IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome and cancer
Although IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be a distressing condition, it seldom causes bowel cancer or bowel damage.
The symptoms of IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome vary and may occur at any age. They most commonly start in late teenage years or early adulthood.
IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms will depend on which parts of the gut are involved. There is often overlap between areas of the gut. Some people may experience problems in only one part of the gut, others in several. Symptoms may also vary over time.
Oesophagus
A sensation like a golf ball in the throat between meals which does not interfere with swallowing (globus).
Heartburn - burning pain often felt behind the breastbone.
Painful swallowing (odynophagia), but without hold-up of food.
Sticking of food (dysphagia) - this requires investigation.
Stomach
Non-ulcer dyspepsia .
Feeling full after small meals. This may reach the stage of not being able to finish a meal.
Abdominal bloating after meals.
Small bowel
Gurgling noises which may be loud enough to cause social embarrassment (borborygmi).
Abdominal bloating which may be so severe that women describe themselves as looking pregnant.
Generalised abdominal tenderness associated with bloating.
Abdominal bloating of both types usually subsides overnight and returns the following day.
Large bowel
Other symptoms
Headaches.
In women, abdominal pain during sex.
Passing urine more often.
Fatigue and tiredness.
Sleep disturbance.
Loss of appetite.
Nausea.
Depressive symptoms in about a third of patients.
Anxiety and stress-related symptoms, which may interact with gut symptoms.
Abdominal bloating of both types usually subsides overnight and returns the following day.
Right-sided abdominal pain, either low, or tucked up under the right ribs. Does not always get better on opening the bowels.
Pain tucked up under the left ribs (splenic flexure syndrome). When the pain is bad, it may enter the left armpit.
Variable and erratic bowel habits alternating from constipation to diarrhoea.
Increased gastro-colic reflex. This is an awakening of the childhood reflex where food in the stomach stimulates colonic activity, resulting in the need to open the bowels.
Severe, short stabbing pains in the rectum, called proctalgia fugax.