According to the Mayo Clinic, IBS can cause a variety of symptoms including cramping, nausea, gas, diarrhea and constipation.

IBS is a condition that cannot be treated. Treatments are designed to relieve symptoms and improve your quality of living. Your symptoms will determine the treatment you choose.

It is important to get a sense of how your IBS affects your diet, stress levels, and other life factors. These factors can help you and your doctor to better understand your IBS symptoms.

Your doctor should also be able to access your information. Communication is essential: Both you and your doctor should be able to ask and answer questions about your condition. Johns Hopkins Medicine says that IBS sufferers who have better relationships with their doctors tend to experience better control of their symptoms.

Patients should also look for doctors who listen attentively and ask open-ended questions.

There are a few general categories of IBS treatments:

• Changes in diet
• Medications
• Talk therapy (psychotherapy)
• Complementary therapies/approches

Any combination of these options could be part of your treatment plan, depending on your symptoms.

You may discover that you can manage your IBS with a more effective strategy.

Mild cases of IBS can be improved if:

• Avoid trigger foods
• You can reduce constipation by increasing your fiber intake.
• Exercise more.
• Get enough sleep.
• Get enough fluids
• Get help for stressful situations.

These simple steps may not be enough to manage your symptoms. You might consider dietary changes.

IBS symptoms can be managed with diet strategies

IBS is often treated with diet changes. There is no one way to change your diet. Instead, you should consider your symptoms and any food-related triggers. The 2021 American College of Gastroenteorology (ACG) guidelines recommend that you do not test for food allergies or food sensitivities unless you have a consistent symptom.

Avoid gas-producing foods. Avoid carbonated beverages, caffeine, and raw fruits like broccoli and cauliflower if you have gas problems. It is a good idea to increase your fiber intake, but it is important to take your time when you add fiber-rich foods to your diet. Too much can lead gas and trigger IBS symptoms.

Insoluble fiber can be added. According to the ACG 2021 guidelines, people with IBS of any type should consider adding soluble fiber to their diet in order to manage IBS symptoms. Experts recommend that you consume between 25 and 35 grams of fiber daily. Fiber has a variety of health benefits. This means that fiber should be added from beans, psyllium and oat bran. They recommend reducing insoluble fiber which can be found in whole grains, wheat bran, and certain vegetables.

Reduce your intake of rich foods. If you have diarrhea, it is worth reducing your intake. Fatty foods can cause contractions in the colon. Caffeine can also cause diarrhea, so it is worth reducing your intake.

Try a gluten-free diet. Avoid gluten if you have diarrhea. If you experience IBS symptoms or diarrhea, blood tests should be performed to confirm that celiac disease has not been diagnosed.

Avoid FODMAPs. FODMAPs are an acronym for Food and Drug Management Advisory Panels. Some people with IBS react negatively to FODMAPs. F Ermentable O ligosaccharides, d isaccharides, m Onosaccharides, p Olyols are carbohydrates that can’t be digested well in the small intestine. This includes fructose and lactose as well as fructans and sugar alcohols. According to the ACG 2021 guidelines, IBS symptoms can be reduced by following a low-FODMAP diet.

Working with a nutritionist or dietitian to reduce the FODMAPs in your food (a type of elimination diet to eliminate potentially sensitive foods) and then slowly reintroduce them to determine if symptoms are present.

IBS Relief: Supplements and Medications

IBS medication is not usually the first line of treatment. However, they can be beneficial for those with severe IBS symptoms and who have tried other dietary strategies but failed.

Your ibs specialist in london may recommend one or more of these remedies depending on your symptoms.

Fiber supplements If you are having trouble increasing your fiber intake, there are many supplements that contain different types of soluble fiber. This is especially helpful for constipation sufferers.

Smooth muscle relaxants These drugs may help with diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain and other symptoms. However, it is best to consult your doctor before you start using them regularly or frequently. They can cause constipation in some cases. These guidelines recommend against antispasmodics being used in the United States to treat IBS symptoms worldwide.

Antidiarrheal drugs A drug like Imodium (loperamide), which slows down or improves the consistency and movement of food through your intestines, may help if you have frequent diarrhea. Loperamide is not recommended for IBS as a first-line treatment. It only treats diarrhea and does nothing to improve IBS overall.

Your doctor may recommend Xifaxan (rifaximin) if an over-the counter treatment fails to work. Also, eluxadoline (a similar drug to loperamide) may be prescribed.

Antidepressants Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants to help with pain and diarrhea. These drugs are often prescribed to people who don’t have depression. It is important to note that tricyclic agents have been shown to relieve IBS symptoms. However, the jury is still out about selective serotonin receptor inhibitors.

Some drugs that affect the brain’s pain sensor mechanisms can help relieve severe abdominal pain and bloating, while root causes are investigated. Opiate medications such as codeine and oxycodone are not recommended for long-term use to manage IBS symptoms. They can even worsen the condition.

Antibiotics Your doctor may prescribe drugs to kill certain strains. Healthy bacteria should flourish, not be eradicated.

IBS-specific medications There are many drugs that can be used to treat IBS symptoms. There are several drugs that can be used to treat IBS symptoms, including Viberzi (eluxadoline), Lotronex (alosetron), Viberzi [eluxadoline], Xifaxan [rifaximin], Xifaxan] and Linzess (“linaclotide”).

IBS Therapy: The Benefits of Talking with a Therapist

Many people suffering from IBS believe that emotional stress is a major factor in their IBS symptoms.

Talking to your doctor about stress and your symptoms is important. You may be referred for mental health professionals if you and your doctor agree that you are experiencing symptoms such as anxiety, stress, or depression.

These strategies can be used to help you feel better when you visit a therapist. You may also benefit from a multidisciplinary team that supports you. This means your doctor can include a nutritionist as well as a mental health professional.

Cognitive behavior therapy This form of talk therapy helps you to change your thinking and behaviour. It has been proven effective in treating IBS thanks to years of research.

Psychotherapy that is guided by the gut Your therapist will focus on relieving stress in the brain-gut axis. Your therapist may use gut-directed Hypnotherapy to put you in a trance state to help you relax.

Relaxation training Your therapist might help you to relax, or reduce the effects of stressful thoughts or events on your body.

Complementary Approaches to Take into Account

There is mixed evidence to support various complementary therapies and treatments for IBS. Before you try any of these treatments, talk to your doctor to learn more about the risks and benefits as well as how they might be integrated into your existing care plan.

Probiotics Probiotics can be used to treat IBS symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, and bloating. Your symptoms and your unique gut bacteria will determine what works best for you. Probiotics are not recommended by the ACG as they have not been shown to be effective. Probiotics were not recommended by the British Society for Gastroenterology in their evidence-informed guidelines 2021. They are “effective for treating global symptoms and abdominal pain associated with IBS but cannot be recommended for specific strains or species.” Patients who wish to try probiotics should be advised to continue taking them for at least 12 weeks and to stop if they don’t improve their symptoms.

Acupuncture This ancient Chinese medicine practice uses very fine needles to insert into specific parts of the body. It may be used to treat IBS anxiety or possibly have an effect on your digestion. Review of March 2022. BioScience Trends It was noted that acupuncture can stimulate and relax the organs in order to relieve IBS-related diarrhea.

Peppermint Peppermint oil can be used to relieve symptoms temporarily. It has the ability to relax your intestines’ smooth muscles. Many studies have shown that peppermint oil capsules can help IBS symptoms.

American College of Gastroenterologists recommends peppermint oil because it is safe, effective and affordable.

Meditation and mind-body exercises Yoga and meditation are two examples of activities that can relax and focus the mind and body. An example of a study Neurogastroenterology and Motility IBS sufferers found that mindfulness practices helped them to feel better, even after they stopped training. Some therapeutic massage techniques may also have similar effects.