IBS is the most common condition requiring treatment by a gastroenterologist. It is a gastrointestinal condition characterised by a change in how the bowel is working (often resulting in constipation and/or diarrhoea), and the presence of abdominal pain.
In addition to these two important features several other symptoms can also be associated with IBS, such as abdominal bloating, a feeling of urgency to go to the toilet and a feeling of incomplete emptying when opening bowels. As yet there is no test to positively diagnose IBS, but it is often important to exclude other problems within the bowel.
IBS affects thousands of people but it does not result in shortening of life expectancy. However, IBS can have dramatic impact on people’s quality of life, leaving sufferers feeling unwell, uncomfortable and de-energised, therefore Dr Papageorgiou is a physician that takes it very seriously and even though there is no “one-size-fits-all” for IBS treatment he can suggest a number of approaches that people can find very useful for their symptoms.