THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OCCASIONAL & CHRONIC CONSTIPATION
Sudden or short periods of difficult, infrequent, or incomplete bowel movements may be occasional constipation. Constipation symptoms that keep coming back or seem to last for a long time—more than 3 months—could indicate a medical condition known as chronic constipation.
COULD IT BE IBS-C OR CIC?
It can be hard to recognize the signs of IBS-C and CIC. Hear how Deb, Phil, and Julie knew their symptoms were more serious than routine constipation.
WHAT COULD SMALL, HARD STOOLS MEAN?
The Bristol Stool Form Scale makes it easier to understand and talk about stools. The scale helps assess how long stools have been in the bowel by assigning them a number based on their size, shape, and consistency.
Type 1 stools have spent the most time in the bowel; type 7 have spent the least. Stools resembling types 1 - 2 may indicate constipation, types 3 - 5 are typically considered normal bowel movements, and types 6 - 7 could mean diarrhea.
Answer 5 quick questions to see if you could have more than occasional constipation. Check my symptoms.
Small, hard lumps
Log-like but lumpy
Log-like with surface cracks
Smooth & snake-like
Soft blobs with clear-cut edges
Fluffy with ragged edges
Watery, no solid pieces
Constipation
Normal
Diarrhea
Modified from original version. © 2000 Rome Foundation. Used with permission.
YOUR CONSTIPATION COULD BE CHRONIC, NOT OCCASIONAL
Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C) and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) are types of chronic constipation. “Idiopathic” means the cause is unknown.
SYMPTOMS
OF IBS-C
CONSTIPATION
- Lumpy or hard stools
- Incomplete bowel movements
- Fewer than 3 bowel movements a week
ABDOMINAL SYMPTOMS
- Abdominal (belly) pain
- Discomfort
- Bloating
SYMPTOMS
OF CIC
CONSTIPATION
- Lumpy or hard stools
- Incomplete bowel movements
- Fewer than 3 bowel movements a week
LINZESS IS FOR ADULTS WITH IBS-C OR CIC
LINZESS is a prescription treatment that helps you have more frequent and complete bowel movements and helps relieve belly pain and overall abdominal symptoms* (pain, discomfort, and bloating) associated with IBS-C.
*Abdominal symptoms were studied in combination, not individually.
“LINZESS is a once-daily capsule that helps adults proactively manage their symptoms.”
Dr. Susan Lucak,
Gastroenterologist
