What's Lurking Under your IBS?
Dr. Erica Volk, ND
**A note to my readers: If you're frustrated by your digestive symptoms, please join my FREE Gut Lovers Society (on Facebook) where you'll gain exclusive access to videos, education, information, tips, and live Q&A with me––all designed to help you optimize your gut health.
If you've been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, or "IBS" by your general practitioner, here's a secret: there may be other underlying causes of your symptoms! What would your life be like if you could go about your day without the daily bloating, heartburn, abdominal pain, or, let's face it, embarrassingly loud and smelly bowel movements in the public washroom at work? How would that free you? How would this change your mood and overall sense of well-being and life satisfaction?
How do you properly diagnose digestive problems?
If you have chronic digestive problems, the first step is to meet with your doctor to discuss your symptoms and get some lab testing done. Your physician should then make sure you don't have any of these other potential underlying problems before diagnosing you with "IBS." Some of the reasonable and appropriate lab tests for "IBS" symptoms include:
Even if all lab tests and imaging studies are normal, it's possible your nervous system or chronic anxiety are causing your digestive symptoms. Both of these problems can be treated.
Before accepting your diagnosis of IBS (or just assuming you have it), I recommend thorough lab testing. Ask your doctor which tests have been done and then ask for the specific tests you might still need. If your doctor won't or can't order tests for you, you may benefit from consulting with a different doctor. I'll say it again: if you have chronic digestive symptoms, you deserve to undergo a thorough evaluation of the potential underlying causes before being diagnosed with IBS. To get to the root cause of your digestive issues, you may need to advocate for yourself more than you are used to!
I am a digestive health expert and nothing makes me happier than to help my patients achieve normal, healthy poops, and a flat stomach that doesn't hurt! You deserve to have optimal digestion, and more than likely, it is possible! Learn more about my approach to treating digestive issues and IBS. You can learn more about working with me or if you are in BC, you can book an appointment right away for an in-person or virtual appointment.
**It can be difficult to find a doctor in BC. If you're looking for a primary care doctor in BC who is accepting new patients, I can help. Appointments are available in-person in Kelowna or virtually from anywhere in BC.
- blood testing to rule out celiac disease
- a stool culture (for bacterial infection)
- a stool parasite test
- blood testing to rule out Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection
- iron and vitamin B12 testing
- thyroid testing
- blood testing to assess your liver
- blood testing to assess your galbladder
- Imaging studies (ultrasound, CT scan, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy)
Even if all lab tests and imaging studies are normal, it's possible your nervous system or chronic anxiety are causing your digestive symptoms. Both of these problems can be treated.
Before accepting your diagnosis of IBS (or just assuming you have it), I recommend thorough lab testing. Ask your doctor which tests have been done and then ask for the specific tests you might still need. If your doctor won't or can't order tests for you, you may benefit from consulting with a different doctor. I'll say it again: if you have chronic digestive symptoms, you deserve to undergo a thorough evaluation of the potential underlying causes before being diagnosed with IBS. To get to the root cause of your digestive issues, you may need to advocate for yourself more than you are used to!
I am a digestive health expert and nothing makes me happier than to help my patients achieve normal, healthy poops, and a flat stomach that doesn't hurt! You deserve to have optimal digestion, and more than likely, it is possible! Learn more about my approach to treating digestive issues and IBS. You can learn more about working with me or if you are in BC, you can book an appointment right away for an in-person or virtual appointment.
**It can be difficult to find a doctor in BC. If you're looking for a primary care doctor in BC who is accepting new patients, I can help. Appointments are available in-person in Kelowna or virtually from anywhere in BC.