On this page, you'll find concise answers to some of the most common questions people have about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, fiber therapy and other areas.
Click on one of the main categories below to browse the questions that relate to that issue.
As you're reading an answer, you can always click on the "suggested link" to get more detailed information on that particular subject.
The link will lead you to a page on this site or to the Citrucel with SmartFiber site.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Fiber & fiber therapy
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Living Well with IBS
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IBSLiving.com
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Citrucel
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder in which the bowels don't function as they should.
They become very sensitive and then squeeze too hard or not hard enough, causing stools to move too quickly or too slowly through the intestines.
IBS is also called "spastic colon" or "irritable colon."
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How common is IBS?
IBS is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in the United States, affecting up to one in five Americans.
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How serious is IBS?
IBS is not a contagious illness or life-threatening disease, but it is a real medical disorder that can cause painful symptoms and compromise a person's quality of life.
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Can IBS be cured?
There is no cure for IBS.
It is a chronic condition, but symptoms can be managed through medication, diet, stress relief techniques, fiber therapy and other approaches.
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Who develops IBS?
Anyone can develop IBS at any age, but IBS symptoms typically begin around age 20.
Women seem to develop it more often.
Four of five people with IBS are women.
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What causes IBS?
IBS is affected by genetic, physical, emotional and lifestyle factors, but the exact cause isn't known.
It may result from changes in the muscle function or nervous system signals between the brain and bowel, including reactions to stress, hormones and other factors.
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What are the symptoms of IBS?
Different people have different IBS symptoms. A person can have one symptom or several, from mild to severe.
The most common symptoms are bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, mucus in the stool and abdominal pain.
Some people with IBS also report depression and anxiety.
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What can trigger IBS symptoms?
IBS symptoms can be triggered by many different factors.
Certain foods and drinks can be triggers, including fried, fatty or spicy foods and caffeinated or carbonated beverages.
Hormonal changes from menstruation, stress and certain medications also can bring on symptoms.
No two people have the same set of IBS triggers.
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Are there different types of IBS?
People with IBS tend to develop a "cluster" of symptoms, but typically one is more bothersome or severe than the rest.
The type of IBS a person has is based on the predominant or main symptom they experience, such as constipation, diarrhea and "alternating" or "mixed" constipation and diarrhea.
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How is IBS diagnosed?
Only a doctor can diagnose IBS.
Sometimes, pinpointing IBS as the cause of a person's symptoms is a process of ruling out other disorders or diseases that could be responsible.
The diagnosis process can include discussions with your doctor, physical exams, medical tests and referrals to other health care professionals.
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Could I have something other than IBS?
If you think you have IBS, take the self-assessment quiz on this site.
If your symptoms are not ones usually associated with IBS, such as fever and weight loss, you may have another condition or illness.
In either case, make an appointment with your doctor.
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What's the best way to treat IBS?
There is no method for avoiding triggers or alleviating symptoms that works for everyone.
There is no perfect IBS medication or treatment, either.
But you can put together an individualized plan, with your doctor's help, for managing and treating your IBS symptoms.
Your plan can encompass diet, fiber therapy, medications, exercise, stress management and/or "alternative medicine" approaches.
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Can IBS be controlled through diet?
Diet has a major impact on the type, frequency and severity of your IBS symptoms.
Changing what, how much and when you eat, especially with input from your doctor and a dietitian, can help to reduce symptoms.
Adding more fiber, for example, is one way to control IBS through diet.
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How can exercise help people with IBS?
The physical movements of exercise help to stimulate normal contractions in your intestines, which can minimize IBS symptoms.
Regular exercise also can help to decrease physical and emotional tension, build confidence and provide social opportunities, which can prevent people coping with IBS from feeling isolated by their condition.
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How does stress affect IBS?
In people with IBS, the intestines seem to be extra sensitive to emotional or physical stress.
Their tendency to "overreact" can trigger or worsen the digestive problems of IBS.
The better you're able to manage stress, the more successful you can be in reducing the frequency or severity of your IBS symptoms.
Information on stress management techniques is available to people who join the Living Well with IBS program.
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Are there any "alternative" or "complementary medicine" approaches for treating IBS?
Some alternative and complementary therapies have been used and studied as IBS treatments, such as acupuncture, hypnotherapy, herbs and supplements and probiotics.
Talk to your doctor to get input on alternative therapies.
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Are there "IBS-friendly" recipes?
The Digestion-Friendly Recipe Center on this site offers recipes developed specially for people with IBS by a dietitian and physician.
To get access to the center, join the free Living Well with IBS program on this site.
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What medications are used to treat IBS?
No medicine can cure IBS, but there are a variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications that can ease particular IBS symptoms.
Medication options include drugs that relax the bowel muscles, slow down or bulk up stool, change how the body senses pain, prevent bacteria from growing in the bowel or stimulate intestinal nerves.
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Where can I find detailed information about IBS medications?
If you have questions about a drug that's recommended to you, talk to your doctor and pharmacist first.
You also can research prescription and over-the-counter medications online.
This site contains links to certain drug information sites.
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How can I build a strong relationship with my doctor and care team?
Read our tips for talking to your doctor and other health care professionals about your questions and concerns.
The tips are available to you when you become a member of the Living Well with IBS program on this site.
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How can I learn more about IBS?
In addition to joining the Living Well with IBS program on this site, you can visit the Web sites of national IBS education organizations, medical associations, patient advocacy groups, medical centers and government agencies.
Links to these kinds of resources are available on this site.
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Where can I find the latest news about IBS discoveries or treatments?
Visit the Web sites listed on our Resources page, and join our Living Well with IBS program on this site.
As a member, you'll be able to access our News about IBS page, which compiles links to news articles about IBS.
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Fiber & fiber therapy
What is "dietary fiber"?
Fiber is a natural component of many vegetables, fruits, beans, grains and nuts.
Different plants contain different types of fiber, but they all contribute to a healthy digestive system.
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What's the connection between fiber and IBS?
Including more fiber in your diet can help you to control your IBS symptoms.
Extra fiber from plant foods or fiber products can make your stools soft but firm -- and more comfortable to pass.
If you have loose, watery stools from IBS, for example, fiber can firm them and "slow you down."
If you have constipation, fiber can soften your stools and "speed you up." Citrucel's SmartFiber is proven to help restore and maintain regularity and it's the only fiber that won't ferment to cause excess gas.
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Can fiber help keep you regular?
If you've lived with a sensitive system for any length of time, you know there are no easy answers. And yet, so many people keep offering the same suggestion: fiber.
Fiber therapy products are an effective way to treat constipation and ensure regularity. Fiber adds bulk and texture to foods. As it passes through the body, fiber helps your system stay regular, and that's why many doctors recommend fiber to help manage constipation.
What is Regularity?
Normal, regular bowel movements can be difficult to define, because what's regular for someone else might not be regular for you. Some people go too frequently, some not enough. But Frequency isn't the only attribute to consider when determining if you are regular. The shape and consistency are also important. The shape should be sausage-like. And the ideal consistency ranges from soft and smooth to soft with a few cracks in the surface.
How does fiber work in the intestines?
Fiber is a natural cleanser and regulator that prevents stools from becoming too loose, dry or hard.
It absorbs up to 30 times its own weight in water, bulking up and softening other material in the digestive tract.
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Are there different kinds of fiber?
There are two types of fiber, both of which can promote regularity and are found in naturally healthy foods.
Soluble fiber, the key ingredient in fiber therapy products, is found in oats, apples, barley and many other foods.
It dissolves in water.
Psyllium and methylcellulose are both soluble fibers, but methylcellulose does not ferment in the intestines and cause gas.
Insoluble fiber is found in whole g rains, nuts and many vegetables. It does not dissolve in water.
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How much fiber do I need?
You should aim to get between 21 to 38 grams of fiber every day. Of that, 5–10 should be in soluble fiber.
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How can I get more fiber in my diet?
Eat more fiber-rich foods such as breakfast cereals, vegetables, whole fruits, beans and whole grains.
Add more fiber into your diet gradually, to let your body adjust.
Even if you work hard to maintain a healthy diet, you still may not be getting enough fiber to notice an improvement in their IBS symptoms.
That's why fiber products can be so valuable.
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How do I know how much fiber is in certain foods?
To see the amount of fiber in the foods you eat, check the U.S.D.A. food fiber content list.
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How can I find out how much fiber I'm getting in my diet?
Use the Fiber Calculator on this site to look up the fiber content of the foods you've eaten and to see if you're meeting your daily fiber target.
You can access the calculator by becoming a member of the Living Well with IBS program.
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What is fiber therapy?
Fiber therapy is a treatment for constipation associated with IBS and other medical conditions that involves adding more fiber to your diet with fiber products like Citrucel with SmartFiber.
The extra fiber those products deliver can change the shape and texture of stools for the better, which is why fiber therapy can be beneficial for people with constipation and diarrhea.
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What are fiber products?
Doctors often recommend over-the-counter products made with plant fiber to treat IBS symptoms and other conditions. Fiber products are available in different flavors and forms, from traditional powders to "soft chews" to caplets.
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Are there different kinds of fiber products?
Some are "dietary supplements" that can increase your fiber intake but have not been evaluated by the F.D.A. for their ability to treat a specific condition.
Some, like Citrucel with SmartFiber, are "fiber laxatives" that add bulk and water to your stool to promote regularity.
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Living Well with IBS
What is "Living Well with IBS"?
Living Well with IBS is a free information and support program that's part of the IBSLiving.com site.
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Is there a cost to join the program?
Membership is free and open to anyone with IBS who wants help to better manage their condition.
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What are the benefits of becoming a member?
Members gain access to exclusive site content, such as the ability to create an individualized action plan, The Digestion-Friendly Recipe Center, tools for managing diet and tracking symptoms, real-life "success stories" and more.
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What is the "daily tracker"?
The daily tracker is a special weekly calendar that can be an IBS diary.
It enables you to record your meals, water intake, stress level, emotional state and other factors along your IBS symptoms so that you see cause-effect connections.
You also can save the trackers and print them to take to doctor appointments.
You can access the daily tracker by joining the Living Well with IBS program.
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What is the "IBS self-assessment quiz"?
The quiz asks a series of questions about the symptoms you're experiencing to help determine if they could be indications of IBS.
The quiz results can be printed out to discuss with your doctor.
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What is the "My Action Plan"?
On this site, you can create "My Action Plan," a comprehensive plan for managing your IBS symptoms through diet, exercise, stress management and other approaches. The plan is a benefit of the Living Well with IBS program.
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How do I sign up for the program?
You can sign up online for Living Well with IBS by providing your contact information and answering a few questions.
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How can the program help me to learn about the experiences of other people with IBS?
IBSLiving.com has an "IBS Success Stories" section where people with IBS can post stories about their experiences managing their condition.
You can read and send these stories when you join the Living Well with IBS program.
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Can I recommend the program to other people?
If you have friends or family with IBS, or who think they may have IBS, who might be interested in the program, click on the "Tell a friend" tab at the top of any page on the site.
On the "Tell a friend" page, provide their e-mail addresses and we will send them an e-mail about Living Well with IBS and IBSLiving.com.
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IBSLiving.com
Do I need to log on every time I visit IBSLiving.com?
If you have already registered as a member of Living Well with IBS program, logging in when you reach the site allows you to access member-only content on the site.
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How do I log on to the site?
You can enter your Living Well with IBS name and password on the home page.
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Who developed the IBSLiving.com site?
The site is sponsored by Citrucel with SmartFiber, a fiber product made by GlaxoSmithKline that is recommended by doctors for their IBS patients on fiber therapy.
All content on the site is developed with input from IBS experts.
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Citrucel
How can Citrucel with SmartFiber help people with IBS?
Citrucel with SmartFiber is a fiber product that doctors often recommend for fiber therapy to people with IBS symptoms.
Citrucel with SmartFiber helps to soften and add bulk to stools, which can help to control symptoms.
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How is Citrucel with SmartFiber different from other fiber products?
Citrucel with SmartFiber is 100% soluble fiber that does not ferment in the intestines, so it won't cause embarrassing excess gas*. Only Citrucel has SmartFiber - the fiber you need without the fiber effects you don't. It also dissolves completely in water and is non-allergenic and gluten-free. Citrucel with SmartFiber is also available in powder, sugar-free powder, caplet and soft chew products.
*Based on laboratory testing. Individual results may vary.
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How can I get a special offer on Citrucel with SmartFiber?
You can receive a $10 rebate on Citrucel with SmartFiber when you first sign up as a member of the Living Well with IBS program. Also, as a member of Living Well with IBS, you will periodically receive coupons for future purchases of Citrucel with SmartFiber. In addition, you can visit the Citrucel with SmartFiber site to see what special offers may be available.
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How can I find out more about Citrucel with SmartFiber?
For more information about Citrucel with SmarFiber's content, use for fiber therapy, advantage over other fiber products, product options and more, visit the Citrucel with SmartFiber site.
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