Your health history is personal. Talk with your doctor about your risk factors or knowledge of IBS. This can help you take an active role in your care.
Here are some tips that will make it simpler for you to talk to your doctor:
Will this problem get worse or turn into a serious disease such as cancer? Are there health problems that might be a sign that it is turning into something more serious?
Ford AC, Lacy BE, Talley NJ. Irritable bowel syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(26):2566-2578.
Getting the most out of your doctor appointment. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/tips-for-talking-to-your-doctor. Updated January 19, 2018. Accessed August 15, 2018.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T113627/Irritable-bowel-syndrome-IBS. Updated September 10, 2018. Accessed August 15, 2019.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gastrointestinal-disorders/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs. Updated April 2019. Accessed August 15, 2019.
Last reviewed August 2019 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
James P. Cornell, MD
Last Updated: 8/15/2019