Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a functional bowel disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and discomfort accompanied by alterations in bowel function, diarrhea, constipation or a combination of both, typically over months or years. The cause of IBS is unknown. A diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome has been reported by approximately 15% of adults in the United States, and symptoms of IBS are responsible for over 3.5 million yearly visits to physicians. Research suggests that Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one of the most common functional GI disorders and is one of the most common reasons for consultation with a primary care physician or gastroenterologist. Despite IBS showing to have a significant negative impact on health-related quality of life, only 30% of people with IBS symptoms seek medical attention. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is found predominantly in women in a 2:1 ratio versus men.

There are several subtypes of IBS.

• IBS-D: Diarrhea predominant
• IBS-C: Constipation predominant
• IBS-A: Alternating, or mixed, between constipation and diarrhea
• IBS-PI: Post Infectious IBS

IBS sufferers may experience multiple symptoms of diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, abdominal distention, excessive flatulence, bloating, a continual urge to defecate, urgency to get to a toilet, incontinence, a sensation of incomplete evacuation, straining with a bowel movement, hard / lumpy stools, or even an inability to have a bowel movement at all.

A subset of Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers may have co-morbidities with other disorders namely; GERD / Heartburn, Dyspepsia, Celiac Disease, Chronic Constipation, Chronic Abdominal Pain, Fibromyalgia, Pelvic pain or perhaps Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, known collectively as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). For instance, 29% of GERD patients have Chronic Constipation. Diagnosis can shift from one motility disorder to another over time; however, co-morbidity in IBS may be due to a general amplification of symptom reporting and physician consultation rather than a direct association.

A research study illustrated that patient education in diet, exercise, and stress management showed significant improvement in pain and symptoms at 1 and 6 months of treatment. An educational approach and appropriate use of medications should be components of a physician-based IBS treatment plan.

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Self Help and Support Group, established in 1987, is an award-winning patient advocate group in support of self-management for those who suffer from IBS, those who are looking for support for someone who has IBS, and medical professionals who want to learn more about IBS. The IBS Self Help and Support Group is the largest on-line community for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

This IBS Support Group works to educate those who are living with IBS and to increase awareness about this and other functional gastrointestinal disorders. Much of the involvement in this group involves members sharing their knowledge in the group's forums. IBS Support Group Meetups occur in several regional locations and are noted in the meetups link. In addition to forums, the website provides a list of helpful links, a very comprehensive booklist, research studies, brochures, medical tests, diagnostic criteria, diet, treatment, and medications about, and for, the disease. Our Medical Advisory Board helps to ensure that evidenced-based medicine and clinical accuracy is shared on our website. Many of our Board members are noted medical and clinical experts in the field of IBS and Digestive Health. Our Moderators and Medical Advisory Board provide advice in the form of essays, related to IBS, Digestive Health and Chronic Illness.

At the IBS Support Group, we know that peers are often the best source of information, support and understanding. That's why you'll find more ways to express yourself and connect with your community at the IBS Support Group than anywhere else on the Web! Be sure to drop into the chat room on Sunday evenings for our free for all chat session. Joining our membership is free!.

More medical professionals refer their patients to the IBS Self Help and Support Group website than any other IBS website on the internet.

IBS Forums^TM The world's first and currently the largest collection of postings about IBS by sufferers - in excess of 750,000, making it the largest community created specifically for IBS sufferers.

IBS Blogs^TM A blog is an easy-to-use web site, where you can quickly post thoughts, interact with people, and more. All for FREE. IBS Blogs, is the first and only blogging community created specifically for IBS sufferers!

IBS Stories^TM We invite you to write a sentence, paragraph or story that describes what IBS means to you. Tell your story or perhaps learn from others.

IBS Penpals^TM offers FREE penpals: an opportunity to meet people from around the world through the Internet who suffers from, or knows someone who suffers from IBS. To find a penpal, you can e-mail people listed in our list. 

The IBS Stories section was specifically created to publish contributions from our Members. Stories are categorized into three types Optimistic Stories >>, Perspective Stories >> and, Frustrated Stories >>. All stories are listed here >>.