Managing Ibs - Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Digestive Disorders

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Managing IBS

Because there is no cure for IBS, treatment aims to control individual symptoms. As a result, the management of IBS requires a great amount of understanding between doctor and patient. Patients need to educate themselves about IBS and receive adequate information from their physicians so they can learn to manage the syndrome and regain control over their lives.

Eliminate triggers. What we know is that something has disrupted the automatic functioning of the bowel in IBS patients. The task is to search for possible irritants. The natural place to start is with something consumed — foods, beverages, or drugs, for example.

You'll need to eliminate likely food triggers — caffeine, sorbitol-containing gum or beverages, dairy products, alcohol, apples and other raw fruits, fatty foods, and gas-producing vegetables (for example, beans, cabbage, and broccoli) — to see if symptoms subside. You may eliminate the foods one at a time to see which make a noticeable difference (see "Foods that may trigger IBS symptoms").

If you are lactose intolerant, you can take supplements of the enzyme lactase if you can't always avoid milk. There are also a host of lactose-free dairy products on the market (see "Understanding food intolerance").

Eat fiber. The most common dietary recommendation for IBS is adding fiber to increase the stool's bulk and speed its movement through the GI tract. A high-fiber diet doesn't always improve bowel symptoms, but many clinical trials have shown that it does seem to relieve constipation and ease abdominal pain. And sometimes it can even improve diarrhea. Doctors usually recommend bran or another fiber supplement, such as psyllium or methylcellulose, which are available in many products such as Metamucil, Reguloid, and Citrucel found in supermarkets or drugstores. For some people, these measures may be all that are needed to reduce symptoms and calm the belly.

Try heat. For people who experience IBS intermittently, a home heating pad can be a simple and inexpensive way of soothing abdominal pain. Heat can help relax cramping muscles. Similarly, drinking a warm noncaffeinated tea such as chamomile may help reduce discomfort.

Last updated:	August 21, 2007