Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It FeelsDurationManagementTriggersWhen to Get Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Feels
Duration
Management
Triggers
When to Get Help
Most irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) attacks last a few days, but some can persist for weeks or even months. IBS flares can feel like abdominal pain, cramps, gas, bloating, and loss of appetite. If you haveIBS with constipation(IBS-C), the stool might look small, hard, and pebble-like. If you haveIBS with diarrhea(IBS-D), the stool might look wet, loose, and watery.
To calm an IBS attack, you can try avoiding caffeine, fatty foods, and large amounts of dairy to reduce gas, bloating, and discomfort. Medications can address severe diarrhea and constipation, whileprobioticsmay help with symptoms. The best approach depends on your specific symptoms and your healthcare provider’s advice.
What Does an IBS Flare Feel Like?
IBS attacks commonly feel like:
During an IBS attack, you may experience diarrhea, constipation, or both, depending on the type of IBS you have:
Pain and symptoms often ease after a bowel movement.
What Does IBS Poop Look Like?During an IBS-D attack, stool may be loose, wet, and watery. During an IBS-C attack, stool may be hard, small, and difficult to pass. Mucus in stool can occur with either type, but you should not see blood. If you notice blood in your poop, contact a healthcare provider right away.
What Does IBS Poop Look Like?
During an IBS-D attack, stool may be loose, wet, and watery. During an IBS-C attack, stool may be hard, small, and difficult to pass. Mucus in stool can occur with either type, but you should not see blood. If you notice blood in your poop, contact a healthcare provider right away.
How Long Do IBS Attacks Last?
A diagnosis of IBS is made when symptoms are present for at least three days a month for a period of three months or more.
IBS is a chronic condition. Some people with IBS have periodic flare-ups. Others have more persistent symptoms.
How long flare-ups last depends on various factors, and each person’s experience is unique. You can generally expect an IBS attack to last a few days to several months.
How to Calm Down an IBS Flare
Here are 15 methods you can try to calm down an IBS flare:
If you are having an IBS attack that does not get better with at-home treatments and lifestyle changes, consult a healthcare provider. Your provider may prescribe a medication to help manage your symptoms.
A range of medications are available for IBS, including:
Newer drugs like Viberzi (eluxadoline) and Xifaxan (rifaximin) are specially designed to treat IBS and offer greater symptom control than ever before.
What Are the Biggest Triggers for IBS?
High FODMAP foodslike the following are known to trigger IBS:
Other foods known to trigger IBS symptoms include:
IBS is considered a disorder of gut-brain interaction, meaning that a combination of gut health and mental health factors are often at play.
Many people with IBS find that IBS attacks often occur during times of significant stress, anxiety, or depression. There also appears to be a strong link between negative childhood experiences, such as divorce or trauma, and the development of IBS later in life.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See a healthcare provider if you have IBS symptoms in addition to:
These symptoms can be a sign of a more serious medical condition.
Consider seeing a healthcare provider if you cannot pinpoint what triggers your IBS symptoms. A provider can help you narrow down what might be causing symptoms, and work with you to create an effective treatment plan.
Summary
IBS flares commonly involve abdominal pain, gas and bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation. Depending on whether you have IBS with constipation or diarrhea, your stool may be loose and watery (IBS-D) or hard and difficult to pass (IBS-C).
If at-home remedies and lifestyle changes don’t help, talk to a healthcare provider about medications and other treatment options.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mount Sinai.Irritable bowel syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome treatment.Penn Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome.Cozma-Petruţ A, Loghin F, Miere D, Lucian Dumitraşcu D.Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not to forbid to patients!World J Gastroenterol. 2017 Jun;23(21):3771–3783. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i21.3771Harvard Health Publishing.Using alternative and complementary treatments to manage IBS.Islam Z, D’Silva A, Raman M, Nasser Y.The role of mind body interventions in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.Front Psychiatry. 2022 Dec 22;13:1076763. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1076763.Palsson OS, Van tilburg M.Hypnosis and guided imagery treatment for gastrointestinal disorders: Experience with scripted protocols developed at the University of North Carolina.Am J Clin Hypn. 2015;58(1):5-21. doi:10.1080/00029157.2015.1012705Kinsinger S.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10(1):231-237. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120817Johns Hopkins Medicine.FODMAP diet: What you need to know.Muir J.An overview of fiber and fiber supplements for irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Jul;15(7):387-389.Li Y, Peng S, Liang F, Liu S, Li J.Effectiveness of acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome: Protocol for a scoping review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.Medicine. 2022 Jul;101(29):e29218. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000029218Ford AC, Moayyedi P, Chey WD, et al.American College of Gastroenterology monograph on management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol.2018;113(Suppl 2):1-18. doi:10.1038/s41395-018-0084-xAtlantic Health System.Common triggers for irritable bowel syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.5 foods to avoid if you have IBS.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mount Sinai.Irritable bowel syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome treatment.Penn Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome.Cozma-Petruţ A, Loghin F, Miere D, Lucian Dumitraşcu D.Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not to forbid to patients!World J Gastroenterol. 2017 Jun;23(21):3771–3783. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i21.3771Harvard Health Publishing.Using alternative and complementary treatments to manage IBS.Islam Z, D’Silva A, Raman M, Nasser Y.The role of mind body interventions in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.Front Psychiatry. 2022 Dec 22;13:1076763. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1076763.Palsson OS, Van tilburg M.Hypnosis and guided imagery treatment for gastrointestinal disorders: Experience with scripted protocols developed at the University of North Carolina.Am J Clin Hypn. 2015;58(1):5-21. doi:10.1080/00029157.2015.1012705Kinsinger S.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10(1):231-237. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120817Johns Hopkins Medicine.FODMAP diet: What you need to know.Muir J.An overview of fiber and fiber supplements for irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Jul;15(7):387-389.Li Y, Peng S, Liang F, Liu S, Li J.Effectiveness of acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome: Protocol for a scoping review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.Medicine. 2022 Jul;101(29):e29218. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000029218Ford AC, Moayyedi P, Chey WD, et al.American College of Gastroenterology monograph on management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol.2018;113(Suppl 2):1-18. doi:10.1038/s41395-018-0084-xAtlantic Health System.Common triggers for irritable bowel syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.5 foods to avoid if you have IBS.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mount Sinai.Irritable bowel syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome treatment.Penn Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome.Cozma-Petruţ A, Loghin F, Miere D, Lucian Dumitraşcu D.Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not to forbid to patients!World J Gastroenterol. 2017 Jun;23(21):3771–3783. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i21.3771Harvard Health Publishing.Using alternative and complementary treatments to manage IBS.Islam Z, D’Silva A, Raman M, Nasser Y.The role of mind body interventions in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.Front Psychiatry. 2022 Dec 22;13:1076763. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1076763.Palsson OS, Van tilburg M.Hypnosis and guided imagery treatment for gastrointestinal disorders: Experience with scripted protocols developed at the University of North Carolina.Am J Clin Hypn. 2015;58(1):5-21. doi:10.1080/00029157.2015.1012705Kinsinger S.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10(1):231-237. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120817Johns Hopkins Medicine.FODMAP diet: What you need to know.Muir J.An overview of fiber and fiber supplements for irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Jul;15(7):387-389.Li Y, Peng S, Liang F, Liu S, Li J.Effectiveness of acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome: Protocol for a scoping review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.Medicine. 2022 Jul;101(29):e29218. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000029218Ford AC, Moayyedi P, Chey WD, et al.American College of Gastroenterology monograph on management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol.2018;113(Suppl 2):1-18. doi:10.1038/s41395-018-0084-xAtlantic Health System.Common triggers for irritable bowel syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.5 foods to avoid if you have IBS.
Mount Sinai.Irritable bowel syndrome.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome treatment.
Penn Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome.
Cozma-Petruţ A, Loghin F, Miere D, Lucian Dumitraşcu D.Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not to forbid to patients!World J Gastroenterol. 2017 Jun;23(21):3771–3783. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i21.3771
Harvard Health Publishing.Using alternative and complementary treatments to manage IBS.
Islam Z, D’Silva A, Raman M, Nasser Y.The role of mind body interventions in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.Front Psychiatry. 2022 Dec 22;13:1076763. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1076763.
Palsson OS, Van tilburg M.Hypnosis and guided imagery treatment for gastrointestinal disorders: Experience with scripted protocols developed at the University of North Carolina.Am J Clin Hypn. 2015;58(1):5-21. doi:10.1080/00029157.2015.1012705
Kinsinger S.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome: current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10(1):231-237. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120817
Johns Hopkins Medicine.FODMAP diet: What you need to know.
Muir J.An overview of fiber and fiber supplements for irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Jul;15(7):387-389.
Li Y, Peng S, Liang F, Liu S, Li J.Effectiveness of acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome: Protocol for a scoping review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.Medicine. 2022 Jul;101(29):e29218. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000029218
Ford AC, Moayyedi P, Chey WD, et al.American College of Gastroenterology monograph on management of irritable bowel syndrome.Am J Gastroenterol.2018;113(Suppl 2):1-18. doi:10.1038/s41395-018-0084-x
Atlantic Health System.Common triggers for irritable bowel syndrome.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.5 foods to avoid if you have IBS.
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