Abdominal pain Cramping Gas Bloating Diarrhea and/or constipation

Still, it can be hard to know if these symptoms are because of IBS. It could be something as simple as a food intolerance, or it could be a more serious condition.

Certain symptoms may suggest a health problem other than IBS. These symptoms don’t necessarily mean you don’t have IBS. If you have them, though, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor.

Tell your doctor about any symptoms you have on a regular basis, even if they are not on this list.

This article looks at some of the symptoms that may be related to a health problem other than IBS.

Carbohydrates are substances in food that provide your body with energy. They include sugars, starches, and fiber. It usually takes about 90 minutes for undigested carbohydrates to reach your large intestine.

Once there, gut bacteria start breaking them down. This is called fermentation. Fermentation produces gas.

You should not start to feel gassy before that 90-minute mark. If you do, it could be because you have too much bacteria in your small intestine.

This condition is called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). SIBO is diagnosed with a hydrogen breath test. It can be treated with select antibiotics.

If you experience gas and bloating within 1.5 hours of eating, talk to your doctor. This doesn’t necessarily mean your doctor was wrong about your IBS. It just means it might be worthwhile to be tested for SIBO.

The simple act of eating can cause contractions in your intestines. This can lead to diarrhea.

A couple of other conditions could also cause this symptom. These conditions are less common. If you have a sudden, immediate diarrhea right after eating, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may want to consider:

Bile acid malabsorption, when too much bile acid reaches your large intestine Dumping syndrome, when food moves too quickly from your stomach to the small intestine

These conditions are relatively rare. It is still possible that diarrhea after eating is a symptom of your IBS. Still, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor about other possibilities.

Many IBS patients say this is not always true. But for the most part, people with IBS feel like their pain has something to do with their diarrhea or constipation.

If you have pain you don’t think is related to your bowel movements, talk to your doctor. It may still be IBS, but it is worth looking at other possibilities.

That is why doctors recommend that people with IBS should also be tested for celiac disease. This test is only conclusive if you are eating foods that contain gluten.

Celiac disease can cause other serious health problems, so it is important to know if you have it.

Even if you do not have celiac disease, eating wheat may trigger IBS symptoms. You may have a condition known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

You may also be reacting to fructan, a kind of carbohydrate found in grains and some fruits and vegetables. Your doctor can guide you through an elimination diet to determine if any foods are triggering your symptoms.

Blood in the stool can also be a symptom of other more serious problems. This includes IBD or colon cancer.

If you see blood in the toilet after a bowel movement and it is not menstrual blood, see a doctor as soon as possible.

There are many health conditions that can cause vomiting.

Vomiting that does not happen with other signs of disease could be a condition called cyclic vomiting disorder (CVS). If you have vomiting without other symptoms, talk to your doctor.

If you have a poor appetite and it is not because you’re afraid of eating trigger foods, see a doctor. This is not an IBS symptom.

Infections Inflammatory conditions Autoimmune conditions, when your immune system attacks healthy tissue by mistake Cancer

Many people with IBS say they often lack energy. Fatigue, though, is not a symptom of IBS. If you have deep, persistent feelings of fatigue, let your doctor know.

If you have gas and bloating within 90 minutes of eating, diarrhea right after you eat, or pain that does not seem related to your bowel movements, talk to your doctor. 

People who get IBS-like symptoms after eating wheat and other foods that contain gluten should be tested for celiac disease.

Other symptoms that are not associated with IBS include blood in the stool, frequent vomiting, unexplained weight loss, fever, and fatigue. If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor right away.