IBS Awareness Month

April is IBS Awareness Month. And those of us living with the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome ourselves know that this month is only too well deserved and very much required. After all, IBS is massively underestimated and roundly misunderstood by those lucky enough to have dodged its inconvenient stomach-clenching claws.

Ever wondered about that able-bodied looking (but red-faced and panicked) person dodging into the loo? Rolled your eyes at a friend who’s cut an evening out short straight after the cheese board? Wondered what on earth your partner’s doing in there? Read on to learn more about IBS and what makes IBS Awareness Month so important.

What is IBS Awareness Month?

IBS Awareness Month takes place every April, raising awareness about a condition that’s much more than ‘a bit of a dodgy tummy’...

What is IBS?

IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is a lifelong, incurable condition that is underdiagnosed^[i] and misunderstood, in many cases even by medical professionals^[ii].

There are three types of IBS^[iii]:

IBS-D: characterised by regular episodes of diarrhoea, bowel urgency and gas
IBS-C: characterised by regular episodes of constipation, fewer bowel movements and bloating
IBS-M: mixed or alternating IBS is characterised by episodes of constipation alternating with episodes of diarrhoea

People with IBS often experience comorbidities, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, GERD and dyspepsia^[iv]. IBS is also associated with anxiety, depression and somatic symptom disorder^[v].

How many people have IBS?

Around one in five UK adults have IBS, with women more likely to be diagnosed with the condition than their male counterparts^[vi]. Children can also experience IBS, with one in six secondary school aged kids reporting symptoms associated with the condition^[vii].

That said, it’s thought that worldwide, IBS is being wildly underdiagnosed with studies suggesting that up to 75% of those with IBS never receive a diagnosis^[viii]. Why? Aside from the awkwardness of talking about bowel movements, IBS can be tricky to spot, with no formal tests available to provide a definitive diagnosis^[ix]. IBS is also easily confused with other issues, including food intolerances^[x] and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)^[xi], inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Crohn's colitis^[xii].

What are the aims of IBS Awareness Month?

Supported by intestinal health charities, including Guts UK, as well as NHS trusts, IBS Awareness Month raises vital awareness about IBS while also providing reliable, accredited information.

The month is also intended to encourage and empower those experiencing symptoms to seek support from their GP. It also allows the friends, families and employers of those with IBS to better understand a condition that can impact all areas of a person’s life.

What Do You Need to Know About IBS?

Besides the great number of people affected by IBS, just why is this condition considered worthy of its own awareness month?

IBS: the myths

IBS affects everyone equally: every case of IBS is different, which is why it can be so difficult to diagnose. Not only are there the three distinct forms of IBS but each person with the condition is likely to have different triggers, whether that’s dairy, wheat or even stress^[xiii]. Additionally, many people report symptoms that fall outside the traditional diagnostic criteria for IBS, including nausea, back pain, fatigue and even incontinence^[xiv].

IBS is ‘just a bit of diarrhoea’: IBS can have a huge negative impact on a person’s life. Imagine never knowing when a dose of the runs is about to strike, carrying wet wipes and spare underwear everywhere you go and having to let it all go in the bathroom on a train, at the pub or at a friend’s house. And as for IBS-associated constipation? It isn’t just uncomfortable and frustrating, it can cause bloating and lead to complications such as haemorrhoids^[xv], anal fissures^[xvi] and rectal prolapse^[xvii].

IBS is easy to treat: treating IBS isn't as simple as popping an OTC pill. This is because the condition varies so much from person to person^[xviii] and because treating one symptom can lead to another (for example, treating diarrhoea with loperamide may result in constipation^[xix]). There’s no cure-all for IBS, meaning patients are often left to figure out on their own what works for them through time-consuming and discouraging trial-and-error.

IBS is caused by poor diet: though IBS may have dietary triggers, many people with IBS eat well. From dairy^[xx] to high-FODMAP foods (onions, garlic, wheat)^[xxi] and caffeine^[xxii], IBS can have a wide variety of potential food triggers, making it challenging to get to the root cause of an IBS attack. Additionally, some people find that IBS is triggered by stress^[xxiii], hormonal changes^[xxiv], sleep disruption^{[xxv]<^{sup> and even exercise^[xxvi].}}

IBS can be solved with simple dietary changes: for many people changes in diet and lifestyle are enough to reduce IBS symptoms^[xxvii]. However, as outlined above, establishing triggers is tricky, involving elimination diets and food diaries. Then there are those cases in which triggers aren’t food-based. And even with lifestyle changes, there’s no guarantee that symptoms won’t strike when you’re least expecting it.

IBS: the stigma

Both scientific studies and anecdotal data show that those with IBS are subject to stigma, both self-imposed and from others^[xxviii]. This stigma is often linked to the social taboo around bowel movements^[xxix], yet research shows that IBS stigma is also experienced in other ways, including^[xxx]:

Assumptions based on IBS’s link to mental health
Belief that IBS is ‘all in your head’
Work absenteeism due to IBS symptoms
Withdrawal from social situations due to symptoms

In some cases, IBS patients also describe stigmatisation by doctors due to repeated appointments, prescriptions and procedures while trying to gain diagnosis^[xxxi].

IBS Awareness Month: Get Involved

Now you’ve got the lowdown on IBS it’s time to get involved in April’s IBS Awareness Month...

How to get support during IBS Awareness Month

Are you affected by IBS? Think you might have this condition? Now’s the perfect time to get the support you deserve by:

Speaking to your GP, because your doctor really isn’t fazed by poo queries
Reading up on all things IBS in our dedicated IBS awareness hub
Learning more through IBS Awareness Month events like Guts UK’s IBS webinars, sponsored by PrecisionBiotics
Finding out more about how IBS is linked to your gut microbiome and how probiotic supplementation can help

How learning about IBS helps

The most important thing about IBS Awareness Month is that it gets people talking about this much maligned condition. Perhaps you don’t have IBS yourself, but you live, work or just hang out with someone who does. Understanding what someone with IBS is going through and making them feel comfortable and understood, even when things get distressingly, noisily serious in the office bathroom or home en-suite, can make a world of difference.

IBS Awareness Month is all about making sure those with IBS are seen and supported, by healthcare workers, employers, friends and loved ones, so when they need help, they know where to turn.

Summary

We know that IBS affects at least one in every five people, possibly many more. That’s why IBS Awareness Month is so important, helping people to learn more about a condition that’s often misunderstood and reducing the stigma associated with it. You can participate in IBS Awareness Month in numerous ways, including attending events, following organisations like Guts UK on social media and raising funds for associated charities. IBS Awareness Month is also the ideal time to talk to friends, family members and colleagues with IBS to find out how you can support them.