Checkpoint: Diagnosis and Treatment

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    “Doctor I have been having stomach ache. It has been cramping, being nauseated, and even threw up a couple times. After I eat, I get heartburn. I would not have given them second thought, would have tossed it to a virus, when I had a bowel movement, there was alittle blood. Got scared and this why I am here, for you to find out what I have. ”  
    The age of a patient can determine the ease of diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome; a simple blood test can be used. No disease-specific tests have been created to diagnose IBS, so the physician has to interpret the symptoms the patient is exhibiting in order to provide a proper diagnosis. If a young person presents symptoms, little to no testing is needed. If the patient is older and has just recently developed IBS, another condition may be to blame, so additional testing will be necessary. This testing can include a colonoscopy, which can eliminate the need to consider other possible conditions like cancer because patients rarely develop symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome later in their lives—previous occurrences are almost always experienced.
    I believe that the physician has correctly diagnosed the patient with irritable bowel syndrome. Using the ROME III criteria for my analysis, the physician asked the patient numerous questions about symptoms experienced. These questions included asking about the patient’s dietary habits and bowel problems experienced. The patient can be treated for IBS rather simply. The avoidance of fatty fibers and caffeine will help, as will increasing the intake of fiber. Stress-related IBS can be helped with medications for anxiety and depression. No matter the cause of the patient’s irritable bowel syndrome, exercise will help with symptoms, as can medications for relief from constipation and diarrhea.