Yes . IBS ' diagnostic criteria are basically rule out everything else , and everyone will answer yes if you ask them whether they ' re sometimes constipated . There ' s no test , no histologic lesion , no proven pathology . That said , and while the majority of them might be basically people who express their emotions on their body more than most people , it ' s important to note that functional illnesses are an important diagnostic category that may serve as placeholders for as of yet undiscovered , nongrave diseases . Not to try to give you false hope , but it doesn ' t automatically mean thay your doctor just wanted to get rid of you either . These kimds of situations are uncomfortable for everyone involved , and it ' s hard for doctors to tell patients that with these things we just don ' t know what you might or might not have , except that it ' s not grave and you won ' t die from it . So they put a name on it , while simultaneously not having a ducking clue of how to help you , but we know having a diagnosis will make you feel better . So yeah .