Managing an IBS Flare

An unexpected digestive flare can quickly disrupt your daily routine and leave you searching for immediate relief. When abdominal pain and sudden changes in bowel habits strike, knowing how to respond makes all the difference. Understanding your body's signals is the first step toward managing these uncomfortable episodes.

At Los Angeles Gastroenterology Clinic in Santa Monica, California, Dr. S. Radi Shamsi helps patients navigate the challenges of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We work closely with you to identify your personal triggers and develop a customized management plan. Our goal is to help you find long-term relief and improve your daily quality of life. 

What is an IBS flare? 

An IBS flare is a sudden worsening of digestive symptoms like abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, or bowel urgency. According to the Mayo Clinic (2025), this condition affects approximately 1 in 10 adults in the United States and stems from an overactive communication pathway between the brain and the gut. This means your nervous system and digestive tract are highly sensitive to changes.

Because IBS involves the gut-brain axis, stress, anxiety, poor sleep, travel, diet changes, medications, and other disruptions may contribute to flares. 

How to find relief during a flare

When a flare begins, focusing on gentle, evidence-based strategies can help calm your digestive system. Making temporary adjustments to your diet and managing your stress levels are two of the most effective ways to regain control. It's important to give your body time to rest and recover during these sensitive periods.

A low-FODMAP diet may help some people with IBS identify food triggers, but it is usually used as a short-term, structured plan rather than a quick flare fix. It works best with guidance from a GI provider like Dr. Shamsi so foods can be reintroduced and the diet does not become overly restrictive.

During a flare, you may be able to help your symptoms by:

• Choosing bland, gentle foods for a short period
• Drinking water, especially if you have diarrhea
• Avoiding triggers such as caffeine, alcohol, greasy foods, spicy foods, or large meals
• Using heat for abdominal cramping
• Practicing relaxation, slow breathing, walking, or another calming activity
• Taking medications only as directed by your provider
• Tracking what changed before the flare (food, stress, travel, sleep, or medication)

Additionally, practicing relaxation techniques can help soothe the overactive signals traveling between your brain and your gut. These small changes can make a significant difference in how you feel. 

Does IBS cause permanent damage?

Many people worry that frequent flares will lead to long-term harm to their digestive systems. Fortunately, the Cleveland Clinic (2024) notes that IBS is a functional disorder that doesn't damage gastrointestinal tissue or increase your risk of colon cancer. This reassurance can help lower the anxiety that often accompanies a flare.

When to call us

Contact us if your symptoms are new, worsening, different from your usual IBS pattern, or not improving. Seek prompt care for rectal bleeding, black stools, unexplained weight loss, fever, vomiting, severe or constant abdominal pain, dehydration, anemia, symptoms that wake you from sleep, or a family history of colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease.

Even though the symptoms are painful and disruptive, they don't cause physical inflammation or permanent changes to your bowel anatomy. Knowing this can help ease the anxiety that often makes flares feel worse. We can help you focus on symptom relief without the fear of underlying damage.

You don't have to manage these unpredictable symptoms on your own. Our team is here to help you find a personalized path to long-term relief. Please contact our office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shamsi.