Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms

I can remember feeling the first irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. My stomach was upset, I felt bloated and was experiencing severe abdominal pain. I even ended up being physically sick, and then came the diarrhea.

Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms can vary from person to person, but they generally include:

- Abdominal pain
- Bloated feeling
- Constipation, diarrhea or (commonly) a combination of both

Amazingly, a whopping 20% of the US population suffers from irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, making IBS one of the most common diseases diagnosed, though diagnosis doesn't often come easily.

Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms are usually more prevelant after eating a large meal, and certain foods tend to 'trigger' attacks.

There are many foods that are known to cause irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, though trigger foods may vary from person to person. Following are several of the more common trigger foods:

- Fried foods (french fries etc)
- Red meat
- Dairy products
- Egg yolks
- Nuts & nut butters (ie: peanut butter)
- Coffee & caffeine (sorry, not even decaf coffee!)
- Alcohol
- Pop
- MSG
- Oils, fats, dips, spreads
- Salad dressings & mayonnaise

Irritable bowel syndrome occurs more commonly in women, and symptoms can often increase during menstruation. Additionally, abdominal surgery such as cesarean section (as I found out the hard way), can also bring on more intense irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.

There are no definitive tests for IBS. Instead, we are subjected to a battery of tests which will rule out all other possible causes, such as colon cancer or crohn's disease.