5 WAYS YOU CAN Take Control of IBS

Do you have abdominal pain and diarrhea so unpredictable you’re afraid to stray too far from a restroom? How about abdominal pain and constipation that is resistant to every over the counter laxative and stool softener you’ve tried? Do you find that eating or not eating certain foods may help your symptoms one day but not the next? You may have a gastrointestinal disorder called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

IBS causes predominately abdominal pain with constipation, diarrhea or alternating constipation and diarrhea. Many IBS sufferers choose not to seek treatment because of embarrassment, but Dr. Adrianne Van Norman, a gastroenterologist at Houston Methodist West Hospital, has tips to help you manage your symptoms.

Start By Getting To The Root Of The Problem

“IBS is a disorder of brain-gut interaction. Our central nervous system, which consists of our brain and spinal cord and our gut nervous system, also called our enteric nervous system, are intricately connected. So if we are feeling anxious, depressed, or undergoing stressful events, those feelings can result in altered bowel habits and abdominal pain. Similarly, if there is a disorder in the gut, that can affect our mental health,” explained Van Norman.

If you’ve ever had butterflies efore giving a speech or a bellyache during a heated argument, you can understand the brain and stomach connection.

There are many treatments for IBS aside from medications.

5 Tips For Reducing Your Ibs Symptoms

1. S ee your doctor as soon as symptoms appear. Your doctor will know what treatment course is best for you. According to Van Norman, IBS may mimic serious disease symptoms, so your doctor must rule out any underlying disorder.

2. Prioritize lifestyle changes. Exercise, get plenty of sleep and do activities to reduce your stress levels.

3. C onsider dietary changes with the low-FODMAP diet. “ The low-FODMAP diet has been shown to reduce overall symptoms of IBS,” says Van Norman. It eliminates common food triggers of IBS symptoms and then reintroduces them slowly over time.

4. Try peppermint oil. “Peppermint oil has also been shown to reduce overall symptoms of IBS, but specifially it works as an antispasm medication to improve abdominal pain,” says Van Norman. You can also try over-the-counter peppermint oil capsules twice a day.

Do a mental health check. While your doctor can treat the “gut” portion of IBS, it is important to remember that taking care of your mental health plays an equally large role. Therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and hypnotherapy, have been shown to also improve overall IBS symptoms.

“It is important to remember that treatment of IBS is highly individualized and it may take several trials of different medications and approaches to determine what works best for each patient,” says Van Norman. •

If you are concerned you may have IBS, schedule an appointment with a primary care doctor. Visit houstonmethodist.org/pcg/west or call 713.394.6791.