When is IBS not just IBS?
IBS is a functional disorder of the gut-brain interaction that is diagnosed based on symptoms and the duration of those symptoms. Learn more about what IBS is and how it is diagnosed here!
Because of this, IBS can commonly be misdiagnosed, as the symptoms of IBS can overlap with other conditions. When this happens, you may be trying treatment options for IBS but missing what actually needs to be done for sustainable relief.
How do you actually know when your symptoms aren’t just IBS? That’s a tough question to answer simply, but here are a few red flags that may alert you something else is going on.
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You are experiencing these red flag symptoms
There are a group of symptoms that medical providers are trained to screen for that could be a cause for concern that something else is going on. Sometimes these can be missed or these can show up after an initial appointment with your doctor, so it’s important to know what they are. If these are present, this would be a reason to do more thorough testing.
Red flag symptoms include:
Bloody poop - this can either be frequent bouts of fresh blood, as well as dried blood in stool. When it doubt, write down what you are seeing and talk to your doctor.
Significant weight loss - this can be a sign of malabsorption, which could be a sign something is damaging the gut. Other signs of this to watch include hair loss, dullness of skin, fatigue, and nutrient deficiencies from blood labs.
Recurrent fevers - this can also be a sign of inflammation or an immune response happening in the body. If this happens once, that may not be an alarm. But if you’re noticing that this is happening often, that would be of concern.
Difficulty swallowing, persistent throat pain, and/or recurrent choking episodes - this could be a sign of an issue in the upper GI tract, likely the esophagus, and should be evaluated.
Severe pain accompanied by fainting and/or vomiting - this could be IBS pain, but could also be a sign of something else going on the abdomen that needs to be addressed more intently.
These symptoms don’t necessarily mean something severe is going on, but they can be warning signs. If you notice these, write down when they are occurring and details around them, then communicate that with you doctor. If symptoms come on suddenly and aren’t passing, urgent care or the emergency depart may be a good idea.
You have a lot of non-IBS symptoms
In addition to the “red flag” symptoms above, there are some symptoms that many may attribute to their IBS, but aren’t actually IBS symptoms. It is common for other conditions, especially other functional disorders, to overlap with IBS so many of these symptoms could be present alongside a true IBS diagnosis.
These symptoms include:
Reflux and/or heartburn
Belching
Frequent nausea
Burning sensation higher in the stomach
Vomiting
Severe fatigue
Skin rashes, flushing, or other signs of a skin reaction
Throat tightening, difficulty swallowing, needing to clear throat often
Pain with urination and bladder pain
Severe menstrual cramps and changes in menstrual cycles
Headaches and migraines
These symptoms may not be related to a condition at all, but they could also be indicators of what all is going on in your body. While your doctor may not ask about these specifically, it can be helpful to note any of these symptoms you are having and remind them during follow ups so they can use this information in their continued assessment.
You are not responding to treatments for IBS as expected
There is not one size fits all treatment for IBS (read more on treatments here), so it’s possible that someone won’t fully respond to the initial treatment options given.
However, if you are working with a provider who is knowledgeable and guiding you through the evidence-based options for IBS, and you’re not responding at all or you’re getting worse, this could be an indicator that it’s not just IBS.
This is something that is more nuanced and does require the insight of an up-to-date provider who is working with you closely, but if you do seem to “fail” every option available, it could be time to start digging deeper.
Your symptoms have drastically changed
It can be normal for symptoms to change with time and different circumstances in your life. But if your symptoms have drastically changed, seemingly overnight, and aren’t settling down, that could be a sign something else is going on.
Often with IBS, it can be easy to think any gut symptom is just IBS, but there can be times where your body is responding to something else and that needs to be addressed. If it feels like things have changed without much reason, talk to your doctor about the changes so you can figure out what may be going on.
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