IBS is a catch term to describe a wide range of digestive symptoms. In fact 1 in 6 people are said to suffer from IBS and it is the number 1 reason patients seek out a gastroenterologist. To be clear IBS is different from inflammatory bowel disease which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD causes inflammation, ulcers or other damage to the intestinal lining whereas IBS does not. IBS is considered a functional disorder (the digestive system looks normal, but doesn’t function as it should).
IBS symptoms include: gas, bloating, fullness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, sometimes alternating, and mucus in stool. Reports of back pain, headaches, anxiety, sleeping problems and fatigue are not uncommon.
