Diet triggers symptoms in women with irritable bowel syndrome. The patient's perspective.

The purpose of this phenomenological analysis was to describe perceptions of women with irritable bowel syndrome regarding the relationship of diet to their symptoms. Thirty-five women ages 18-45 with a medical diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome or symptoms compatible with a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome were interviewed and completed questionnaires as part of a larger study. During the interview, the women were asked what they thought caused their symptoms. Overall, women tried to adjust their diet to achieve a "Range of Comfort" so their symptoms were tolerable or manageable. To do this, women used a process of "Trial and Error." If a link could be made to diet, then women developed "Self-care Strategies" to maintain a "Healthy Diet." Women who failed to find a relationship during the "Trial and Error" process either felt the frustration of "Uncertainty" or, for a few women, decided that adjusting their diet was not worth the bother. This study suggests diet and eating behaviors are an important starting point for many women as they try to manage their irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.