Post by MD Burak BİLBAY

🩺 Physician's Notes — Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) One of the most common reasons people come in: a chronic but very manageable condition of belly pain plus changes in bowel habits. The picture: abdominal pain/cramps related to bowel movements, diarrhea or constipation (or both, alternating), bloating, gas, and sometimes mucus in the stool. IBS does not damage the bowel or cause cancer — but it meaningfully affects quality of life. How is it diagnosed? There is no single "IBS test." Diagnosis is clinical, after ruling out other conditions that can mimic it. What helps: keeping a food–symptom diary to spot triggers, cutting back on gas-forming foods and (if needed) milk/lactose, adding fiber for constipation, regular physical activity (3–5 days/week), and stress management. For selected patients, a low-FODMAP approach with a dietitian can help. When needed, a clinician may suggest antispasmodics, anti-diarrheals/laxatives, or low-dose neuromodulators. Don't dismiss these: blood in stool or black stools, diarrhea waking you at night, persistent bowel changes, severe/worsening pain, unintentional weight loss, fever or chills — these should not be attributed to IBS and warrant evaluation. Source: UpToDate — Patient education: Irritable bowel syndrome (The Basics). For educational purposes; not a substitute for individual medical advice. — Dr. Burak Bilbay | Internal Medicine #IBS #Gastroenterology #HealthLiteracy #InternalMedicine #GutHealth