults. Only 5-7 percent of US adults have received a diagnosis of IBS.

What is IBS?
IBS is a group of symptoms that occur together including pain or discomfort in your abdomen along with changes in your bowel movements. Also called a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder; "when your GI tract behaves in an abnormal way without evidence of damage due to a disease."

Four types of IBS
Stool consistency dictates the four types.


 * IBS with constipation
 * IBS with diarrhea
 * Mixed IBS
 * Unsubtyped IBS

ME/CFS and IBS

 * Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Why Do They Go Together?


 * "Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently go together. No one really knows why, but we do know that all three conditions can include imbalances of serotonin -- although in fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) it's an imbalance in the brain, while with IBS it's in the gut."


 * Evidence for the existence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) with and without abdominal discomfort (irritable bowel) syndrome.


 * The findings show that ADS is a characteristic of a subset of patients with ME/CFS and that increased bacterial translocation (leaky gut) is associated with ADS symptoms. This study has defined a pathway phenotype, i.e bacterial translocation, that is related to ME/CFS and ADS/IBS and that may drive systemic inflammatory processes.


 * Prevalence of 50-90% for IBS symptoms in ME/CFS patients.


 * Katrina Berne reports a prevalence of 50-90% for IBS symptoms (including diarrhea, nausea, gas, and abdominal pain) in ME/CFS patients.


 * IBS, fibromyalgia and ME: Symptoms, patogenesis and treatment.


 * Arnold Berstad suggests that candida albicans overgrowth in the stomach and bowel might be a root cause for reduced ability to convert glucose to cell energy. This inability to convert glucose to cell energy has been previously reported by Øystein Fluge. Berstad is also suggested that candida albicans overgrowth could be caused by an antibiotic treatment after an infection. In addition, it is also mentioned that the amino acid tryptophan could be inhibited by candida albicans overgrowth. Treatment of the candida albicans overgrowth using probiotics or antimycotics was not effective, and a specific diet (low carbohydrate, fat rich etc.) was suggested for treatment during 3-4 months.

Tests and diagnosis
Mayo Clinic provides the following information on IBS, Tests and Diagnosis

Excerpt:
 * Rome criteria. According to these criteria, you must have certain signs and symptoms before a doctor diagnoses irritable bowel syndrome. The most important are abdominal pain and discomfort lasting at least three days a month in the last three months, associated with two or more of following: improvement with defecation, altered frequency of stool or altered consistency of stool.


 * Manning criteria. These criteria focus on pain relieved by defecation, having incomplete bowel movements, mucus in the stool and changes in stool consistency. The more symptoms present, the greater the likelihood of IBS.


 * Some red flag signs and symptoms that suggest a need for additional testing include:


 * New onset after age 50
 * Weight loss
 * Rectal bleeding
 * Fever
 * Nausea or recurrent vomiting
 * Abdominal pain, especially if it's not completely relieved by a bowel movement, or occurs at night
 * Diarrhea that is persistent or awakens you from sleep
 * Anemia related to low iron

Imaging:


 * Additional Tests:
 * Flexible sigmoidoscopy
 * Colonoscopy
 * X-ray (radiography)
 * Computerized tomography (CT) scan
 * Lower GI series

Laboratory tests:


 * Lactose intolerance
 * Breath
 * Blood
 * Stool

Learn more

 * Is IBS All In Your Mind? New Study Hints at Close Ties Between the Brain and the Gut (2017) Newsweek Tech & science (Article w/ Video)
 * Blog entry - "No, irritable bowel syndrome is not all in your head"