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SOUTH DENVER GASTROENTEROLOGY, P.C.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
in Denver

Home   -  Conditions & Procedures  -  Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)  -   Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a group of symptoms that affect the digestive system. While the exact cause of IBS is not known, there are several factors that may play a role including how the muscles contract in the intestine, abnormalities in the nerves of the digestive system, bacterial overgrowth in the intestines, early life stress or changes in gut microbes.

Common symptoms associated with IBS include:

  • Abdominal pain.
  • Cramping.
  • Abdominal bloating.
  • Changes in bowel movements.
  • Excess gas.

There are also different categories of IBS based on the symptoms experienced, which include:

  • IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D): Stool is usually loose and watery.
  • IBS with constipation (IBS-C): Stool is hard or pebble-like.
  • IBS with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M): Individuals have a mix of hard and loose bowel movements on a daily basis.

How is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diagnosed?

If you have been experiencing uncomfortable GI symptoms, be sure to speak with your GI provider. He or she will speak with you regarding your medical history and perform a physical exam. Depending on your symptoms, testing may be recommended, including stool tests, a breath test for SIBO, lactose intolerance tests, colonoscopy, X-ray, CT scan, upper endoscopy or more. These tests can help your doctor to gather the information he or she needs to properly diagnose and treat your condition.

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Treatment Options for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Treatment for your IBS will be personalized depending on your symptoms. Oftentimes, treatment may include lifestyle and dietary changes, medications or a combination of both.

Dietary Changes

Your doctor may recommend that you eliminate specific foods from your diet, including foods that cause gas or bloating such as alcohol or carbonated drinks, gluten or FODMAPs such as fructose, fructans and lactose. Oftentimes, a dietician knowledgeable regarding IBS can help you to successfully make these diet changes.

Lifestyle Changes

Individuals diagnosed with IBS should stop smoking, exercise regularly and regulate their stress as best as possible. Eating smaller meals throughout the day can also be helpful in reducing symptoms.

Medications

There are a number of medications that may be able to help with several aspects of IBS. Probiotics can help to balance the good bacteria in your gut to improve symptoms, while other medicines can help to improve symptoms of diarrhea, constipation or abdominal cramping. Antidepressant medications may be prescribed for those with anxiety or depression along with their GI discomfort.

What is the Difference between IBD and IBS?

Oftentimes, people get Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) confused with each other. However, they are two different conditions with different symptoms. While IBD is a disease, IBS is a group of symptoms. IBS also does not inflame or damage the intestines as IBD does, and surgery and hospitalization for IBS are rare. However, it is possible for an individual to have both IBD and IBS at the same time.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome FAQs

What are the symptoms of IBS?

IBS symptoms may include abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, changes in bowel movements, frequency of bowel movements, diarrhea, constipation and excess gas. If you are experiencing concerning symptoms, you need to see a doctor right away. Our expert gastroenterologists in Castle Rock, Englewood, Lone Tree or Parker can help.

How common is irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome is very common. It's estimated that as much as 15% of the U.S. population struggles with IBS symptoms. These symptoms can sometimes be present throughout a person's life.

What is the treatment for IBS?

There are a variety of treatments for IBS. Treatment for the condition may involve some trial and error to find what works best for you. The first thing your doctor might recommend is dietary changes. You may be asked to limit gluten, foods with fructose and lactose, or foods and drinks that cause gas. Your doctor will also ask you to consider making lifestyle changes, including quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and keeping stress to a minimum. Supporting a healthy intestinatl microbiome can help. Some medications can help regulate your IBS symptoms as well.

Can IBS be cured?

There is no cure for IBS. Treatment focuses on managing the severity of symptoms to improve quality of life.

Can certain foods trigger irritable bowel syndrome?

Some foods can make IBS symptoms worse. These foods include milk, items with high fructose corn syrup, carbonated drinks, caffeine and sugar free chewing gum.

What causes IBS?

The cause of IBS isn't completely known. A combination of factors is responsible for someone developing the condition. These factors may include dietary impacts, microbiome imbalances, problems with how the muscles in the GI tract move and contract, increased sensitivity to the nerves in the GI tract, miscommunication between the brain and the gut.

Who is more at risk for IBS?

Women are two times more likely than men to develop IBS. People who are 50 and under are also more likely to develop IBS than those who are older than 50. If you're struggling with IBS or are experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms you're worried about, call one of our office locations in Castle Rock, Englewood, Lone Tree or Parker, CO.

Your South Denver GI Team

At South Denver GI, our team of physicians and advanced practice providers have the expertise to provide you with outstanding care. If you would like to learn more about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or need to schedule an appointment at our office, contact us today!


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Individuals who are experiencing symptoms associated with IBS or have been diagnosed and are seeking proper treatment should contact South Denver GI today. Our skilled team of professionals aims to provide each of our patients with effective and prompt treatment for optimal results.

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