Do you want to better manage your IBS this year? We share some advice to help you have a happy new year with improved IBS self-management.

Take control with The IBS Network self-care programme

Managing your IBS effectively is all about self-care. There is no one treatment that works for everyone. What works for one person may not work for another so it’s important to understand your own IBS.

Our Self-Care Programme has been designed by IBS healthcare specialists to give you comprehensive information about the nature, causes and management of IBS.

The Self-Care Programme includes information on:

  • what else it might be;
  • how to manage your symptoms;
  • what medications help;
  • how complementary therapies work;
  • how to adjust your diet;
  • how to manage stress and emotions;
  • designing your own personal self-care programme;
  • tracking how your symptoms respond to change;
  • and what else it might be.

It gives you the information you will need to understand and manage your IBS in collaboration with your healthcare professionals.

 

Identify your triggers

Finding out what triggers your IBS is the first step in managing your IBS effectively. Unfortunately, this is not as easy as it sounds, especially as both mood and food can cause IBS symptoms. To help you identify your food and mood triggers we provide a 12-week wellness diary where you record what you are eating and how you are feeling. This may then help you identify patterns to your IBS.

 

Consider probiotics

Probiotics are live cultures of strains of bacteria, similar to those that normally inhabit the colon. When the normal healthy populations of colonic bacteria are depleted by diarrhoea, often related to food poisoning, antibiotics or stress, probiotics may help to restore a healthy balance of bacteria.

Clinical studies have shown that some probiotics containing certain specific strains of bacteria may help to reduce some symptoms of IBS, particularly bloating and diarrhoea, in some patients, but there is not enough evidence on specific products.

The NICE guidelines for IBS suggest that probiotics be trialled for at least a month to ensure the best results. Our experts also recommend that if one probiotic is not effective for you, it is worth trying a couple more brands. If you have tried up to three different probiotics and they are giving you little relief from your symptoms, then it is unlikely that any other probiotic will help you.

 

Speak to a professional

If you are struggling with your IBS, please consult your GP, gastroenterologist or dietitian. Members of The IBS Network also have access to our team of IBS specialists including gastroenterologists, IBS specialist dietitians, IBS nurses, pharmacists, cognitive behaviour therapists and hypnotherapists through our ask the experts service.

 

Work with a registered dietitian

We recommend that any exclusion diets are only undertaken with the supervision of a registered dietitian. To see a dietitian within the NHS you will need to be referred by your GP.

At your first appointment with a dietitian, they will discuss with you what you are eating, any foods you have identified that may be causing your IBS symptoms to flare up and, as a result, any foods that you are excluding from your diet. They will then discuss treatment options with you and the best way forward. As you will probably know there are no quick answers and finding the right way forward for you may take some time.

 

Take time to relax

Stress and anxiety can trigger an IBS flare up. It’s not possible in our busy lives to completely be free of any stress or worries. However, try to take time to relax, whether that’s through mindfulness, yoga, reading a book, listening to music or going for a walk or run. Keeping a Wellness diary can help you identify times when you are particularly stressed or anxious. By knowing when you are likely to feel more stress you will be able to plan ways to manage the stress better.

If you’d like to better manage your IBS this year find out more about our Self-Care Programme here.