Living With Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), also known as spastic colon, is a disorder characterized by long term abdominal discomfort, bloating, and irregular bowel movements. Because of similarities in symptoms, it can sometimes be mistaken for the more serious Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The two are different in that IBD can cause permanent damage to the large intestines, and it can escalate to Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. IBS is actually a group of symptoms with no known cause, though research shows that food intolerances and stress tend to exacerbate the problem. Unlike IBD, IBS has not been specifically connected to use of the acne medication Accutane.
If you have taken Accutane and suffer from what you believe to be IBS, you may want to ask your doctors to check for signs of IBD. Due to the connection between Accutane and IBD, you may be at increased risk for this life-altering disease. If you have contracted IBD after using Accutane, you may be entitled to financial compensation for medical expenses and emotional trauma associated with your illness. Contact an Accutane attorney of Williams Kherkher at 800-761-3187 to learn more about your legal rights in this situation.
Management
Unlike IBD patients, many people find IBS to be perfectly manageable. Some remedies used include:
- Limiting dairy and gluten from diets and increasing fiber intake
- Laxatives
- Anti-spasmatic drugs
- Tricyclic antidepressant medication
- Exercise
- Therapy and stress relief
- Probiotics
If you have been diagnosed with IBS and the above methods of symptom control do not have any significant effect, it may be that you have been misdiagnosed and are actually suffering from IBD. In this case, consult with your doctor immediately.
Contact Us
Living with IBS can be manageable, and patients need not worry about long-term damage to the large intestines. However, patients with IBD are at higher risk for lifelong complications. If you have been diagnosed with IBD after using the acne medication Accutane, you may be able to receive compensation. Contact a knowledgeable Accutane lawyer of Williams Kherkher at 800-761-3187 today.
