Key Takeaways
- Taking this IBS quiz can be a helpful tool for identifying potential symptoms of IBS and recognizing the need for a professional medical evaluation.
- Having symptoms such as frequent abdominal pain, changes in bowel movement consistencies, food sensitivities, bloating, and mental health concerns may indicate IBS.
- If you have several positive responses to this quiz, your medical provider can perform a physical exam, review your medical and family history, and run several tests to rule out other serious digestive conditions before diagnosing IBS.
Update By Heather Smith, RN, BSN
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive disorder characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits.
The condition affects approximately 12% of people in the United States. However, it is often difficult to diagnose due to the variability of the symptoms.
Read on for more information and to take our IBS quiz. It hasf eight targeted questions to help you recognize potential signs of IBS and understand when to seek medical advice.
What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?
IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder presenting with a combination of symptoms such as recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.
Unlike other digestive conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis, IBS does not damage the digestive tract.
It’s often classified as a disorder of the gut-brain interaction, highlighting the complex interaction between the digestive and nervous systems.
Experts categorize IBS into four subtypes related to the most common stool pattern.
- IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D).
- IBS with constipation (IBS-C).
- Mixed IBS with alternating constipation and diarrhea (IBS-M).
- Unclassified IBS where stool patterns do not consistently fit the other categories (IBS-U).
Symptoms Of IBS
The most common IBS symptoms include abdominal pain and changes to your bowel movements, either constipation or diarrhea.
Diarrhea is having loose, watery stools more than three times each day. Alternately, constipation is having dry, hard stools less than three times a week.
Other symptoms may include:
- Bloating.
- Gas.
- Nausea.
- Food sensitivities.
Females may experience an increase in IBS symptoms around the time of their periods.
Why Is It Important To Identify IBS?
Identifying IBS is important for several reasons.
Early recognition allows for prompt evaluation by your medical provider to rule out other serious conditions with similar symptoms.
Once you have an accurate diagnosis, you can work with your medical provider and registered dietitian on management strategies, including lifestyle and diet modifications and possible medications to improve your symptoms.
Many people with unmanaged IBS report significant impacts on their quality of life. Recognizing symptoms can help reduce this condition's affects on daily living and social life.
How Is IBS Diagnosed?
Medical providers diagnose IBS through a combination of medical and symptom history, physical assessment, and possible tests to rule out other conditions.
Having a record of your symptoms, such as a daily journal of what you eat, what type of bowel movements you had, and other symptoms, can be very helpful for your medical provider.
While there are no specific tests for IBS, medical providers may order blood tests, stool tests, and several other diagnostic tools to check for other conditions.
8 Questions To Help Identify IBS Symptoms
Recognizing the signs of IBS can be challenging due to its varied symptoms.
This quiz is designed to guide you through key indicators that may suggest the presence of IBS, to help you have an informed conversation with your healthcare provider.
While this quiz can provide insight into your symptoms, it’s not a substitute for a medical diagnosis, which requires a thorough evaluation by a physician.
1. Do you experience ongoing abdominal pain and discomfort?
Abdominal pain is one of the hallmark symptoms of IBS and is often associated with your bowel movements—either relieved or worsened after a bowel movement.
It can vary in intensity and location and may present itself after meals or seem unrelated to food consumption.
If you experience abdominal pain at least one day per week, mark “yes” for this question.
2. Are your bowel movements irregular or inconsistent?
Irregular or consistent bowel movements are also primary indicators of IBS. You may notice your bowel movements tend to be diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both.
The Bristol Stool Form Scale can help you identify the consistency of your stool, and keeping a two-week record of your bowel movements can be valuable information for your medical provider.
If you experience irregular bowel movements more than 25% of the time, choose “yes” for this question.
3. Do you regularly experience bloating or a feeling of fullness?
Bloating and persistent sense of fullness can indicate IBS due to irregular digestion and fermentation process in the gut which produces excess gas.
While bloating is common with IBS, it does not necessarily need to be present for an IBS diagnosis.
If you experience bloating at least one day per week, mark “yes” for this question.
4. Are you sensitive to certain foods?
Food sensitivities, particularly to certain groups of carbohydrates known as FODMAPs, can be common among people with IBS.
FODMAPs—fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols— are found in a variety of foods, including some fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and grains.
For some people with IBS, eating too many high-FODMAP foods can increase abdominal pain and bloating symptoms.
If you’ve identified certain foods that worsen your digestive symptoms, mark “yes.”
5. Do you suffer from anxiety or depression?
Certain mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, co-occur with IBS.
Research shows that these mental health concerns can contribute to increased IBS symptoms due to the connection between the brain and the digestive system via nerves.
If you’ve been diagnosed with anxiety or depression, or if you frequently experience feelings associated with these conditions, select “yes” for this question.
6. Do you have difficulty digesting fatty or high-fiber food?
Having trouble digesting foods high in fat or insoluble fiber is common in individuals with IBS, and eating these foods may trigger IBS symptoms.
Foods rich in insoluble fiber include whole grains and non-starchy vegetables (beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, salad greens). Foods high in fat (bread pastries, whole-fat dairy products, red meats), and especially greasy or fried foods, can also increase IBS symptoms.
If your symptoms flare up after eating high-fiber or high-fat foods, mark “yes.”
7. Have you been diagnosed with any other digestive disorder?
Other digestive disorders, like irritable bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease (CD) have similar symptoms as IBS.
If you have been diagnosed with another digestive condition and treatment is not relieving you, discussing your symptoms with a healthcare professional can help ensure you receive a correct diagnosis and the most effective therapy for your specific condition.
If you answered “yes” to this question, talk to your doctor about how your other digestive disorder may be impacting your symptoms.
8. Do you experience frequent nausea, stomach cramps, and/or acid reflux?
Symptoms like frequent nausea, stomach cramps, or acid reflux may also be related to IBS.
Although these are not the primary symptoms used to diagnose the condition, many individuals with IBS report these additional digestive issues.
If you have these additional symptoms, mark “yes” for this question.
Interpreting Your Results
If you find that you've answered "yes" to several questions, it could indicate the presence of IBS or another digestive disorder, and you may want to talk with your medical provider.
Keep in mind that this quiz is a preliminary tool designed to encourage awareness of IBS symptoms.
For a definitive diagnosis, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional who can conduct a thorough evaluation, possibly including diagnostic tests to rule out other conditions.
Is This Quiz Accurate?
This quiz highlights common symptoms associated with IBS and may suggest its presence. However, it is not a clinically validated tool for diagnosis.
The intention of this quiz is to initiate self-evaluation and a conversation with your healthcare provider rather than to provide a conclusive assessment.
Always consult a gastrointestinal specialist or primary care physician for an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.
Have IBS symptoms? Take the IBS quiz understand whether or not you have IBS.
Book an appointment with a gut health dietitian
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Takeaway
IBS is a common disorder of the digestive system with classic symptoms that include abdominal pain, changes to bowel movements, and other possible symptoms related to digestion.
If your responses to the quiz indicate a pattern consistent with IBS, this should prompt a discussion with a healthcare provider for a thorough assessment.
IBS is a manageable condition, and accurate diagnosis and individualized treatment can significantly improve your quality of life.
Support is available to help you navigate and alleviate the symptoms of IBS, whether through dietary adjustments, lifestyle changes, or medical intervention.
How a Dietitian Can Help
If you’re not sure if you have IBS, consulting with a dietitian can be an important step towards clarity and symptom management.
A dietitian can help you track your food intake and symptoms, potentially revealing patterns that suggest IBS.
They can also guide you through an elimination diet or other strategies to identify food sensitivities or triggers.
Their expertise can guide you to having a quality discussion of your concerns with your medical provider, who can then proceed with a formal diagnosis.
Find an IBS dietitian near you that accepts insurance using Nourish.
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