Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common and affects about 12% of the population in the United States. The abdominal discomfort caused by IBS can keep you from doing the things you enjoy and affect your quality of life. The board-certified gastroenterologists at Capitol Gastro, with offices in Austin, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and Dripping Springs, Texas, specialize in the medical management of IBS and can provide care to help minimize your discomfort and improve your quality of life. For expert care of your IBS, call the office most convenient to you today or book online.
IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects the large intestines and causes a variety of symptoms ranging from abdominal pain to bloating to diarrhea. While the symptoms you experience with IBS can affect your day-to-day activities, the symptoms don’t affect the tissue in your bowel or increase your risk of other gastrointestinal disorders such as colon cancer.
IBS isn’t an inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory bowel disease refers to conditions that lead to inflammation of the tissue in your digestive tract. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are types of inflammatory bowel diseases.
IBS symptoms vary in both type and severity. Common symptoms include:
You may begin to notice that certain triggers cause your IBS symptoms to flare up, such as stress or food choices. Hormonal changes can also trigger your IBS symptoms.
If you’re experiencing abdominal distress or a change in bowel habits, you should schedule an appointment with the experts at Capitol Gastro for an evaluation.
There’s no specific test for diagnosing IBS, and your specialist at Capitol Gastro may need to rule out other causes of your symptoms before making an IBS diagnosis. During your evaluation, your specialist reviews your symptoms and medical history and conducts a physical exam.
To rule out other causes of your symptoms, your specialist may recommend various tests, such as a fecal test, colonoscopy, endoscopy, or lactose intolerance test.
Treatment for IBS centers on lifestyle changes to relieve your symptoms. Your specialist at Capitol Gastro works closely with you to help you make the lifestyle changes necessary to improve your IBS, which may include:
Medications may be prescribed to help manage your various symptoms or the disease itself, such as:
Your specialist at Capitol Gastro helps you develop the most effective treatment plan to minimize your IBS symptoms so you can live a full and happy life.
For expert care of your IBS from a caring and compassionate team, call Capitol Gastro today or book an appointment online.
