April is IBS Awareness Month
IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, affects around one in five people in Ireland, with April being IBS Awareness Month.
Although IBS is a common condition, often stigmatised and misunderstood, the symptoms can significantly impact the quality of life for many patients. The condition can take a toll on people, with sufferers carrying spare toilet tissue and researching the location of toilets before going out.
Females are twice as likely to be affected with IBS as males. IBS can be triggered by menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause and endometriosis and women with IBS are estimated to be at significantly higher risk of undergoing a hysterectomy. IBS can take a toll emotionally also with people feeling depressed, anxious and having low self-confidence. These issues can lead to social isolation, which can worsen the situation for sufferers.
The signs of IBS used to be too embarrassing for people even to mention, but now they're all over TikTok. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is enjoying a moment in the spotlight with hashtags and trends on social media, including ‘Hot girls with IBS’. Although tongue in cheek, the impact of this movement should not be underestimated.
Craig Doyle is a 30 year old postal worker from Cork, one of the many people in Ireland with undiagnosed gut health issues:
“I was never diagnosed with a specific condition, my symptoms come and go a lot and it can be very difficult to tell what will trigger a flare up. Sometimes bread or spicy food can cause severe irritation and I’d be in agony, then other times I’d be fine. My symptoms include bloating, gas and general stomach discomfort. I take a supplement to keep it at bay and that does help a lot. If I leave my symptoms untreated, flare ups can happen very easily - stress is a real trigger too.”