April marks Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month, offering an opportunity to learn more about the condition and how it might affect people in their day-to-day lives.
"IBS causes a problem with the way your gut, or bowel, works," explains Dr. Bryony Henderson, lead GP at digital health service Livi.
"It’s a common condition that affects women more than men, and it’s usually a lifelong problem. The symptoms for this can be very similar to types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is why it’s important to speak to a doctor and get checked out."
According to Henderson, these are the most common IBS symptoms:
– Stomach pain or cramps which may get worse after eating
– Bloating and gas (flatulence)
– Diarrhoea
– Constipation
– Tiredness
– Mucus in your poo
– Backache
– Needing to pee more than usual
And if someone is experiencing a lot of pressure at work, things might get even worse.
If you think you may have IBS, see a GP as they can check and do some tests to rule out other problems.
Ask for an urgent appointment if you have:
- lost a lot of weight for no reason
- bleeding from your bottom or bloody diarrhoea
- a hard lump or swelling in your tummy
- shortness of breath, noticeable heartbeats (palpitations) and pale skin
So how might IBS affect someone at work?
Embarrassment
"Possibly the most common thing I hear about the effects of IBS when working in an office, is the embarrassment that goes with frequent trips to the WC and having to leave important meetings to rush to the toilet," says gastroenterologist Dr Philip Hendy.
"This goes hand in hand with a sense of shame and worry that these toilet trips may be viewed as a form of work avoidance. When people feel anxious and ashamed, this can exacerbate their symptoms even more, creating a vicious cycle of worsening stress and ill health, that seeps into all areas of life."
There is still some stigma around IBS, which might make it more difficult to talk about. Henderson suggests some people could experience "potential embarrassment with needing to discuss personal issues with managers".
Anxiety
Henderson mentions "anxiety around having an attack whilst at work", particularly if the "toilet facilities are not as private as one would like".
It might be tricky when certain food or drink triggers your symptoms, but it’s out of your control when you’re "at work, networking or at other professional functions where food or drink is provided", she adds.
Affecting performance
As one of the symptoms of IBS is tiredness, Henderson says this could lead to a "lack of energy, affecting performance at work, or affecting arriving times".
Low mood
Geigaite suggests the condition could contribute to low self-worth: "There is a stigma toward IBS. This can harm your self-image and sense of worth in the workplace."
Henderson adds: "Pain, discomfort and bloating can trigger low mood, and could potentially affect relationships with colleagues, as the symptoms are ‘hidden’."
For more information on IBS, visit HSE.ie
