Question: What are some common symptoms of IBS diseases? I am concerned about some cramping I have been getting. Is this a symptom?

Answer: “IBS diseases” is a misnomer. IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, is a disease in and of itself. Other digestive issues will have their own name. Now that we have clarified that we’ll give you an overview of the symptoms of IBS.

The cramping you are experiencing can be a sign of IBS, but it is not definitive one way or the other. In fact there is no test or symptom that can diagnose IBS. Your doctor will usually come up with a diagnosis of IBS after ruling out all other possible causes of your symptoms.

Other common symptoms of IBS include:

• Heartburn
• Feeling full after eating only a small amount
• Nausea
• Bloating or abdominal fullness

Many people dismiss these symptoms as they find it embarrassing to discuss them with their physician. This is a mistake as there are many good treatments for IBS and some of them are very simple such as increasing your daily fiber intake.

We hope that your cramping is not related to IBS. Diseases are difficult enough to deal with when they are easy to diagnose. If your physician has to go through several weeks of testing to diagnose you with IBS it can make it all the more difficult.