An Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) diagnosis might be overwhelming and leave you feeling unsure. How will your quality of life be impacted? Is there a cure? What are the therapy options?
Your IBS-C will be treated based on its severity. People with mild IBS-C can often treat and manage their symptoms without using prescription medication. In more severe cases, numerous therapies have been demonstrated to help with both constipation and stomach pain symptoms.
The key to treating your IBS symptoms is to educate yourself about the nature of this digestive disorder so that you can identify and manage your triggers. You should consider documenting your food and symptoms to better understand the link between IBS and your lifestyle, diet, and mental health.
We've put up a detailed guide on managing IBS-C.
1. Diet
A balanced and healthy diet is one of the most effective methods to control IBS-C symptoms.
One of the many important parts of a healthy diet is fiber. Foods high in soluble fiber include:
- Carrots
- Oats
- Psyllium
- Peas
- Flaxseeds
- Barley
- Beans and legumes
- Oranges
To improve your IBS-C, try limiting these foods:
- Wheat bran
- Whole-wheat flour
- Nuts
- Vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower
- Green beans
- Potatoes
If you have IBS-C, you should avoid high protein, low carb diets, as they have been known to exacerbate constipation due to insufficient fiber consumption. CDHF suggests consulting with a registered IBS doctor to ensure that you are getting enough carbohydrates, protein, and fat to maintain a balanced diet.
Drinking enough water every day will assist things flow down your digestive tract and relieve your constipation symptoms.
2. Lifestyle
Lifestyle adjustments can help relieve discomfort, stress, and bloating, and regulate bowel motions. Here are a few things where you can focus extra attention:
- Exercise
- Eating regularly and intentionally
- Reducing alcohol consumption
- Managing Stress
3. Medications and natural remedies
While lifestyle and dietary adjustments can help control moderate IBS-C symptoms, if they do not improve or worsen, you may need additional treatment. For short-term or occasional use, over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines are indicated. If your symptoms persist, you should seek medical attention. With the correct medication, you should be able to relieve your symptoms and keep IBS-C from interfering with your daily activities and quality of life.
4. Therapy
Seeing a doctor who specializes in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Hypnotherapy can help you understand and manage some of the emotions you may be experiencing as a result of your diagnosis, as well as stress in your daily life.
What is CBT?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological treatment that focuses on how people cope with stress or issues. Its goal is to assist people manage better with their difficulties by modifying their thinking and behavior habits. Studies have indicated that seeing a CBT-trained therapist reduces GI symptoms in IBS patients. IBS is a gut-brain axis problem, thus therapy can help with both psychological and physical symptoms.
One significant restriction of this therapy approach is its availability and expensive load, making it unavailable to many patients with IBS. Alternative methods include relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, and meditation, but research on their effectiveness is currently limited.
What treatment option is best for me?
The most effective IBS treatment will be determined by your specific situation. Healthy lifestyle changes are essential for the long-term management of this illness, but the other treatment methods suggested may be useful in the short term while you bring your IBS-C under control. In every circumstance, a personalized strategy should be considered.
Finally, it comes down to being patient, remaining informed, maintaining a solid physician-patient connection, and staying in touch with your body so that you and your doctor can collaborate to find the optimum treatment for your IBS-C.
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