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Your bowel movement becomes “softer, more fluid, and overall much easier to pass,” according to Brandt. Miralax is a non-stimulant laxative, which means that instead of stimulating the nerves in the walls of the large intestines and causing intestinal contractions to eliminate stool, it increases the amount of water in the stool, preventing it from solidifying too much. And though Scholl-Sussman recommends a different laxative for each patient, depending on their specific case and symptoms, she considers Miralax as a reliable over-the-counter option. Though laxatives have a bad reputation, they can be very helpful for IBS-C patients. If you want to give it a try, Metamucil is a popular fiber supplement, and it specifically contains psyllium fiber, which Brandt says “will bring water into the stool and make the stool less hard to pass.” Felice Schnoll-Sussman, a gastroenterologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian calls it a “miracle supplement.”īut Schnoll-Sussman warns that timing your intake is very important because “sometimes when you give extra fiber to patients, they can bloat.” So she also recommends that patients see a nutritionist to dial in exactly how much fiber to take and when. That’s because stool that’s been bulked up with fiber is also softer than normal, which is helpful for constipated patients and easier to pass. Somewhat counterintuitively though, fiber can also help those with IBS with constipation. But if you’re still looking for additional assistance, these over-the-counter remedies may ease some of the day-to-day symptoms (though it’s always good to check with your doctor if you have more serious concerns).Įach gastroenterologist we interviewed recommends upping your fiber intake if your IBS presents with diarrhea, because fiber can help thicken and form the stool, according to Iturrino-Moreda. And once your doctor has diagnosed you with IBS, you can move forward with creating an appropriate treatment plan - which can include changing your diet and going on a low FODMAP diet to limit sugars that aren’t well-absorbed by the gut, or taking over-the-counter or prescription medication. Lawrence Brandt, a gastroenterologist at the Montefiore Medical Center. It’s not in their head, they’re not imagining it, and there is real help out there to take care of it,” says Dr. “IBS is a real disease, and patients should not be embarrassed to talk about it. There’s also no clear cause for IBS, though Iturrinio-Moreda says it’s “sometimes triggered by a stressful life event, a gastrointestinal infection, frequent antibiotic use, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or even food intolerances and sensitivities.”Īll of this can make IBS difficult to diagnose, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

Johanna Iturrino-Moreda, a gastroenterologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - typically presents with constipation or diarrhea or, in some cases, both, as well as bloating, gas, and abdominal pain.

IBS - “a disorder of how your brain and gut interact with each other,” according to Dr. For starters, symptoms vary between each patient and can even shift over time. Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a tricky condition.