My mother has IBS-C. Will fiber and probiotics help her?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mother is 57 and has had chronic constipation with abdominal discomfort for several years. Recently, the doctor mentioned IBS-C possibility because scans and colonoscopy were normal. She often complains of bloating after meals and feeling full quickly.

We are trying to understand if certain foods could be triggering this. She eats a lot of refined carbs and very little fiber. Can diet alone lead to IBS-C symptoms like this?

Also, people suggest fiber supplements and probiotics for gut health. Do these actually help constipation-dominant IBS or sometimes worsen gas and discomfort?

Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Symptoms your mother is having, like chronic constipation, bloating after eating, and abdominal pain, with no abnormal findings in tests, are typical for irritable bowel syndrome with predominance of constipation (IBS-C).

In the patients with IBS, the intestine appears normal in scans and colonoscopy, but the motility and sensitivity of the bowel are changed, resulting in delayed transit of stool and increased gas pain.

Diet is definitely crucial in this respect. Diet high in refined carbohydrates and low in fiber may lead to constipation and bloating due to decreased size and motility of stools.

Though diet cannot be responsible for development of IBS in all cases, it certainly makes the symptoms worse and leads to bowel irregularity.

Fiber may also need to be increased incrementally. Foods including oats, fruits, vegetables, and grains provide mass to the stools and improve bowel function. A common supplement for soluble fiber includes Psyllium, which helps soften the stool by absorbing water.

However, it is important that fiber is increased slowly, along with an intake of water, since it may cause gas initially.

However, probiotics might assist some people in regulating their intestines' flora balance and bloating, but everyone reacts differently. It is not harmful to try taking them for a couple of weeks to see if there will be any results.

It is also vital to pay attention to your lifestyle since proper hydration, exercise, and eating at the same time every day will help you to provoke a bowel movement. In case these methods do not help, doctors might prescribe you an osmotic laxative, for example, Polyethylene glycol.

In conclusion, most people with IBS-C manage to considerably alleviate their symptoms due to a proper diet, gradual intake of fiber, probiotics if needed, and a healthy lifestyle together with medication to maintain regular bowel movements.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.