Work colleagues

IBS Doesn’t Work at Work

CDHF

Written by: CDHF

Updated: November 16th, 2022

People who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) often struggle with debilitating symptoms that seriously affect their ability to work and maintain a productive lifestyle. The thing about IBS, is the symptoms are not sexy, and often embarrassing for the individual suffering from them. So, they may have a hard time explaining to their boss and colleagues why they’re missing so much work, or why when they are at work, they’re distracted and not at their best.

IBS sufferers take more time off work, spend more days in bed, and cut down on usual activities on more days compared with non-IBS sufferers. A study conducted in the U.S. looked at the prevalence, symptom patterns and impact of IBS and found that almost one-quarter of IBS respondents work less hours, 11% miss work entirely and 67% feel less productive when at work due to symptoms. Two-thirds of existing IBS sufferers have had to reduce the number of normal activities they previously enjoyed participating in the last 12-month period for an average of 15 days.

We’ve compiled a list of symptoms to help you understand what someone with IBS is going through.

If you find you have some of these symptoms, it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor about possible treatment options, which we will cover later in this article.

IBS Symptoms

IBS, unfortunately, does not get the recognition and awareness that it deserves, especially considering the fact that 7% to 21% of the general population is affected by this chronic illness.

Some symptoms to look out for:

BS, unfortunately, does not get the recognition and awareness that it deserves, especially since up to 20% of the general population is affected by this chronic illness at any given time.  Some symptoms to look out for:

Other IBS symptoms may include: 

Many aspects of everyday living can trigger or aggravate IBS symptoms. Triggers vary from person to person, but the most common ones include certain foods, medications, emotional stress, and hormone fluctuations. In particular, foods such as caffeine, alcohol, carbonated drinks, fatty foods, certain fruits and vegetables, as well as lactose, fructose and gluten (wheat protein can cause problems for people with IBS. So pretty much all of the things that are common practice for people with busy work lives.

Sounds brutal. How do you fix it?

There are many ways to address IBS symptoms, and we cover a lot of them here, but despite our growing understanding of the disease, we have yet to develop a targeted treatment option that guarantees success. Treating IBS is usually a bit of process, where the patient needs to work with a combination of lifestyle changes, specialized diet plans, as well as over the counter and prescribed medications until they find a combo that’s right for them. After all, wellness is a personal journey, and everyone is different. This process can be emotionally taxing and frustrating as the results are often not immediate, and long-term compliance to a variety of treatment plans is necessary for results. However, there is hope!

Day to day life can be hectic and stressful even without having to deal with the debilitating symptoms of IBS.

So first things first, check your diet.  Rule out lactose intolerance; limit insoluble (cannot dissolve in water) fibre; increase soluble fibre; and try the low FODMAP diet.  In addition, consider supplements.  Products such as probiotics, and peppermint oil capsules have been shown to help IBS symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, constipation and/or diarrhea.

Remember to always consult a physician or a registered dietitian before trying any new treatment options, or to help guide you through a change in diet.


References:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02463.x

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4342-irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs

https://www.webmd.com/ibs/alternative-therapies

Related Articles:

View all News & Articles

low fodmap drink

What can you Drink on the Low FODMAP Diet?

celiac disease vs ibs webinar

IBS vs Celiac Disease Webinar

dysbiosis

IBS: What’s Dysbiosis Got to Do with It?

IBS Awareness Month

Girl looking on phone

Call for Study Participants: Using the LyfeMD application to support the management of IBS

IBS Toolkit for the Newly Diagnosed

woman holding her temples due to stress

IBS and Stress: Is There a Link?

girl on computer for Cognitive behavioural therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for IBS

medications for IBS

Medications and Supplements for IBS

man looking at recipe for IBS foods to make

IBS and Diet

Toilet paper with smiley face

Is my Poop Healthy/Normal?

woman laying down with hurt stomach

Why Does My Stomach Hurt?

myIBS App Survey

Donate to the myIBS App

Nutrition and diet consultation at home

CDHF Partners with NutriProCan IBS Program Designed to Relieve or Resolve IBS Symptoms

Man sitting on toilet, frustrated with IBS

What does IBS-C feel like? How do I know If I have IBS-C?

How to Treat and Manage IBS-C

Women looking up with question marks above her head

Dysbiosis and IBS

Peppermint

Peppermint Fixes More Than Just Bad Breath

Women lying on pillow holding stomach in pain

Managing IBS

Toilet paper roling on a green background

Understanding IBS

Healthy foods laid out on table

Evidence Based Ways to Manage Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Pink suitcase with microbe background

IBS Survival Guide

Mediaplanet: Did You Know Women are 2x More Likely to Have IBS Than Men?

Couple on a date

Dating with IBS

yoga class

The Importance of Managing Stress for People who Suffer from IBS

Women pondering with question marks

Top IBS Questions: Answered!

Women shaking her head

Think You May Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Hand squeezing a grapefruit

Diets Used for IBS

How to Find Functional Foods with Added Probiotics

Women holding her stomach in the bathroom with toilet paper in her hand

Women and IBS

Women talking to another women in an office with a lot of windows

Mental Health, IBS and Removing the Stigma

Women and male bathroom stall

Managing your Digestive Health in the Workplace Webinar

How to Manage IBS Animation

CDHF Talks: IBS and the Gut Microbiome

Hands on top of other hands supporting one another

IBS, IBD & Mental Health Webinar

Beginning frame of Living with IBS Animation

Living Positively with IBS Animation

Doctors smiling and shaking hands

Understanding IBS-D Webinar

white toilet on pink background

Living Positively with IBS-M

Women looking at her clothes in her closet

Dressing with IBS and other Digestive Health Issues

Green toilet paper on a purple microbe background

Why does IBS Affect more Women than Men?

Pink pills on a blue background

Did You Know That Some Probiotics May Help With IBS?

Candy

Trick or Treating Safely with Digestive Conditions

Toilet paper with flowers

Could I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? 5 Questions to Discuss

Individually prepped meals

What I Eat in a Day with Celiac Disease & IBS

Women speaking to collegue in an office

Tool Kit for Educating your Employer on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Toilet paper rolling out with a purple background

Why is there Blood in my Stool? Rectal Bleeding

Someone counselling an individual

Long Term Benefits of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for IBS

Man clutching stomach

How a Gut Infection can Lead to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

lab dishes

A New Bacterium on the Block: How Brachyspira may be a factor for IBS

How to use CDHF’s myIBS App

Fecal calprotectin stool test

What is the Fecal Calprotectin Test?

sign that says keep moving forward outside

My Long-Complicated Journey with my Gut and IBS-C

Writing in notebook at a desk

My Experience with IBS-C as a Registered Dietitian

Hands circling around the gut

IBS, The Microbiome and a Novel Virtual Tool

celiac vs ibs

Celiac Disease vs IBS

Couple making pasta

Managing IBS is a Pain in the Butt!

Work colleagues

IBS Doesn’t Work at Work

Women drinking wine with pink microbe background

Alcohol and IBS

peppermint

Patient Experiences using IBgard to Combat Symptoms of IBS

stack of toilet paper

TRULANCE® (plecanatide tablets) for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation in Adults Is now Available to Canadians

Bio-K+ IBS Pro – CDHF Certified Product

IB Gard box on kitchen counter

IBgard® – CDHF Certified Product