Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Having both Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a common problem. IBS, just like Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition. And again just like Fibromyalgia is more prevalent in women, then so is IBS.

Both Fibromyalgia and IBS are conditions caused by stress.

A study showed that 60% of people with IBS also have Fibromyalgia and that 70% of people with Fibromyalgia have symptoms of IBS.

The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome can vary from person to person. You may be unlucky and experience many IBS symptoms which affect your life dramatically, whereas as someone else may have just one or two symptoms they can cope with.

Symptoms can come and go and last for just a few days to a few months at a time. Symptoms can worsen in times of stress or after eating certain food. Some foods such as gluten, grains, dairy, processed foods, sugar, caffeinated drinks, beans and legumes can cause problems for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Symptoms can also fluctuate throughout your life. So having one set of symptoms in your twenties may be replaced by a completely different set of symptoms in your forties.

Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome include:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Digestive discomfort
  • Stomach cramps
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhoea
  • Constipation
  • Excess wind
  • Tiredness
  • Lack of energy
  • Nausea
  • Backache
  • Bowel incontinence
  • Urine problems
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Muscle pains
  • Heartburn
  • Indigestion

The link between Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • Both are pain disorders without a known cause
  • Both affect more women than men
  • Both condition arer caused by or worsened by stress
  • Both involve poor sleep and fatigue

My experience of Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

To be honest when reading through the varied overlapping conditions and symptoms of Fibromyalgia, I overlooked Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I just assumed that because I did not suffer unduly with either constipation or diarrhoea, I could not have IBS. This I now know is untrue. My IBS symptoms were needing to pass urine frequently, stress induced upper stomach pain, tiredness and a lack of energy.

I realised my digestion issues which dated back to when I was 18 were triggered by stressful events I experienced throughout my life. I now know that IBS commonly begins in teenage girls or young women.

I cured my Irritable Bowel Syndrome by following the advice given in my Cure for Fibromyalgia

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