Do you have a personal relationship with your toilet? If you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and/or fibromyalgia, odds are you do. In this video, we go over some of the basics of IBS and its relationship to fibro.
Pain conditions that often occur together and either solely or predominantly affect women have been recently termed by the NIH as chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs). They include: vulvodynia, temporomandibular disorders, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, chronic tension-type and migraine headache, and chronic low back pain. These patients often demonstrate common abnormalities in neural, immune, and endocrine function, which may explain the overlapping nature, as well as increased risk for developing new COPC. COPCs lead to physical and mental disability, poor sexual function, higher rates of drug addiction, and suicide. What symptoms should practitioners look out for?
Do you have a personal relationship with your toilet? If you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and/or fibromyalgia, odds are you do. In this video, we go over some of the basics of IBS and its relationship to fibro.
Irritable bowel syndrome
The symptoms of IBS are usually worse after eating and tend to come and go in episodes.
Most people have flare-ups of symptoms that last a few days. After this time, the symptoms usually improve, but may not disappear completely.
In some people, the symptoms seem to be triggered by something they have had to eat or drink.
Read more about IBS triggers.
The most common symptoms of IBS are:
In addition to the main symptoms described above, some people with IBS experience a number of other problems. These can include:
The symptoms of IBS can also have a significant impact on a person’s day-to-day life and can have a deep psychological impact. As a result, many people with the condition have feelings of depression and anxiety.
You should see your GP if you think you have IBS symptoms, so they can try to identify the cause.
They can often do this by asking about your symptoms, although further tests are occasionally needed to rule out other conditions.
You should also visit your GP if you are feeling anxious or depressed. These problems rarely improve without treatment and could make your IBS symptoms worse.
If you have other symptoms – including unexplained weight loss, a swelling or lump in your stomach or bottom, bleeding from your bottom, or signs of anaemia – you should see your GP right away, as these can sometimes be a sign of a potentially more serious condition.
Read more about diagnosing IBS.
