See Colitis and Parasites General programs.BowelEncyclopedia Entry for Irritable Bowel Syndrome :Irritable bowel syndrome - aftercare. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may be a lifelong condition. You may be suffering from cramping and loose stools, diarrhea, constipation, or some combination of these symptoms. For some people, IBS symptoms may interfere with work, travel, and attending social events. But taking medicines and making lifestyle changes can help you manage your symptoms.Changes in your diet may be helpful. However, IBS varies from person to person. So the same changes may not work for everyone. Keep track of your symptoms and the foods you are eating. This will help you look for a pattern of foods that may make your symptoms worse. Avoid foods that cause symptoms. These may include fatty or fried foods, dairy products, caffeine, sodas, alcohol, chocolate, and grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. Eat 4 to 5 smaller meals a day, rather than 3 larger ones. Increase the fiber in your diet to relieve symptoms of constipation. Fiber is found in whole grain breads and cereals, beans, fruits, and vegetables. Since fiber may cause gas, it is best to add these foods to your diet slowly.No one drug will work for everyone. Medicines your provider may have you try include: Antispasmodic medicines that you take before eating to control colon muscle spasms and abdominal cramping Antidiarrheal medicines such as loperamide Laxatives, such as lubiprostone, bisacodyl , and other ones bought without a prescription Antidepressants to help relieve pain or discomfort Rifaximin, an antibiotic that is not absorbed from your intestines It is very important to follow your provider's instructions when using medicines for IBS. Taking different medicines or not taking medicines the way you have been advised can lead to more problems.Stress may cause your intestines to be more sensitive and contract more. Many things can cause stress, including: Not being able to do activities because of your pain Changes or problems at work or at home A busy schedule Spending too much time alone Having other medical problems A first step toward reducing your stress is to figure out what makes you feel stressed. Look at the things in your life that cause you the most worry. Keep a diary of the experiences and thoughts that seem to be related to your anxiety and see if you can make changes to these situations. Reach out to other people. Find someone you trust (such as a friend, family member, neighbor, or clergy member) who will listen to you. Often, just talking to someone helps relieve anxiety and stress.Call your provider if: You develop a fever You have gastrointestinal bleeding You have bad pain that does not go away You lose over 5 to 10 pounds (2 to 4.5 kilograms) when you are not trying to lose weight.IBS; Mucus colitis; IBS-D; IBS-C.Ford AC, Talley NJ. Irritable bowel syndrome.Encyclopedia Entry for Irritable Bowel Syndrome :Irritable bowel syndrome. The reasons why IBS develops are not clear. It can occur after a bacterial infection or a parasitic infection (giardiasis) of the intestines. This is called postinfectious IBS. There may also be other triggers, including stress. The intestine is connected to the brain using hormone and nerve signals that go back and forth between the bowel and the brain. These signals affect bowel function and symptoms. The nerves can become more active during stress. This can cause the intestines to be more sensitive and contract more. IBS can occur at any age. Often, it begins in the teen years or early adulthood. It is twice as common in women as in men. It is less likely to begin in older people above 50 years of age. About 10% to 15% of people in the United States have symptoms of IBS. It is the most common intestinal problem that causes people to be referred to a bowel specialist (gastroenterologist).IBS symptoms vary from person to person, and range from mild to severe. Most people have mild symptoms. You are said to have IBS when symptoms are present for at least 3 days a month for a period of 3 months or more. The main symptoms include: Abdominal pain Gas Fullness Bloating Change in bowel habits. Can have either diarrhea (IBS-D), or constipation (IBS-C). Pain and other symptoms will often be reduced or go away after a bowel movement. Symptoms may flare up when there is a change in the frequency of your bowel movements. People with IBS may go back and forth between having constipation and diarrhea or have or mostly have one or the other. If you have IBS with diarrhea, you will have frequent, loose, watery stools. You may have an urgent need to have a bowel movement, which may be hard to control. If you have IBS with constipation, you will have a hard time passing stool, as well as fewer bowel movements. You may need to strain with a bowel movement and have cramps. Often, only a small amount or no stool at all will pass. The symptoms may get worse for a few weeks or a month, and then decrease for a while. In other cases, symptoms are present most of the time. You may also lose your appetite if you have IBS. However, blood in stools and unintentional weight loss are not a part of IBS.There is no test to diagnose IBS. Most of the time, your health care provider can diagnose IBS based on your symptoms. Eating a lactose-free diet for 2 weeks may help the provider identify lactase deficiency (or lactose intolerance). The following tests may be done to rule out other problems: Blood tests to see if you have celiac disease or a low blood count ( anemia ) Stool cultures to check for an infection Your provider may recommend a colonoscopy. During this test, a flexible tube is inserted through the anus to examine the colon. You may need this test if: Symptoms began later in life (over age 50) You have symptoms such as weight loss or bloody stools You have abnormal blood tests (such as a low blood count) Other disorders that can cause similar symptoms include: Celiac disease Colon cancer (cancer rarely causes typical IBS symptoms, unless symptoms such as weight loss, blood in the stools, or abnormal blood tests are also present) Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis.The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms. In some cases of IBS, lifestyle changes can help. For example, regular exercise and improved sleep habits may reduce anxiety and help relieve bowel symptoms. Dietary changes can be helpful. However, no specific diet can be recommended for IBS because the condition differs from one person to another. The following changes may help: Avoiding foods and drinks that stimulate the intestines (such as caffeine, tea, or colas) Eating smaller meals Increasing fiber in the diet (this may improve constipation or diarrhea, but make bloating worse) Talk with your provider before taking over-the-counter medicines. No one medicine works for everyone. Some that your provider may suggest include: Anticholinergic medicines (dicyclomine, propantheline, belladonna, and hyoscyamine) taken about a half-hour before eating to control intestinal muscle spasms Bisacodyl to treat constipation Loperamide to treat diarrhea Low doses of tricyclic antidepressants to help relieve intestinal pain Lubiprostone for constipation symptoms Rifaximin, an antibiotic Psychological therapy or medicines for anxiety or depression may help with the problem.IBS may be a life-long condition. For some people, symptoms are disabling and interfere with work, travel, and social activities. Symptoms often get better with treatment. IBS does not cause permanent harm to the intestines. Also, it does not lead to a serious disease, such as cancer.Call your provider if you have symptoms of IBS or if you notice changes in your bowel habits that do not go away.IBS; IBD - irritable bowel; Spastic colon; Irritable colon; Mucous colitis; Spastic colitis; Abdominal pain - IBS; Diarrhea - IBS; Constipation - IBS.Constipation - what to ask your doctor.Digestive system Digestive system.Aronson JK. Laxatives.Encyclopedia Entry for Irritable Bowel Syndrome :Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Can be caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, the protozoan Giardia lamblia, and Blastocystis hominis. In those with HIV is associated with the protozoan Dientamoeba fragilis.Information from Marcello Allegretti.