Irritable Bowel Syndrome Self Help and Support Group

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Self Help Group, established in 1987, is an award-winning patient advocate group in support of guided self-management for 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 forums. IBS Support Group Meetups occur in several regional locations and are noted in the meetups 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. Be sure to chat with us every Wednesday and Sunday evening. Join now!.

At the IBS Support Group, we know that peers are often the best source of information, support and understanding. That's why you'll find more ways to express yourself and connect with your community at the IBS Support Group than anywhere else on the Web!

More medical professionals refer their patients to the IBS Self Help and Support Group website than any other IBS website on the internet.

IBS Forums^TM The world's first and currently the largest collection of postings about IBS by sufferers - in excess of 700,000, 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 eCards^TM offers FREE eCards: Send a friend an e-greeting via email. Share how you are feeling or simply send them a note for the fun of it.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome 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 Irritable Bowel Syndrome 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 Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one of the most common functional GI disorders.  Irritable Bowel Syndrome exhibits a predominance in women, with females representing over 70% of IBS sufferers.

This brochure explains about Irritable Bowel Syndrome to people who do not have IBS, written by a member of the IBS Self Help Group Forums.

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Focus on Chronic Constipation and
IBS with 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 and constipation predominant IBS (IBS-C).

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