Do I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome

I'm 16 and for about the last 2-3 weeks I have had either constipation or diarrhoea, I am also going to the toliet more frequently. Sometimes I feel that I have had incomplete evacuation and this morning for the first time there was some milky coloured mucus in my stool. In addition to this, I feel a relatively mild sense of urgency to go to the bathroom and this can come on quite quickly sometimes.
I have just finished important exams almost one week ago and was wondering if these issues were simply bought on by stress. I researched them and they are very similar to those of IBS and I am wondering whether I have it as, although the symptoms have relieved slightly, the mucus which appeared in my stool this morning alarmed me. My family does not have a history of IBS as far as I know, nor do we have a history of any other illnesses, diseases or cancer (aside from asthmas). I do not have any other health conditions and I am a healthy weight. Advice on whether I should see a doctor or whether it may be something else would be much appreciated. Thank you :)

[chacha13]

Oh, also up until the previous few days my stools were considerably smaller (when I had constipation). Now, however, they seem to be a normal size now.

[Cyncaid]

Hi

The symptoms you describe sound like IBS to me, although IBS can have several triggers. It may be an allergy/over-consumption of a particular food type or group - or - as you correctly identified the cause could simply be stress.

From personal experience i get IBS whenever my nerves play up, and through trial and error i have learnt that only certain foods cause bloating/sever abdominal pain when i am anxious. For me it starts with constipation and then ends with the runs which is rather unpleasant. My tummy disdends up to 2inches in size and is very painful during the constipated phase, i sometimes have the mucus you describe during the running stage.

If you are worried i would recommend visiting your GP for proper medical advice, it can't hurt to be sure about these things and i'm sure talking to the GP would alleviate some of the anxiety this issue is causing you. The ironic thing is that by worrying about it you may be aggravating the condition! In the meantime make sure you keep well hydrated. A short term reduction of dairy prodcuts such as cheese may help lower the amuont of mucus in your gut but don't cut them out altogether unless the doctor advises you to because they are good sources of calcium.

Hope you get this sorted soon,

All the best

[Praveen101]

HI,

      I have been feeling bloating stomach for last one month, I took tablets nothing is working, Pl kindly suggest me to recover from this. Which is best treatment to get away form this disease which makes me much tired and blurry vision, fatigue, skin rashes.