IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a poorly understood common ailment of the digestive tract.
The GI tract is 22-25 feet long and controlled by nerves, muscles, and small molecules that
regulate the GI function. The GI tract can work independently even if the nerves are cut.

There are 3 variants, diarrhea dominant, constipation dominant, and alternators.

Most patients develop symptoms in early life which include abdominal bloating, fullness, pain,
diarrhea, or constipation. Weight loss and bleeding are not symptoms and are considered as
“red flags” for work up.

There are medications to treat the constipating variant but over all there are no great treatment
regiments and patients can run a waxing and waning course over years.

The importance is to do a detailed evaluation and rule out treatable causes and then provide
symptomatic assistance to patients.