Irritable Bowel Syndrome Self Help and Support Group

"It's drastic. The symptoms are sometimes constant. There's diarrhea and abdominal pain or constipation and bloating. I can't commit to anything too far in advance or anything that is regularly occurring. It greatly affects my life and I'm grateful that there is someone to turn to for support and information."

"... this group represents the real voice of the IBS sufferer, in a professional and dignified manner."

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Self Help Group, established in 1987, is a patient advocate group in support of 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 Bulletin Board. Support group meetings occur in several regional locations and are noted in the meetings link. In addition to a bulletin board, the website provides a list of helpful links, a very comprehensive booklist, research studies, brochures, medical tests, diagnostic criteria, and medications about, and for, the disease. Consider joining our membership. Be sure to chat with us every Wednesday and Sunday evening.

IBS Bulletin Board^TM The world's first and currently the largest collection of postings about IBS by sufferers - in excess of 550,000, 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 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.

IBS 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.  A diagnosis of IBS has been reported by 10 to 20% of adults in the United States, and symptoms of IBS are responsible for over 3 million yearly visits to physicians.  Research suggests that IBS is one of the most common functional GI disorders.  IBS exhibits a predominance in women, with females representing over 70% of IBS sufferers.

This brochure explains about IBS to people who do not have IBS, written by a member of the IBS Self Help Group Bulletin Board.

Daily Lifestyle Video

Focus on Chronic Constipation
The ABC symptoms A slow-moving digestive system may be the cause of your Chronic Constipation or Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation. It can result in what is called the ABC symptoms.

• Abdominal discomfort: Cramps, twinges or sharp aches that may be in several locations or change location.
• Bloating: A full, tight feeling in the abdomen often caused by excessive gas in the intestines. The abdomen may appear distended, as if heavy and full.
• Constipation: This bowel pattern is different for everyone, but could include infrequent bowel movements, hard or lumpy stools, difficulty in passing stools, inability to have a bowel movement, incomplete elimination, straining with a bowel movement or any of these in combination.

Chronic Constipation symptoms can also include:

• Constipation lasting over 6 months.
• 3 or less bowel movements each week.
  
  You may also have some or all of the following:
• Straining with a bowel movement.
• Infrequent bowel movements.
• Hard or lumpy stools.
• Difficulty in passing stools.
• Inability to have a bowel movement.
• Incomplete evacuation.

If you have these troubling symptoms, talk to your doctor about prescription treatment options that are available now for chronic constipation.

We subscribe to the HONcode principles of the Health On the Net Foundation