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Self-diagnosis checklist
Do
you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Symptoms that cumulatively support
the diagnosis of IBS:
- Relieved with defecation;
and/or
- Change in frequency of
stool; and/or
- Change in appearance of
stool.
- Abnormal stool frequency
- Lumpy/hard or loose/watery
stool
- Straining, urgency, or
feeling of incomplete evacuation
- Bloating or feeling of
abdominal distention.
Supportive symptoms of IBS:
- A) Fewer than three bowel
movements a week
- B) More than three bowel
movements a day
- C) Hard or lumpy stools
- D) Loose (mushy) or watery
stools
- E) Straining during a
bowel movement
- F) Urgency (having to rush
to have a bowel movement)
- G) Feeling of incomplete
bowel movement
- H) Passing mucus (white
material) during a bowel movement
- I) Abdominal fullness,
bloating, or swelling
You are diarrhea-predominant
if: At least 1 of B, D, F and none of A, C, E; or at least 2 of
B, D, F and one of A or E.
You are
constipation-predominant if: At least 1 of A, C, E and none of
B, D, F; or at least 2 of A, C, E and one of B, D, F.
Red flag symptoms which are
not typical of IBS:
- Pain that awakens or
interferes with sleep
- Diarrhea that awakens or
interferes with sleep
- Blood in the stool
(visible or occult)
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Abnormal physical
examination
If you have any of these
symptoms see your doctor immediately. If you have blood in
your stool, report to the nearest medical emergency treatment
centre immediately.
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