How to Determine If You Have IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome is a nerve dysfunction in the intestinal tract. There is no cure, only management techniques for the inconvenient and uncomfortable symptoms associated with IBS. These symptoms include stomach cramping, irregular bowel movements, lower back pain, and nausea. Educating yourself about IBS symptoms is useful, but only your doctor can make a definitive diagnosis or offer treatment advice.

Instructions

• 1

  Call your doctor for an appointment. Unlike other conditions, there is no simple blood test or scan to identify IBS. Your doctor will diagnose you by comparing your symptoms to those associated with the syndrome. The primary indicator of IBS is stomach pain accompanied by frequent changes to your bowel movements. People with IBS may experience this pain every few days or more often - over a period of several months.

• 2

  Keep a journal. Write down the time of your meals, bowel movements and discomfort for two weeks. Beyond the common characteristic of stomach pain related to bowel movements, IBS does not affect everyone the same way. Even though this is a gastrointestinal syndrome, some people experience discomfort that seems unrelated to digestion, such as lower back pain, headaches, fatigue and muscle aches. Record any discomfort you experience in your journal and bring it with you to your doctor's appointment. This gives him a more comprehensive picture of your suffering.

• 3

  Describe your symptoms in great detail. Omitting seemingly unrelated symptoms makes it harder for your doctor to pinpoint a condition and treatment plan. Be direct and honest. IBS is a commonly diagnosed syndrome that your doctor should be able to recognize.

• 4

  Understand your unique symptom patterns. This will enable you to better manage your syndrome with diet, exercise and meal planning. Your doctor may prescribe medication to relieve stress, which can aggravate IBS symptoms.