1 in 5 people suffer with IBS
By Geraldine Fitzgerald
“My stomach hadn’t been right for as long as I can remember.”
Those were the words of Craig Doyle speaking with the Cork Independent in April which was irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) awareness month.
IBS is incredibly common; often goes undiagnosed and affects one in five Irish people. It causes pain, discomfort and embarrassment, as sufferers frequently get ‘caught short’ if not near a loo.
Now a busy postal worker, Craig trained as a chef and loves his food.
He said: “I constantly felt unwell when I was training, but I put it down to the fact that I had to taste everything I prepared.”
His wife finally got tired of the complaining and everything that goes along with a persistently dodgy tummy, so Craig went to a gastroenterologist to address his gut health.
“I was never diagnosed with a specific condition,” he explained. “My symptoms come and go a lot, and it’s difficult to tell what will trigger a flare up. Sometimes bread or spicy food can cause severe irritation and I’d be in agony, then other times I’d be fine. I take a probiotic supplement and that does help a lot. If I leave my symptoms untreated, flare ups can happen very easily - stress is a big trigger too.”
Living with IBS can be a real challenge, and reactions to food can be inconsistent and subjective.
“Garlic triggers it, but I love garlic! Sometimes I must take tactical risks,” laughed Craig. He’s refreshingly candid about his own IBS; explaining he has friends who suffer from similar issues and are comfortable chatting about ways to alleviate the symptoms.
However, many people are mortified by the symptoms and are too anxious to leave the house, making them socially isolated, stressed and depressed, which in turn can worsen the condition.
Dr Deirdre O’Donovan, Consultant Gastroenterologist at Blackrock Clinic said: “It feels normal for people with IBS to bring extra underwear in their bags in case there’s an accident, or to coordinate their days based on where the toilets are. I assure patients there’s absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about if you have IBS symptoms. It’s important to break the stigma surrounding this condition.”
Women are twice as likely to suffer from IBS as on top of food triggers, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause and endometriosis can all cause flare-ups.
Stress is certainly a known trigger, so starting a discussion with your doctor is the best way to start to feel in control of what’s happening to your body.
Cork-based GP Dr Philip Kieran encourages open conversations about IBS, and urges people to seek treatment.
“We’ve seen many people come into our clinic with debilitating symptoms, who find significant relief with either prescriptive medicine or over the counter supplements.”
Gut health is incredibly important, and impacts quality of life in a huge way.
If you suffer from gut issues, reach out to your GP, or even ask your pharmacist for advice. There are now many gut-health diets, supplements and options for people with IBS, so don’t suffer in silence.