Bloating? Abdominal Pain? Gas? Although not many want to talk about it, almost everyone experiences these symptoms at some point. However, if these are daily occurrences repeating over several months, it is a sign there is more going on in your gut. Many doctors would say you have a condition called Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
What is IBS?
According to the American College of Gastroenterology, IBS affects between 25 and 45 million Americans, and 2 out of every 3 are women. Symptoms include:
Abdominal pain or cramping soon after a meal, or randomly, and relieved by going to the bathroom.
Bloating or excessive gas
Diarrhea or constipation (or both)
Mucus in stool
IBS is generally a “catch all” diagnosis especially if no other cause can be found. New research suggests that IBS can often overlap with more defined conditions, like small bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
IBS and SIBO
Approximately 70% of people with IBS have undiagnosed SIBO. SIBO occurs when bacteria that normally reside in other parts of the gut start to migrate and grow in the small intestine. can be a serious condition if not treated. This can be a serious condition if not treated. SIBO is correlated with poor gut motility due to constant snacking, sluggish thyroid function, and even prolonged stress. SIBO can be tested with a 3 hour breath test, which is available to take home from our office.
Improve Gut Health
There are several factors that mess with your digestion and we have seen them all. We created our Gut Repair and Restoration Program for this reason. We can work together to rule out all possible underlying causes while working to improve diet and restore optimal gut health. Other diagnostic testing can give us a more comprehensive picture of gut function and aid in other treatment options. Schedule a FREE consultation to discuss our approach and let us help with your GI symptoms and discomfort.
References: 1. https://gi.org/topics/irritable-bowel-syndrome
2. Ghoshal UC, Shukla R, Ghoshal U. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Bridge between Functional Organic Dichotomy. Gut Liver. 2017 Mar 15;11(2):196-208. Doi 10.5009/gnl16126. PMID: 28274108; PMCID: PMC5347643.