IBS & Overlapping Conditions
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Symptoms Beyond the Gut?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common diagnosis that often lands folks in our office. It can be frustrating for a number of reasons - the fluctuating and uncomfortable symptoms, but also the lack of options and testing available. Most lab work and imaging comes back normal - but symptoms persist.
What is IBS?
IBS is what we call a “functional” bowel disorder - meaning it causes gastrointestinal symptoms in the absence of a disease that we can point to. Symptoms involve recurrent abdominal pain that is associated with bowel movements or a change in bowel habits - constipation, diarrhea or a combination of both. The cause of IBS is difficult to pinpoint
One thing that has become apparent as research evolves in this area is that those with IBS tend to seek more medical care than those without. Interestingly, this care they seek is often for non-gastrointestinal symptoms. This is about three times as much as age-matched folks without IBS. They are also twice as likely to be diagnosed with a number of other disorders that, on the surface, have little to do with the gut!
What are the conditions most related to IBS?
Among the most common associated conditions, anxiety and depression are some of the most common. Chronic fatigue syndrome, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), and chronic pelvic pain (including those with endometriosis) are other conditions that overlap significantly. All of these conditions are also more common in women, may be associated with fatigue, sleep difficulties, anxiety and depression.
Why do we have this overlap?
There are a few theories as to why those with IBS also present with these other conditions - many theories related to the nervous system. Increased sensitivity in the organs (visceral sensitivity) make these patients sense pain more intensely and out of proportion with actual tissue damage. More information than we need is sent to the brain. Stress and our stress response system may also play a big role. When our sympathetic side of our autonomic nervous system predominates (think, fight or flight), this impacts the smooth muscle in our gut, how well we digest, and how our internal systems are regulated in general. Stress also amplifies our body’s arousal/alertness in general.
Some of us also tend towards somatization more than others. Somatization means “to express in the body”. To some degree, we all experience this - think, butterflies in your stomach, sweaty palms, heart racing when you are nervous. For some, this is more intense and magnified. It can show up as seemingly unrelated symptoms. This might depend on our individual life experiences, stressors etc.
Some cases of IBS may have originated from a more physical and gut-specific concern - maybe after a bout of gastroenteritis - and others may follow a psychological stressor. There is often an overlap of a few causes, which requires support from all angles.
Our naturopathic doctors always approach your case as unique to you and support in a way that makes sense for your situation. Book a complimentary meet and greet to learn more about how we can support your gut concerns.