The list of IBS symptoms are often termed Rome III criteria by doctors to identify IBS symptoms from similar symptoms caused by other problems of the intestine. Interestingly, some people exhibiting symptoms outside of the Rome III criteria may still have IBS. People can be diagnosed with IBS if they show symptoms meeting the Rome III criteria for at least 6 months, experience stomach discomfort or pain at a minimum of 3 days per month for three months in succession or may experience at least two of the following conditions:
- A pain that is related to a change in the consistency or look of your feces
- A pain that is related to the change frequency of your bowel habits
- A pain that is assuaged by making a bowel movement
- The presence of any of the following symptoms supports a diagnosis of IBS
When you have irritable bowl syndrome, your bowel movements can change frequently over time. You can experience at least a couple of the following conditions or more.
- You might experience some gas or bloating in the intestines
- Changes in your passing of stools – You can feel that even if you have passed stool, you feel that you still haven’t emptied out all in your bowels; you may have the immediate need to pass out your stool; or you may have a hard time passing out stool
- Changes in the appearance of your stool – Your stool may look watery and loose, thin like rods or may be small and hard
- Diarrhea or constipation – You can experience bowel movements for three or more times a day or three or less in a week
Some people with IBS may experience stomach pain combined with constipation that is then followed by diarrhea. Some patients will feel stomach pain and some light constipation but without diarrhea. Others might feel gas in the intestines combined with mucus presence in the feces.
IBS symptoms not involving the gastrointestinal system
- Urinary conditions – These can include difficulty emptying the urinary bladder, difficulty starting urination, the urgent and recurrent requirement to urinate
- Heart palpitations – Heart flutter or skipping of the heart beat
- Sleeping difficulties – Insomnia caused by other things not related to your IBS symptoms
- Backache
- Bad taste in the in the mouth
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Depression or anxiety
The aforementioned symptoms may be experienced more often than not during:
- Menstruation
- Times of stress
- After a meal
It is important to call a doctor or any other health expert if:
- You notice blood in your stool
- You have stomach pain that used to be felt in only one part of the stomach but now can be felt in other areas of your stomach or body
- You have pain in the abdomen that is unmitigated by passing of stool or gas or stomach pain unrelated in the manner or habit you pass stool
- You start to have a weak appetite
- You begin to loss weight for unknown reasons
- You feel more tired than you normally do
- You already are diagnosed with IBS but your symptoms are only becoming worse that they do not respond to your doctor-prescribed treatment and they start to affect your regular activities
Some of the more serious symptoms manifested by IBS which likely indicate a far more serious underlying condition can be:
- Known family history of inflammatory bowel conditions or even colon cancer where both can cause chronic intestinal inflammation
- Anemia
- Blood in your feces
- Weight loss from unknown causes
- Fever
Phoenix Rising Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic
2 Franklin Square
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Phone: 518-248-1540
www.saratogaspringsacupuncture.com
COMMENTS