Is it possible to have Irritable Bowel Syndrome or a functional bowel disorder without much abdominal pain?

I am a 28 year old male. In addition to having been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, I have been having a host of strange bowel symptoms for the past year or so: diarrhea, constipation, narrower softer stools, occasional mucus, but no blood. The one symptom of IBS that I do NOT have is abdominal pain. I noticed that one of the requisitie criteria for IBS was abominal pain that is relieved by a bowel movement. I have never had this symptom.

Can the condition I have still be IBS?

I am just wondering if it is possible that I have IBS without the pain/cramping aspect?

Yes it is possable. You need to go to the doctor and have him check for Crohn's. I had the same simptoms as you when I was 45, it is easy to controll with a pill...Good Luck

You can go to the doctor and take an expensive prescription drug for the rest of your life; be black-listed by health insurers; (never qualify for standard rates as long as you are taking Rxs); OR you can get HEALTHY so that your bowel movements normalize again.

Your diet will definitely need to change during healing. Increase whole grains like long grain brown rice; amaranth; millet; quinoa -- which act like scrubbing bubbles of your digestive tract and will bulk out your stools as well as dark green leafy veggies such as kale; chard, broccoli, cabbage. Also drink water and herbal teas to flush out toxins.

Generally dairy is the number one culprit as well as refined wheat and sugar. Also avoid chemcials ie diet sodas and cut back on meat. I've made myself regular again with diet changes; a Vitamin C flush (you can take up to 10,000 mgs or up to bowel tolerance of Vit C per day). You might start with 1000 and take 500 more every hour or so. Also, Slippery Elm is a musilaginous herb that normalizes the digestive tract. To get rid of the problem the quickest, you should see an EXPERIENCED Naturopathic Doctor or practitioner. N.D.s are trained to find and eliminate underlying causes of disease by helping you do what is necessary to strengthen your immune system and in this case your digestive system. It takes time but it is worth it because in the end you get your health back. Medical Doctors are only trained to help you live with your disease. The Naturopaths I use take phone appts and their website is at holistichealthline.com. You can also go to Dr Paige's website healthyhealing.com. Dr Balch is an M.D. who actually has a good understanding of natural medicine and has written Prescription for Nutritional Healing.

The good news is you don't have to suffer with it or rely on Rxs ( for the rest of your life. You can get rid of it permanently but conventional medical doctors won't be able to help you do it. You have to think OUTSIDE the box and find the REAL practioners of HEALTH. Also don't expect insurance to "cover" it but it isn't expensive and when you consider the treatment is temporary and the results will be permanent (if you do exactly what you are told and don't keep eating the foods that got you where you are today). If you follow the right treatment plan, your digestive tract will eventually be able to handle a little junk that you were eating before without giving you IBS symptoms.