There are three types of IBS and each has its own distinct set of symptoms:

Spastic Colon Syndrome:
The colon is primarily affected. Clients with this disorder usually experience lower abdominal pain with relief occurring with defecation. The onset of pain being associated with the passage of looser than normal stools. The clients often experience abdominal distension, a dissatisfied bowel habit and mucus in the stool. There is sometimes frequent bowel movement and at other times the client may experience constipation.

Functional Diarrhoea:
This problem is quite different from the other two types in that the client complains of frequency and urgency of bowel movements and passing of several stools in rapid succession, usually first thing in the morning. In severe cases sufferers become house bound because urgency is so imperative that their lifestyles revolve around knowing exactly where the nearest toilet might be. Consequently some sufferers can no longer work, being unable to travel by either car or use public transport.

Primary Motility Disorder of the Foregut:
This is relatively common and hitherto poorly appreciated and described. Commonly affecting women, with sufferers experiencing abdominal pain not restricted to the upper abdomen and often affecting the right side. Abdominal bloating, which again does not just affect the upper regions of the abdomen is very common. Sufferers feel very full after meals, alternatively they feel hungry - but then get full and bloated after eating only the smallest amount of food. The sufferers are often nauseated, appetite falls off and possible weight loss. However bowel function is often normal, and it is this that distinguishes it from other variants of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

All three types or variants of IBS can result in debilitating and chronic symptoms, which although not life threatening, can drastically reduce ones quality of life.