Digestive Health Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS With Diarrhea Dealing With Diarrhea From IBS By Amber J. Tresca facebook twitter linkedin Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. Learn about our editorial process Amber J. Tresca Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Priyanka Chugh, MD on November 19, 2019 linkedin Priyanka Chugh, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist in practice with Trinity Health of New England in Waterbury, Connecticut. Learn about our Medical Review Board Priyanka Chugh, MD Updated on February 12, 2020 Print Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, which means that it causes symptoms but there is no evidence of disease. A colonoscopy will usually show healthy tissue in the colon, and a biopsy won't show any signs of disease. People with IBS may have a digestive system that is more sensitive to certain stimuli, including certain foods, medication, and stress. IBS tends to take one of three different types: diarrhea predominant (IBS-D), constipation predominant (IBS-C), and alternating diarrhea and constipation (IBS-A). Most people diagnosed with IBS have the diarrhea-predominant form (IBS-D). Each form of IBS its challenges, and with diarrhea, bathroom access hemorrhoids, and skin irritation tend to be major issues. Helen Yin / Getty Images Tips to Prevent Diarrhea Preventing or stopping IBS diarrhea may not always be possible, especially when first diagnosed and learning how to live with the condition. However, there are many steps that people with IBS can take to lessen the chances of developing a bout of diarrhea. Use these tips to help prevent diarrhea, and to take care of it quickly if and when it does occur. Stopping Diarrhea Through Diet Prevent diarrhea in the first place by maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet free of trigger foods. Trigger foods are different for every person that has IBS, but some of the common ones include: AlcoholArtificial sweeteners or sugar substitutesArtificial fat (Olestra)Carbonated beveragesCoconut milkCoffee (even decaffeinated)DairyEgg yolksFried FoodsOilsPoultry skin and dark meatRed meatShorteningSolid Chocolate Medications That Can Cause Diarrhea Some common medications can cause diarrhea, such as antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and antacids containing magnesium. If you are taking a new medication and experience diarrhea, speak to your doctor to determine if the drug could be the cause. What to Do When Diarrhea Happens When diarrhea does occur, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Dehydration can happen quickly when so much fluid is being lost from the body through diarrhea. If the diarrhea is severe or goes on for an extended period of time, consider supplementing water with beef or chicken broth to replace lost electrolytes, or with commercial oral rehydration solutions. Fruit drinks and soda pop are also recommended for dehydration. However, be careful with these, as they may contain artificial sweeteners and caffeine that tend to be triggers for IBS. Taking Care of Tender Skin Irritation on in and around the anal area can be common with severe or prolonged bouts of diarrhea. This can often occur as a result of wiping frequently as well as from the bile that's being passed with diarrhea. Keep the area clean using water and personal care wipes instead of toilet paper. A spray nozzle on the shower is helpful for keeping clean at home. When away from home, keep a travel size of wipes in your purse, pocket or car (you can also carry them in a plastic baggie with a secure closure). Eating for Diarrhea Eating smaller portions at mealtimes may help some people who feel full and bloated after eating. Adding soluble fiber to the diet may help some people with diarrhea from IBS. Some sources of soluble fiber include: BarleyBrown riceCurrantsDried beansFigsFrench breadFresh peasMethylcellulose (Citrucel)Oat BranOatmealPastaPrunesPsyllium husks (Metamucil)RaisinsRiceSourdough breadSoy When It's Not IBS The following are not symptoms of IBS, and if you experience them, you should see a doctor immediately: Blood in the stoolFeverWeight lossSevere pain A Word From Verywell Diarrhea tends to be common in many people who have IBS. While in some cases diarrhea can be associated with known trigger foods, sometimes diarrhea can come on for seemingly no reason at all. Taking care of the problems associated with diarrhea, such as tender perianal skin and dehydration is an important factor. Additionally, getting diarrhea under control by going back to a "safe" diet and putting other treatment plan measures into place is also going to help shorten the length of the diarrhea. Keeping a journal of foods and symptoms can also help in preventing diarrhea from happening in the future. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! One of the most challenging aspects of having IBS is trying to figure out what's safe to eat. Our recipe guide makes it easier. Sign up and get yours now! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Abdul rani R, Raja ali RA, Lee YY. 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