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Many people with digestive issues wonder about the difference between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Even though the abbreviations of both these conditions look quite similar, these are actually two different conditions, which result in two different sets of symptoms. And so, both these require varying treatments.
In this article, we will discuss both these conditions to give you a clear idea regarding how these affect your body.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS is a more common condition compared to IBD, and it affects the colon. Although this condition doesn’t result in a change in the bowel tissues, it is generally a chronic condition that can result in various uncomfortable symptoms. Those symptoms include the following.
Gas
Abdominal pain
Cramping
Diarrhea
Bloating
Constipation
The best way to treat this condition is to make necessary dietary changes, which may be the inclusion of extra fiber in the daily diet and the elimination of foods that trigger or worsen the symptoms. If dietary changes are unable to provide the patient with relief, the doctor or surgeon may prescribe some medications.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease is used as a broader term for two different illnesses: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both these conditions can leave a painful and concerning effect on the mouth, stomach, large and small intestines, and anus. Generally, you can call it an inflammatory condition that can affect the entire GI tract. The symptoms of this illness are severer compared to the IBS. Here are the symptoms of this condition.
Fever
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Rectal bleeding
Gas
Weight loss
The doctor will want to treat this condition by suggesting dietary changes. It can help the patient control symptoms. Sometimes, dietary changes may not be enough. In that case, the surgeon will want to prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, immune-suppressants, and antibiotics. If medications, too, fail to deliver results, the surgeon may choose to perform ostomy surgery.
Depending on the location of the condition on the bowel, the surgeon will perform ileostomy or colostomy surgery. During this procedure, the surgeon disconnects the diseased section of the bowel from the healthy GI tract. He either removes or rests the diseased segment. If the entire colon is affected, the surgeon will perform ileostomy surgery. If a part of the colon is infected, the surgeon will disconnect it from the healthy segment of the colon, creating a colostomy. He will bring the end of the healthy GI tract out through an incision in the belly.
An ostomy tends to bring a lifestyle change. With waste materials passing out of the stoma (the opening in the abdomen), the patient has to wear an ostomy bag the entire time to manage stool evacuations. It is because the stoma doesn’t have any sphincters that could give the patient the ability to control when to move bowels. Furthermore, it is necessary to make sure that you are using the right type of ostomy appliance to manage your stoma.
If you have any concerns related to how to manage your ostomy, you may want to speak with your doctor or ostomy care nurse.
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