Find care for irritable bowel syndrome from Seattle’s specialists.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common disorder that affects your large intestine. IBS symptoms include:
Despite these uncomfortable symptoms, IBS doesn't cause permanent damage to your colon. Fortunately, unlike colon and intestinal diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, IBS doesn't cause inflammation or changes in bowel tissue or increase your risk of colorectal cancer.
Most people can ease IBS symptoms with changes in diet, medicine and stress management. For more information about IBS or to schedule an appointment with a Virginia Mason gastroenterologist specializing in IBS, call (206) 223-2319.
The signs and symptoms of IBS can vary widely from person to person and often resemble those of other diseases. The most common symptoms include:
Many people have only mild signs and symptoms of IBS. However, sometimes these problems can be disabling. In some cases, you may have severe signs and symptoms that don't respond well to medical treatment. Because symptoms of IBS can occur with other diseases, it's best to discuss these symptoms with your doctor.
Since there are usually no physical signs to definitively diagnose irritable bowel syndrome, diagnosis is often a process of elimination. According to common IBS diagnosis criteria, you must have experienced abdominal pain and discomfort for at least 12 weeks before a doctor would diagnose IBS.
A diagnosis of IBS depends largely on a complete medical history and physical exam. Your doctor may recommend several tests, including stool studies to check for infection or malabsorption problems.
Other tests that you may undergo to rule out other causes for your symptoms include:
Since the cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown, treatment focuses on the relief of symptoms. In most cases, you can successfully control mild signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome by learning to manage stress and making changes in your diet and lifestyle. However, if your symptoms are moderate or severe, you may need to do more. Suggestions from your doctor may include:
Learn more about how Virginia Mason’s gastroenterologists diagnose and treat IBS by calling
(206) 223-2319.