Symptoms

Main symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

The main symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) are:

stomach pain or cramps - usually worse after eating and better after doing a poo
bloating - your tummy may feel uncomfortably full and swollen
diarrhoea - you may have watery poo and sometimes need to poo suddenly
constipation - you may strain when pooing and feel like you cannot empty your bowels fully

There may be days when your symptoms are better and days when they're worse (flare-ups). They may be triggered by food or drink.

What can trigger symptoms of IBS

IBS flare-ups can happen for no obvious reason. Sometimes they have a trigger like:

alcohol
caffeine
certain foods, such as spicy or fatty food
stress and anxiety
regular antibiotic use

Other symptoms of IBS

IBS can also cause:

farting (flatulence)
pooing mucus
tiredness and a lack of energy
feeling sick (nausea)
backache
problems peeing, like needing to pee often, sudden urges to pee, and feeling like you cannot fully empty your bladder
not always being able to control when you poo (bowel incontinence)
pelvic pain

See a GP if:

you think you might have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and have had symptoms for over 4 weeks

They can check for IBS and do some tests to rule out other problems.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you have lost a lot of weight for no reason
you're bleeding from your bottom or have bloody diarrhoea
you find a hard lump or swelling in your tummy
you have shortness of breath, noticeable heartbeats (palpitations) and skin that's paler than usual

These could be signs of something more serious.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

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