IBS & Functional Gut Disorders

• Recurrent abdominal pain or cramping, often eased by opening the bowels
• Bloating and a feeling of abdominal distension
• Diarrhoea, constipation, or alternating between the two
• A sensation of incomplete emptying after a bowel motion
• Increased wind and gurgling in the abdomen
• Mucus in the stool
• Symptoms that worsen with stress or after eating certain foods

The exact cause of IBS is not fully understood, but it is thought to result from a combination of factors. These include increased sensitivity of the gut, abnormal patterns of bowel muscle activity, disturbances in the communication between the gut and the brain, and changes in the gut bacteria. Stress, anxiety and certain foods commonly trigger or worsen symptoms, although they are not the underlying cause.

IBS often begins in early adulthood and is more common in women. It can sometimes follow a bout of gastroenteritis. Importantly, IBS is a diagnosis that is made with confidence once structural and inflammatory conditions have been excluded, especially when warning symptoms are present. Understanding that the bowel itself is healthy is often a key part of managing the condition.

Assessment begins with a careful review of your symptoms, their pattern and any warning features, together with a clinical examination. The presence or absence of red-flag symptoms, such as rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss or a change in bowel habit at an older age, guides how much investigation is needed. Blood tests are usually arranged to check for anaemia, inflammation and coeliac disease.

Where there is any concern about a structural cause, Mr Hussain may recommend a colonoscopy to inspect the lining of the bowel directly, or review existing imaging such as a CT scan. Once these tests confirm the bowel is healthy, a confident diagnosis of IBS can be made. Where ongoing medical management is needed, referral to a gastroenterologist ensures you receive specialist, condition-focused care.

From a surgical perspective, the most important step is to safely exclude structural causes such as bowel cancer, diverticular disease and inflammatory bowel disease, especially where there are red-flag symptoms. At your consultation Mr Hussain reviews your symptoms and any warning features, examines you, and arranges targeted tests — usually blood tests and, where indicated, a colonoscopy.

Once the bowel is confirmed to be healthy, a confident diagnosis of IBS can be made and the focus shifts to management — dietary changes, medication for specific symptoms and lifestyle measures — with referral to a gastroenterologist for ongoing specialist care where needed. The reassurance that nothing serious is wrong is itself an important part of feeling better, and Mr Hussain ensures you leave with a clear explanation and a plan.

IBS is a long-term condition that tends to fluctuate, with periods of better and worse symptoms, but it can usually be controlled well so that it has little impact on daily life. Once serious causes have been excluded, many people find that the reassurance itself reduces their anxiety and improves their symptoms. With the right combination of dietary, lifestyle and medical measures, most patients achieve good, lasting control.

Management is an ongoing process rather than a one-off cure, and it may take some time to find the approach that works best for you. Mr Hussain ensures you leave with a clear diagnosis, an explanation of what IBS is and is not, and a plan for continued care, including specialist referral where appropriate.