title: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) subtypes: Nothing resembles less an IBS than another IBS.
abstract: Two new members of "IBS Patient Association" met at a meeting. Feeling somewhat lost, not knowing anybody present, they introduced themselves to each other. After exchanging names, one asks the other - "What's your problem?" The other one answers - "I got constipation that laxatives fail to relieve, and my belly, which is always bloated, sometimes hurts so much that I can´t even leave home". Deeply surprised, the first individual inquires - "What are you doing here then?" "Why, I came to this meeting looking for some help for my irritable colon", she answered. "Irritable colon? That's no irritable colon. Irritable bowel syndrome is what I suffer from, and it's diarrhea that won't let me be; can't stop running to the toilet, and cramps just pop up any time". Now both looked surprised. Both thought they had come to the wrong meeting, and both were on the verge of leaving. Luckily, the Association's secretary showed up and explained that both had IBS.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterología, Centro Médico Teknon, España.
authors.forename: Fermín
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mearin Manrique
mesh_terms: D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*