Includes bibliographical references and index.

IBS affects almost one in six Americans and is characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation. Today physicians are better able to diagnose this complex disorder, understand and explain its origins, and develop a treatment plan that effectively meets the individual needs of a patient. Since publication of the first edition of Making Sense of IBS, diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome have changed significantly. Drawing on his many years of experience treating people who have symptoms of IBS, Dr. Brian E. Lacy has greatly expanded the first edition, adding new topics and the latest findings on tests, medications, alternative treatments, dietary factors, and lifestyle. Dr. Lacy explains normal digestion, the causes of IBS, how IBS is diagnosed, and what to expect with treatment. He also explores special topics such as IBS in children and psychological, hypnotherapeutic, and psychiatric therapies. Important new information in the second edition includes: the roles of fiber, gluten, lactose, and fructose in the development and treatment of IBS; the use of probiotics and antibiotics to treat IBS; similarities and differences between IBS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); the relationship between small intestine bacterial overgrowth and IBS; how to make the most of your visits to a gastroenterologist; and lifestyle modifications that can improve symptoms of IBS.