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IBS Abdominal Pain

Painful muscle spasms and abdominal cramps can make life miserable for someone with IBS. As yet there is no cure for IBS and because IBS affects people in different ways, the quest for relief involves finding ways of dealing with the symptoms. There are a number of ways that you can help minimise the symptoms of IBS but first of all it’s important to rule out other potentially more serious causes of these symptoms so an accurate diagnosis is essential.

Diagnosing IBS

At the moment there are no medical tests that can identify the presence of IBS. IBS is not a disease as such; it is more of a functional disorder in that the structure of the digestive system appears perfectly normal but the actual function of digestion does not appear to be working properly. This can give rise to symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence and painful abdominal cramps and abdominal bloating. These symptoms can also indicate other more serious conditions affecting the digestive tract so your doctor may perform a number of diagnostic tests to rule these out before diagnosing IBS.

Although IBS is not serious, it is likely to persist on a long term basis. Once a diagnosis has been made, you can begin to find ways of dealing with the symptoms which may involve permanent diet and lifestyle changes which may even be enough to eradicate the symptoms of IBS altogether or at least make them easier to live with.

How to cope with abdominal pain due to IBS

The first step in any treatment plan for IBS is to identify what foods or drinks trigger the symptoms in the first place and then reduce or eliminate them from the diet. For example, many people with IBS find that they cannot digest Lactulose very well and experience severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea shortly after consuming certain dairy products.

Others may find it is beans and pulses, some fruits and vegetables, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee or even smoking that brings on the pain. Keeping a note of what you eat and drink and how it affects you will help identify your trigger foods.

Stress can also play a significant role in triggering IBS symptoms. When a person is under stress, the brain produces chemicals which have a direct influence on the gut. We can all relate to the sensation in the gut when we are nervous or anxious and in people with IBS this appears to be pronounced. The following tips may prove helpful:

Eat slowly and make sure that mealtimes are relaxed, stress free and unhurried
Don’t be tempted to skip meals, eat smaller portions regularly
Don’t eat for several hours before going to bed
Never ever overeat to the extent that you feel full and bloated
Take more exercise and drink plenty of waterIf abdominal pain is particularly severe, you may require some form of antispasmodic medication to help ease the muscular contractions so speak to your doctor for advice.