I B S

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a “syndrome,” meaning a group of symptoms. The most common symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain or discomfort often reported as cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and/or constipation. IBS affects the colon, or large bowel, which is the part of the digestive tract that stores stool.

IBS is not a disease. It’s a functional disorder, meaning that the bowel doesn’t work, or function, correctly.

What are the symptoms of IBS?

The main symptoms of IBS are

abdominal pain or discomfort in the abdomen, often relieved by or associated with a bowel movement
chronic diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both

Other symptoms are

whitish mucus in the stool
a swollen or bloated abdomen
the feeling that you have not finished a bowel movement

Women with IBS often have more symptoms during their menstrual periods.

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome web site.

This site lists the pros and cons of hydrotherapy for IBS sufferers and comments from sufferers on their experiences.