Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Diagnosis

There is no test for IBS. Your doctor will diagnosis IBS if you have the typical symptoms and have been tested for other disorders that can cause similar symptoms.Your doctor will ask about your medical history and symptoms. Your doctor will examine you, testing your abdomen for tenderness and feeling to determine whether internal organs are larger than normal. The doctor will check for fever or weight loss. If you have any of these signs, you may have something other than IBS.

Depending on your medical history, your doctor may do tests to eliminate other diseases that may cause similar symptoms. These tests might include:

• Blood tests

• Stool sample, to check for blood or evidence of infection

• Sigmoidoscopy, in which a flexible, lighted tube with a tiny camera on the end is inserted into the rectum and up the left side of the colon, or a colonoscopy, in which a longer tube examines the entire colon

• Barium X-ray, in which a chalky solution is swallowed or pumped into the rectum to coat the inside of the gastrointestinal tract and highlight abnormalities

• Asking you to stop eating or drinking certain foods for up to three weeks to determine if your diet is contributing to your symptoms (for example, your doctor may ask you to eliminate milk products if he or she suspects lactose intolerance)

Expected Duration

IBS symptoms may be a daily problem throughout a person's life, or symptoms may come and go, lasting a day, a week or a month before disappearing. Treatment may get rid of symptoms, and dietary changes may help to reduce the frequency or severity of symptoms.