Symptoms

Symptoms usually come and go and range from mild to severe. They include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Gas and bloating
• Pain that resolves with a bowel movement
• Loose stools
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Alternating diarrhea and constipation
• Urge to move bowels again immediately following a bowel movement
• Mucus in the stool

These factors may worsen your symptoms:

• Stress
• Menstrual periods
• Large meals or fatty foods
• Excess gas

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. In many cases, a diagnosis can be made based on this. Since there is no diagnostic test for IBS, doctors have created criteria for making a diagnosis.

Your doctor may order the following tests to rule out other conditions:

• Analysis of a stool sample to check for blood or evidence of inflammation
• Blood tests
• Barium enema —injection of fluid into the rectum to make the colon show up on an an x-ray , allows the doctor to see abnormal spots in the colon
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy —a thin, lighted tube inserted into the rectum to examine the rectum and the lower colon
• Colonoscopy —a thin, lighted tube inserted through the rectum and into the colon to examine the lining of the entire colon

Your doctor may also screen you for celiac disease , which is more common in people with IBS.

Colonoscopy

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