Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a term used to describe recurrent abdominal discomfort that is associated with a change in stool frequency or appearance when it begins.  The discomfort may also improve with a bowel movement.  Individuals with IBS can experience associated bloating, gurgling of the gut, feeling of incompletely evacuating after a bowel movement, or the passage of mucus in the stool.  Mixed IBS (IBS-M) is a specific type of IBS in which an individual has hard or lumpy stools at least 25% of the time and loose or watery stools at least 25% of the time as well.  IBS-M can be caused by problems with motility through the GI tract, increased sensitivity to GI sensations, altered bacteria within the bowel, and poor regulation of the brain-gut connection.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome