ibs symptoms include chronic diarrhea, chronic constipation and bloating

IBS symptoms are important to understand as it is your group of symptoms that helps your doctor diagnose ibs. There's no diagnostic test for the condition, although investigations are often undertaken to exclude other conditions that can present with similar symptoms of ibs. Sufferers over the age of 45 years where the risk of bowel cancer is increased should be investigated further. In women, Ovarian cancer can present with these symptoms too.

Infections, IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease), Celiac (Coeliac) disease , Diverticular disease and more rare bowel conditions can also present with these symptoms and its important to seek advice from a health care professional for peace of mind.

Symptoms of bleeding from the back passage , weight loss, going off food and family history of chronic bowel disease or bowel cancer should always be investigated further as they are not ibs symptoms.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be with chronic constipation (what is commonly called chronic constipation-predominant ibs) or chronic diarrhea (called chronic diarrhea-predominant ibs). Often there are a mixture of the two symptoms, with stool size in the chronic constipation group ranging from pellets ('rabbit pellet stool') to a more solid, large stool of variable solidness. Diarrhoea/Diarrhea is usually watery to very soft, brown stool.

Symptoms of ibs can occur at anytime, but are particularly common in the morning. 'Urgency' to go to the toilet is common as well as a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowel (doctors call this tenesmus).

Curiously, IBS symptoms only tend to occur during the daytime. IBS symptoms at Nightime or 'nocturnal' symptoms are unusual and need further investigation to exclude other causes.

Abdominal pain is either diffuse or can occur in segments, often in the lower abdomen (left, right or both). The pain is normally colicky, coming in spasms. Symptoms usually, although not always, ease with passing a bowel motion. Pain is often associated with IBS bloating or swelling of the abdomen and is often described as a 'discomfort'.

IBS wind is another common symptom and sufferers are usually concerned about this, because of the potential embarrassment in public places. This is called flatus by doctors.

Bleeding can occur, particularly with constipation due to trauma or haemorrhoids/hemorrhoids 'piles', but normally this should be investigated further to look for other causes such as colitis, polyps or cancers.

More vague symptoms of headache, nausea, indigestion, tiredness , anxiety , increased urination and general aches & pains can occur with the bowel symptoms. Also, other conditions are commonly seen in ibs including fibromyalgia. Symptoms of passing blood from the 'back passage' often due to hemorrhoids, weight loss and new onset of symptoms particularly in people over the age of 45 years should be assessed further.


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