IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Understanding common IBS symptoms, what may be contributing to them, and when further investigation may be helpful.
Many people with IBS feel trapped in a cycle of bloating, unpredictable bowel habits and food restrictions, yet still don't feel they understand why their symptoms are happening.
You may experience:
Bloating that worsens throughout the day
Constipation, diarrhoea, or both
Food reactions that seem unpredictable
Excess gas
Abdominal discomfort
Symptoms that improve temporarily before returning again
While IBS is a recognised diagnosis, it does not always explain what is driving symptoms.
For some people, factors such as gut motility, food reactivity, fermentation patterns, stress physiology or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) may also be contributing.
What Are Common IBS Symptoms?
IBS symptoms vary between individuals but commonly include:
Bloating and abdominal distension
Abdominal discomfort or cramping
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Alternating bowel habits
Excess gas
Food sensitivities or food reactivity
Urgency after eating
Incomplete bowel motions
Symptoms may fluctuate over time and often worsen during periods of stress, illness, travel or dietary change.
Why IBS Can Be Difficult To Treat
Many people with IBS have already tried:
Low FODMAP diets
Elimination diets
Fibre supplements
Probiotics
Multiple supplements
Yet symptoms continue to return.
This is often because IBS describes a pattern of symptoms rather than explaining why those symptoms are occurring.
The more important question is often:
What is driving the symptoms in the first place?
Why Can I Eat A Food One Day But Not The Next?
This is one of the most common questions people ask.
Many people notice they can tolerate a food one day and react to it another.
Factors that may influence this include:
Stress levels
Sleep quality
Gut motility
Overall digestive load
Fermentation patterns
Recent dietary intake
Because symptoms are influenced by multiple factors, food is not always the entire story.
Could My IBS Actually Be SIBO?
For some individuals, symptoms attributed to IBS may overlap with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).
Common overlapping symptoms include:
• Bloating
• Excess gas
• Food intolerance
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal discomfort
Not everyone with IBS has SIBO.
However, when symptoms are persistent, recurrent or difficult to explain, further investigation may sometimes be appropriate.
Why Do IBS Symptoms Flare During Stress?
The digestive system and nervous system communicate continuously.
Stress can influence:
Digestive secretions
Gut motility
Food tolerance
Bowel habits
Sensitivity to gas and distension
For some people, digestive symptoms become significantly more noticeable during periods of increased stress, poor sleep or major life change.
When Further Investigation May Be Helpful
Many people with IBS-like symptoms have previously been told that routine investigations are normal, yet continue to experience significant digestive symptoms. Further assessment may be worth considering when:
Symptoms are persistent
Symptoms repeatedly return
Significant bloating is present
Multiple dietary approaches have failed
Food reactivity is becoming more restrictive
Previous treatment has provided only temporary relief
Depending on the presentation, this may include pathology assessment, SIBO testing or other investigations where clinically relevant.
My Approach To IBS
Rather than assuming IBS is a single condition with a single solution, consultations focus on identifying the physiological patterns that may be contributing to your presentation. My approach considers factors such as:
Gut motility
Fermentation patterns
Food reactivity
Nervous system regulation
Digestive function
Lifestyle factors
The goal is not simply to remove foods or suppress symptoms, but to better understand what may be contributing to them.
Related Reading
Digestive Health Consultations
If you're experiencing persistent bloating, food reactivity, constipation, diarrhoea or IBS-like symptoms, consultations are available in Maroochydore and via Telehealth Australia wide.