When
irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is mentioned, most people immediately think
about a digestive problem that can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. However,
not a lot of people are aware of the fact that the symptoms of IBS tend to vary
from one IBS sufferer to the other because there are actually different types
of IBS.
But before we talk about the different types of IBS as well as the things that
make them vary from one another, let’s set one thing straight: there are some
symptoms experienced by all people who are suffering from IBS regardless of
which type of the digestive disorder they have.
These common symptoms that everyone with IBS tends to encounter
often include:
·
Abdominal pain
·
Excess gas
·
Bloating
·
Mucus present in the
stool
·
A feeling of
incomplete evacuation of the bowels
Other than these symptoms, there are many others that are also
experienced by IBS sufferers. However, not all of those who are diagnosed with
IBS encounter them — it depends on which type of IBS they are suffering from.
So without anymore ado, it’s time for us to take a look at the
different types of IBS.
IBS-D
A lot of people assume that individuals who have IBS have
diarrhea all the time. Well, it’s true that diarrhea is one of the symptoms of
IBS, but only if it’s IBS-D
The D in the name stands for diarrhea. Needless to say, someone
who suffers from IBS-D tends to have loose stools often. According to health
authorities, in order for a person to be diagnosed with IBS-D his or her bout
of diarrhea should be present for at least 3 days a month for the last 3
months.
Needless to say, someone who has IBS-D needs to have easy access to a toilet
because he or she could have an urge to move the bowels at any given time or
day.
IBS-C
In some instances, instead of having diarrhea the individual who
suffers from IBS experiences constipation more often. He or she should
encounter constipation for not less than 3 days per month for the last 3 months
before being diagnosed with IBS-C in which the letter C stands for
constipation.
Someone who suffers from IBS-C has infrequent bowel movements,
and his or her stools are hard, lumpy and dry. It goes without saying that
while seated on the toilet there’s excessive straining going on.
Digital evacuation (using the fingers to have the stool removed)
is sometimes warranted. It’s also very common for someone who suffers from
IBS-C to feel like there’s something that’s lodged in the rectum or anus, which
can strike even right after successfully moving the bowels.
IBS-M
Also known as IBS-A wherein the letter A stands for alternating,
IBS-M is the lack of any consistent bowel habit — M means mixed and it only
signifies that sometimes there’s diarrhea, while other times there’s
constipation.
The problem with having IBS-M is it’s something that can change
the bowel habit of the individual without any warning or pattern. Sometimes he
or she may go from having diarrhea to constipation (or vice versa) within the
same week. In some instances, changes in bowel habit may take place in just a
single day!
In order to be diagnosed with IBS-M, the IBS sufferer should encounter a change in the quality or frequency of his or her stool for at least 25 percent of all bowel movements.
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