IBS Constipation
Some Basic Facts about IBS Constipation
For most people who suffer from IBS, constipation is one of the major symptoms. If you don't have a problem in that respect, you may have the opposite issue, diarrhea. Those who suffer from constipation can often be helped by various therapies used in coordination with each other. Your physician may also want you to think about changes in stress management, exercise and diet, in addition to medication. Some IBS constipation sufferers are also helped by hypnosis, biofeedback or relaxation therapy.
The goal of any IBS treatment plan is not only to ease IBS constipation, but also to aid in relieving or eliminating bloating, pain and stomach aches.
Never try to home-treat yourself if you think you have IBS. You can make the condition worse if you begin taking a variety of over-the-counter medications, with a plan to relieve IBS constipation, bloating or pain. You need to speak to your physician to determine the best combination of medications and lifestyle changes to help you.
To rid you of your IBS constipation, there are some treatments that your health care provider may recommend to you:
Changes in diet can help many IBS sufferers to control their symptoms, or at least to make them more manageable. Fiber is a stool softener, which will make your stool easier to pass, and eliminate some of the related IBS constipation. Very few people eat the recommended twenty to thirty-five grams of fiber a day that they should.
If you suffer from IBS constipation, you should slowly include more fiber in your diet. Fiber sources you can tap into include beans, vegetables, fruits, cereals, and whole-grain bread. There are also other foods that can help loosen the bowels. Those include flaxseed, prune juice, water and dried plums.
You will help to combat your IBS constipation if you avoid foods and drinks that can actually make your stool pass more slowly. These include white rice, cookies, chips, alcohol, carbonated drinks and coffee.
Keep in mind that just because a treatment or diet program works for another person does not mean it will work for you. Each person is an individual, and their treatment plans for IBS constipation need to be tailored for them. Some people have gas or diarrhea if they eat a great deal of fiber. You may want to keep a diet journal, so you can note what helps your IBS constipation and what doesn't.
You may also elect to treat your IBS constipation with fiber supplements. These include psyllium, calcium, corn fiber and wheat bran. Be careful not to over-do any bran supplements. Consult your health care professional before you make any diet changes to combat your IBS.