What are the sign and symptoms of IBS?
Signs and symptoms of IBS may come and go any time. Symptoms can occur from a few times a week to once a month. IBS can also go away for years and suddenly return. You may have one or more of the following: • Abdominal (stomach) pain that disappears after having a bowel movement (BM). • Abdominal gas or feeling bloated. • Diarrhea (loose, runny BM) or constipation (hard, formed BM), or both. • Feeling like you need to have a BM after just having one. • Lower abdominal pain and cramps that may be worse after eating. These signs and symptoms may worsen with stress, such as when travelling or changing your daily routine. Your symptoms may also worsen after eating a big meal or if you do not eat enough healthy foods. Some people with IBS are bothered by certain foods. Women with IBS may notice more frequent symptoms during their monthly periods. How is IBS diagnosed? A criteria is used to diagnose IBS. This is known as the Rome II criteria: • At least 12 weeks within one year, with symptom
