2

A common condition 3-4

Who suffers from IBS? 5

What are the symptoms? 6

What causes IBS? 9

IBS patients may have a moresensitive colon than other people 10

What steps can you take torelieve your symptoms? 10-11

IBS management tips 12

Developing an effectivepartnership with your doctor 13-14

A GUIDE TO CONTROLLINGIrritable Bowel Syndrome

3

Living with the abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, and constipation

and/ or diarrhea (IBS)

a common conditionIf you suffer from IBS, you are not alone.

Between 5 to 20% of the population suffer

from abdominal pain, discomfort, and

irregular bowel movements.

If you’re like many sufferers, you have

already developed your own ways of coping

with the pain and discomfort. Many sufferers

change their work schedule and their diets,

avoid specific foods, and choose not to visit

places where it’s inconvenient to go to the

bathroom. These efforts may help, but

unfortunately they don’t provide much relief.

4

you’re not alone...And while our understanding of this common—yet often disrup-

tive—condition grows every day, a cure for IBS has yet to be

found. The good news is that there are measures you can take

to ease the painful symptoms. By changing your diet, finding

ways to balance the stress in your life, and if necessary,

taking medication, many people can reduce the

impact that IBS has on their lives.

This brochure will answer some

common questions about IBS and

highlight some management tips.

By broadening your understand-

ing, you can work together with

your medical professional to

start controlling abdominal pain/

discomfort, bloating, and bowel irregu-

larity so you can get back to enjoying everyday

life.

5

IBS affects people from all walks oflife

IBS can be painful and frustrating, but it doesn’tincrease your chances of getting cancer, and it doesn’t cause

any serious long-term harm to your digestive system.

IBS Q & A

If you suffer from the abdominal

p a i n / d i s c o m f o r t , b l o a t i n g , a n d

irregularity of IBS, you are not alone.

Some experts estimate that as many as

20% of the US population suffer from the

chronic condition. IBS affects both

younger and older patients, but people

usually have symptoms before age 35.

who suffers

6

what are the

symptomsMost people with IBS have abdominal pain and discomfort. Some people have pain

mixed with constipation and bloating. Others have pain mixed with constipation,

diarrhea, or alternating patterns between the two.

People commonly experience a variety of symptoms, including abdominal pain,

discomfort, diarrhea, and constipation.

Sufferers with alternating or mixed IBS may not have a bowel movement

for several days and then may experience diarrhea for a day. Those

who suffer from constipation may feel as if they are straining

in order to pass stool or they pass hard/lumpy stool.

Other common signs of IBS can include attacks of

severe abdominal pain, feeling as if you haven’t com-

pletely emptied your bowels, and passage of mucus in

the stool. Many patients also experience anxiety and

stress as a result of the irregularity and unpredictability

of abdominal pain and/or altered bowel function.

7

“I hate to go to the movies

and eat at restaurants. I never know

when I’m going to have an attack of

severe abdominal pain.”

8

“Sometimes the pain is so bad I

can’t go to work. I often have

to cancel plans because

my symptoms start

acting up.”

9

what causes IBSUnfortunately, the exact causes of IBS are still not

known, although research is being done to gain a

better understanding of the condition. IBS is

considered a functional disorder rather than

an anatomic disorder. This means that when

physicians examine the colon, there is no physical

sign of disease, such as a tumor or damaged

tissue. Because there is no clear physical sign of a

problem, IBS is more difficult to diagnose. Your

physician will make the diagnosis based on such

key symptoms as abdominal pain, discomfort,

diarrhea, and constipation. Your physician may

also choose to run tests to exclude other, potentially

more serious disorders.

IBS is considered a functional disorder.

Functional disorder:

1. A disorder with no known physical or structural problem to explain the symptoms.

2. A disorder relating to function.

Other examples of functionaldisorders: GERD (gastroe-sophageal reflux disorder)and dyspepsia.

10

eliminate stressIBS patients may have a more sensitive colon than other people

It has also been discovered that the colon of a person with IBS may

be very sensitive, causing them to have a stronger reaction to

movements in their digestive tract. This sensitivity could

cause pain, bloating, and constipation and/or diar-

rhea.

what steps can you take to relieve yoursymptoms?

You may be able to reduce the burden

of your symptoms by making some

basic lifestyle changes, namely changing

your diet, starting and sticking to an exer-

cise p rog ram, and f i nd ing way s t o

effectively deal with the stress in your life (eg, yoga

or exercise).

11

enjoy a

healthy dietAlcohol may make your IBS worse, so its use should be

limited. You should also try to avoid using laxatives and

antidiarrheals too frequently. Adding more fiber to your

diet can also be helpful. However, this should be done

gradually to avoid the bloating and discomfort that fiber

can often cause. You may also want to stay away from

carbonated beverages, large and/or heavy meals,

artificial sweeteners, chewing gum and candy containing

sorbitol, and foods high in fat.

Communicating with your physician on a regular basis is

also a good idea. Together you can determine whether

or not your treatment approach is working as well as it

can and what you can do to enhance the results. If

lifestyle changes do not help, your doctor can advise you

about treatments that may help ease your symptoms of

abdominal pain, discomfort, and constipation and/or

diarrhea.

12

DoEat a balanced diet

Gradually add fiber to your diet

Exercise

Relax

Learn how to effectively manage the stress in

your life

Don'tEat large and/or heavy meals

Eat fatty foods

Consume alcohol and caffeine to excess

Chew gum or eat candy containing sorbitol

Drink carbonated beverages

Use artificial sweeteners

IBS management tips

13

Developing an effective partnership withyour doctor

Effectively managing IBS requires a positive working relationship between you and your doctor. When visiting your

doctor, it ’s a good idea to have your questions and concernswritten down so that you don’t forget anything.

Some typical questions your doctor may ask are listed below. By completingthis card, bringing it to your next visit, and sharing this information with

your doctor, you’ll be able to make the most of your time together.1. What specific symptoms are you suffering from?

2. How long have you been suffering from these symptoms?

3. Does having a bowel movement relieve your abdominal pain?

4. How many bowel movements have you had this week and what was their consistency (ie, hard, lumpy, loose, watery)?

5. Do your symptoms get worse after eating certain foods? If so, which foods?

6. Are you currently taking fiber supplements?

7. How much dietary fiber do you eat per day?(Some examples of foods high in dietary fiber are fruits, vegetables, fiber cereals, and bran muffins.)

8. Does fiber help relieve your symptoms?

9. How much water do you drink per day?

10. How often do you exercise?

11. How effectively do you manage stress?

12. What medications are you currently taking?

14

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15

notes

This service has been provided by:Novartis Pharma Services Inc.Scientific Office - P.O.Box 11-3448Beirut, Lebanon Tel.: 01 371566

If these symptoms sound familiar,

seek the advice of your doctor

as soon as possible...

a new medication might

be suitable for you

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