
	IBS Info
	Information on IBS
	IBS cause
	Clinical Trial 1
	Clinical Trial 2
	Symptoms
	IBS syndrome
	IBS Diet
	What Is IBS
	Stress
	Medication
	Treatment
	Symptoms
	Foods that trigger
	Cure
	Diarrhoea Predominant IBS
	Causes
	Constipation
	Diverticulosis
	Do I have IBS?
	How long does it last?
	Hydrocodone
	Menstruation
	Pregnancy
	Children
	Recipes
	Mylanta
	Natural Cure
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How long does IBS last?

The answer to this question is somewhat complicated due to the individual nature of IBS, which affects each person in a different way. In some the symptoms will improve over time, in others they will get worse, and a few may find that their symptoms subside for months or years at a time.

On the whole though, once you receive a diagnosis of IBS it is likely to persist on a long term basis. However, this doesn’t mean that the symptoms won’t disappear or that they are present all the time, IBS can come and go and the symptoms can vary in intensity. The solution to dealing with IBS is to try to understand how it affects you and to take steps to avoid the triggers and alleviate the symptoms.

What causes IBS?

There isn’t a known single cause of IBS although certain factors are known to trigger it. For example, stress is a known trigger of IBS and IBS sufferers appear to have increased sensitivity in the gut to stressful situations. Food intolerances can also trigger IBS as can an imbalance in the bacteria in the gut, for example, after taking antibiotics which effectively kills off good as well as harmful bacteria. Different people have related the onset of their IBS symptoms to:

A stressful time in their lives
An infection such as gastro-enteritis
No identifiable cause whatsoever

In a normal digestive system, the contents of the gut are squeezed along the intestines towards the anus and this process is painless and unnoticeable. If something goes wrong with this process or the digestive system overreacts then it can be painful and indeed noticeable. It is believed that IBS sufferers are more sensitive to the processes involved in digestion.

Main points about IBS

There is no single cause of IBS
There is no single cure of IBS
IBS is a disorder affecting the digestive system anywhere within the digestive tract
IBS is non life threatening and does not lead to more serious conditions or to cancer
IBS affects individuals in different ways
Medication can improve the symptoms of IBS
Stress is a trigger of IBS
Food intolerances can trigger IBS
An imbalance of bacteria in the gut can trigger IBS
People with IBS appear to have increased sensitivity in the gut to stressful situations
There are no tests that can identify IBS

Treating IBS

There isn’t a single drug or preparation available that can treat IBS so treatment usually involves dealing with the most troublesome symptoms in order to provide relief. For example:

Antispasmodics for abdominal cramps
Laxatives and stool softeners for constipation
Anti-diarrhoea medication such as Loperamide can be helpful for diarrhoea
Antacids for heartburn and indigestion
Chinese herbal remedies have proved effective in some research trials
Eliminating foods known to exacerbate IBS symptoms
Probiotics and other preparations can help balance the bacteria in the gut
Psychological treatments including some talking therapies can be helpful in dealing with underlying emotional or psychological problems
Antidepressant medications can by helpful in low doses, particularly if diarrhoea and pain are the most dominant symptoms

Prognosis

For many people, some dietary and lifestyle adjustments combined with careful monitoring of the symptoms is enough to control IBS, for others the symptoms may be more serious and require more aggressive treatment. In the first instance speak to a doctor or nutritionist for expert help and advice.