Stomachaches are a common part of life, especially after you eat too much food or eat something that's really bad for you, like lots of fried or fatty foods.  Usually, though, a long nap and a couple antacids like Tums or Rolaids will do that trick, and you'll feel back to normal in no time.  You think your children have used that excuse one too many times to get out of things they don't want to do.

But what happens if your child seems to get stomach aches all the time and nothing seems to help?  No amount of sleep or antacids makes them go away, and she feels cramped or bloated all the time.  She's almost afraid to eat anything because she doesn't want to feel sick again.  She's in the bathroom so much that gingo out to eat is embarrassing to her.  What's going on?

The good news is this isn't an uncommon problem.  If these symptoms have persisted for a considerable amount of time, she's probably suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a disorder of the intestines that affects millions of Americans.  There is no cure and it will persist for the rest of her life, but she can make it more bearable and keep her symptoms in check.  There are changes in diet that can be made and prescriptions if it is really bad.

Stress is one factor that can cause your symptoms to become worse, so minimizing the impact that stress has in her life can make her IBS a lot better.  This isn't easy to do, as stress seems to be a natural part of life, but if she can master her stress she'll be one step closer to alleviating her symptoms.

Find out what the diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment options are for IBS and what seems to be the best fit.  Your doctor knows best, so consult with one right away if you think your child has IBS.  There are plenty of things she can do on her own to help handle her IBS in the meantime.