Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

[TeenHelp]

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
By Chantal (Atropos)

My personal experience with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, commonly known as IBS, has been a very difficult learning process. When you are diagnosed by the specializing doctor (a gastroenterologist) a lot of questions are asked and answered. Some struggles most find when learning that they have IBS include diet, exercise, and therapy. People newly diagnosed with IBS might feel anger, fear, hopelessness, and confusion.

What is IBS?
IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects the large intestine (colon). Some symptoms can include, but are not limited to, the following: cramping, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. You can manage these symptoms by stress reduction, diet and exercise.

Stress reduction
It's hard to pin-point stress as a main cause for IBS but when you are diagnosed with IBS, stress is one of the factors in flare-ups. Managing your stress levels can really help keep things calm and manageable. Ways to reduce your stress levels could include counseling or exercise.

Exercise is known to release endorphins, or brain chemicals to make you feel happier. Exercises that increase your heart rate such as running or cardio activities are known to release endorphins at a faster rate. Vitamin D from the sun can help improve your mood as well. Try to exercise regularly to feel results at a consistent pace.

Counseling can be beneficial if it is available to you. A counselor can help you discover underlying causes for mental health issues, and they can give you techniques to try to manage your stressors. A counselor can be a great person to support you through your journey.

Diets and food
It is hard to know what foods affect the intestines (which are commonly known as flare-ups) and your doctor may suggest a diet to follow. Everyone with IBS is a little bit different. Some diets that may help you, might not help others. It is all about finding what is right for you and your body. Knowing what you eat and how it affects you afterwards can indicate whether you are safe eating those foods or if you might react to them. When making food choices, be on the look out for foods that are greasy, highly acidic, and high in fiber.

Food log
Keeping a food log can help you get an idea of which foods are safe and which foods cause flare-ups. It can be hard to know what you are reacting to because a lot of food has preservatives and dyes in them. Check the ingredients list on labels and compare them to other foods that are similar. Listing the foods you eat or consume can allow the dietitian or gastroenterologist to pin-point where your triggers are; it's important to record if you've had a trigger or no trigger. Some foods that can cause triggers are:

• Greasy foods (deep fried foods, take out, deep fried pastries are a few examples).
• High in acidic foods (canned goods that have acidic ingredients, red sauce, anything containing processed tomatoes and anything with a high acidity are all examples).
• Too much fiber can cause issues (powder fiber to add to water/food, food rich in fiber).
• Raw vegetables can give off too much gas and fiber. Cooking, boiling or steaming helps prevent being bloated and having gas.

What is a flare-up?
A flare-up is when you react badly to something you've eaten or drunk. You could react with a large amount of gas, feel bloated, have abdominal pain/cramps, and it can cause constipation or diarrhea. All can be very uncomfortable. It's important to monitor any foods that may upset you so you are aware of what to avoid.

Love water
Drinking plenty of water is very helpful to keep the flow of fluids through your intestines. Fecal matter absorbs a lot of the fluids we drink and if we don't have enough water, we will experience painful bowel movements, also known as constipation.

What is constipation?
Constipation is generally referred to as infrequent defecation or the passing of hard stools, and it can also be painful when having a bowel movement. To prevent this from happening, increase your daily amount of fluids. It's recommended to drink 8 cups of water a day; with IBS, drink between 9-12 cups. However, if you do get constipated, there are a few things you can do to help. Take a warm bath, or a warm shower, or use a heating pad on your stomach. The heat will help move things through your intestines and relieve some of the abdominal discomfort. It is said that sitting on a toilet hinders bowel movement; the 90-degree angle at which you sit actually constricts the anal canal. Positioning your knees closer to your torso reduces the constriction, and therefore, the need to strain.Try squatting and hold your squats for a few minutes, as this can also help move things through your intestines. You could also try resting your feet on a foot stool while sitting on the toilet. Additionally, it is important to incorporate exercise into your daily routine.

What to watch out for?
Keep track of your bowel movements: are they soft, hard, watery, or solid? Also keep track of the colour and texture, and of any hemorrhoids or pain in the rectal area. This can help your gastroenterologist to better help you. If you have diarrhea for more than 7 days call your doctor; anything lasting longer than 2 weeks could mean something else is going on. If your bowels are black or red then consult your doctor, as this means you have active bleeding or upper bleeding in the intestine.

What are the next steps forward?
Adjusting to a new lifestyle is very challenging and you don't need to be alone while figuring out what IBS means for you and how to avoid flare-ups. You can speak with your doctor, your dietitian, and therapist to help you improve your overall physical and emotional health.