Hi all - new to the forum.Just curious if anyone has any information if ibs is linked/ triggered or common/uncommon and unusual or cause for concern at any particular age?
Also I'm finding information and research limited if ibs can be linked to any pre existing conditions or disorders.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
As far as I noted when checking things about IBS online, age seems to be mostly irrelevant concerning IBS. Children can have it, Older people (over 60s) can develop it for the first time. It often can run in families (but not the case in mine.) But I think on average as far as I read, it develops most commonly between the ages of early 20s and 40s.
And even though it's a horrible condition to have, it's known as "benign" inasmuch as it isn't linked to any greater risk of developing bowel cancer, and not linked especially to any inflammatory conditions of the bowel. Though of course those conditions could run side by side even if not caused by IBS.
I haven't see any definite evidence of it being linked to other conditions or disorders ...formally anyway. Though I think there can be a link with IBS and migraine, and also possibly with anxiety conditions. It is reiterated in scientific circles, that IBS is not "caused" by anxiety or depression, but I am not sure that's correct to be honest in real life terms.
But I don't have any sources noted down for the above. It's from what I picked up all over the place over the last few years.
IBS can be linked to fibromyalgia, migraine and depression and I have all of them. A search online will show studies confirming this.
I agree with the other posts here. The other thing that I've noted recently is there have been scientific links between COVID-19 infection and new onset IBS or worsening of IBS symptoms.
The only other thing related to age, is the fact that a person's microbiome can become less effective as we age. For example one of the good bugs that helps to keep bad bugs under control in the gut is Bifdobacterium. This has been shown to decline with age. This suggests that it is possible that the microbiome has the potential to become more imbalanced as we get older. This imbalance has been linked with IBS in some people. Add in other predisposing factors on top, such as stress, genetic predisposition alongside environmental factors such as psychologically impacting historic events and this adds to the mix increasing the chances of IBS.
Firstly I want to reiterate to you that due to the overwhelming amount of people who now have 'IBS' there is not one classification that fits why so many people present with IBS symptoms. You could spend hours looking at various research and anything and everything has been suggested. In my own case, I have had IBS for 25 or so years (more so after my second child was born). Stress had made it worse at times and so did the menopause. A couple of years ago I presented with the 'usual' symptoms but an additional one - I dropped a stone in a month. Concerned I asked my GP for a referral but she refused saying it is part of my IBS. I took myself to see a gastroenterologist and purely due to the rapid weight loss I had tests (back on the NHS) and I also have IBD (patchy pancolitis which is now controlled with meds). I asked the gastroenterologist if having IBS for so long contributed to my IBD and the answer was 'we cannot be certain.' I know people in their 20's with the condition as well as my sister who only started with symptoms in her 50's. It does seem more prevalent in the Western world though...
Unfortunately research into IBS doesn't seem to be a priority. There are more neurones in the gut than the brain and stress can definitely be a factor in developing IBS. I was diagnosed after a very traumatic event (I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and I also developed other health problems related to other auto immune issues. Hormonal changes can also affect IBS so my flare ups were usually linked to my menstrual cycle and now the surgical menopause.
Any changes in bowel habits should be checked immediately, firstly by your GP and then a referral to a Gastroenterologist if necessary, regardless of age. My IBS has become worse since September 2020, after I was in hospital with Sepsis for a month, and then had to have a hysterectomy. I'm now being tested for Inflammatory Bowel Disease as there is a link between this and Sepsis.
In regard to links to other pre existing conditions, my friend has Fibromyalgia and then was diagnosed with IBS, these two health issues do seem to be linked as she knows a lot of people with these two health issues.
There is a higher than random co-occurrence of IBS with TMJD (temporomandibular joint disorder), which is what I have, and I suspect it was a causative factor for my IBS. There's some overlap between my symptoms from the TMJD and those of fibromyalgia.
Unfortunately, it seems that sexual abuse within families is quite widespread - so it’s useful to remember that ‘correlation does not equal causality’ -things can happen at the same time without either of them causing the other!
I’ve had mild IBS since my thirties (aged 67 now) and I’ve not found anything that might be a trigger. It initially occurred when I had postnatal depression and one of my children had ME. It worsened when I was put onto Metformin when diagnosed with Diabetes type 2. Apparently this is quite a common reaction. So I was given a stomach-friendly formulation of Metformin, and some of the symptoms have died down, but IBS is still part of my life. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs with my health since IBS was first mentioned, so it could be related to any of them, or maybe it’s part of a worsening of my health. I’d certainly advise with even a hint of IBS to ask for a change of meds if medication seems to have made it worse.
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