Your bowel is a muscular tube which stores and digests food. Irritable bowel is a disorder which affects the nerves and muscles of the bowel. This causes abdominal pain and irregular bowel movements. IBS can be very distressing to those who suffer from it, but never leads to a more serious condition. It should NOT be confused with colitis or bowel cancer, and does not cause either.
Symptoms vary and can come and go.
Attacks can last for days, weeks or months. A feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowel. Mucus in the bowel motion. A feeling of fullness, or bloating of the abdomen. If you notice this, contact your doctor as soon as possible.