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IBS, as many of us are aware, is not a disease, but a symptom of some other issue. Now, researchers are finally beginning to recognize this. For example, a recent article concludes that there is no substantial difference between IBS-C and plain old ordinary chronic C.
“We concluded that IBS-C and CIC patients with abdominal symptoms have a similar disease burden and both groups experience greater disease burden than CIC patients without abdominal symptoms,” Chey said. “Our results argue that for many patients, CIC and IBS-C are not separate and distinct entities but more likely reside on a ‘spectrum’ of disease with abdominal symptoms identifying more severely affected constipation patients.”
In light of this, it's very unlikely that IBS-D will be able to hold on to any credibility in the long run, either. As we've always maintained, IBS only exists in the minds of GI specialists.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
When I began reading on GI conditions and talking with doctors, it didn't take me long to realize that IBS was more of a catch-all diagnosis. It was acknowledgement of a problem, but what was behind the probably was unknown. I used to joke that doctors could just as well call it and give a diagnosis of GOK, as in god only knows.
I think that's like saying sinus drainage is a disease....it's not and it may be caused by anything from seasonal allergies to cancer.
I had 'chronic constipation' most of my life. As an adult I considered it a complication of busy lifestyle and eating too much fast food. The problem was fine as long as I got my daily servings of whole grains, fruits & vegetables (mostly raw or lightly steamed). That 'healthy' diet worked fine for many years and for all those years I might have had MC and just didn't know it.
Also folks don't take MC, or UC & Crohn's seriously because they just think its IBS.
Theresa
MC and UC 2014
in remission since June 1, 2014
We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. ~Jim Rohn
I don't know of any docs who would label irritable bowel, fibromyalgia, or chronic fatigue as DISEASES. That why all 3 of them are called "SYNDROMES": IBS,
FMS, CFS, where the S stands for "syndrome". It is understood that a syndrome is not a disease - it is a collection of symptoms/findings that often go together. There is a chance that the syndromes may eventually be labelled as diseases depending upon future research, as appears to be the case now with IBS-C.
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
