Are Constant Diarrhea With Alternating Constipation And Bloating Signs Of IBS?

Posted on Sat, 7 May 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 7 May 2016 Answered on

Thu, 23 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : 43 yo male, he of H-pylori and was txt last year. Suffers from constant constipation or diarrhea or feeling like having to go but nothing. Lots of gas. Tonight having abdominal cramping, a little distended abdominal, was having shaky chills but no fever, also has a umbilical hernia. Could this be. IBS? Or something else.

Answered by Dr. Amit Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Yes it is IBS

Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thanks for putting your query in HCM. I am a Gastroenterologist.

Feeling of incomplete evacuation, diarrhoea alternating with constipation, bloating symptoms, and abdominal cramps, all are symptoms of IBS, especially in the absence of alarming feature like weight loss, blood in stool, anemia, which you haven't mentioned and I hope are not there

I will suggest you to:
1. take a probiotic
2. Take tablet of combination of clidinium bromide and chlordiazepoxide thrice a day half hr before meals. It will regularise your bowel movements and will help in relieving pain
3. Cap Simethicone 140mg thrice a day. It will help in expulsion of gas and will not allow further gas to be formed
4. Avoid food that increase gas like beans, pulses, cabbage, peas
5. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
6. Avoid dairy products especially milk
7. Also take a proton pump inhibitor like rabeprazole along with a prokinetic agent like domepridone once a day before breakfast

I hope I have answered your query and this will help you . Wish you a good health

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina