ACG Irritable Bowel Syndrome Resource Center - Patients - American College of Gastroenterology

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IBS Relief Thank you for visiting the American College of Gastoenterology’s IBS Resource Center. The American College of Gastroenterology and its 8,000 physicians are pleased to provide the public with important information about Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You will learn more about IBS through the materials below, but here are a few things you should know now.

Experts estimate that approximately 58 million Americans suffer from the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS of whom approximately 80 percent are women. IBS is a functional disorder of the intestine. Although there is no sign of the disease that can be seen or measured under a microscope or using an endoscope, IBS is a real medical condition. A range of symptoms characterizes IBS . These symptoms include abdominal discomfort, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. IBS is different from routine, infrequent constipation or diarrhea.

IBS is best defined by what it is NOT:
It is NOT an anatomical or structural problem
It is NOT an identifiable physical or chemical disorder
It is NOT a cancer and will NOT cause cancer
It will NOT cause other gastrointestinal diseases

Today the prospects for successful outcomes for patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome have improved. For many sufferers, the abdominal discomfort, bloating and constipation of IBS can be managed effectively. For those patients who will now seek care, physicians have new treatment options that can relieve the abdominal pain, bloating and constipation of IBS and improve patients’ quality of life.

ACG's IBSRelief website is an evolving site, and more information will be added or made accessible over the site consistently in coming weeks, so please click this site as one of your favorites, and check back periodically as new information is added.

Acknowledgement for assistance from Novartis.

Understanding IBS: A Consumer Education Brochure*

Scientific Monograph: ACG Evidence-Based Approach to the Management of IBS (AmJGastro Supp. 11/02)

*(Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

TO GET FREE INFORMATION, please give us some information about yourself so that we can provide you Free Information from ACG Physician Experts about Medical Breakthroughs and New Understanding of IBS

Name - required

Address1 - required

Address2

City - required

State - required

ZIP/Postal Code - required

Email*

Phone*

*This is optional and would only be used for follow-up purposes by ACG and never shared with anyone else.

Please consider providing some additional information about yourself and your experiences with IBS symptoms so our physicians can better understand who is seeking information and help with IBS from the College. This information is confidential, will only be used by the College to understand trends in IBS and to create new educational programs and materials to help others who suffer from IBS symptoms.

Gender
Male
Female

What is your age?
Under 18
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-60
over 60

Symptoms - Please check all that apply to you - you can check more than one
Abdominal pain or discomfort
bloating
constipation
diarrhea
alternating constipation and diarrhea

Medications
Which of the following medications are you taking to treat your irritable bowel syndrome?
Over-the-Counter
Prescription
Over-the-Counter and Prescription
No medication

Over-the-Counter Medications
Please indicate which of the following over-the-counter medications you have used for your digestive symptoms. You may choose more than one.
Fiber, including psyllium, Metamucil, Citracel or others.
Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications, such as Immodium or others.
Laxatives
other over-the-counter medications

Prescription Medications
Please indicate which of the following prescription medications you have used for your digestive symptoms. You may choose more than one.
Zelnorm
Lotronex
Antidepressants
Antispasmodics, such as Levsin or Bentyl
Promotility drugs, such as Propulsid or Reglan
Prescription medications for diarrhea such as Lomotil
All other prescriptions

Research Studies on IBS
Would you like be notified about opportunities to participate in no-cost research studies about digestive health issues?
YES
NO

More Information from ACG
Would you like to receive additional no-cost information that may become available from the American College of Gastroenterology in the future that generally matches your areas of primary interest?
YES
NO

More Pharmaceutical Information
Would you like to receive additional information that may become available from pharmaceutical companies in the future that generally matches your areas of interest?
YES
NO