I'm not having a lot of luck getting diagnosed with IBS by my doc. Any suggestions?

[JohnS63]

What would be the steps I should take and things to say to my doc to get an opinion and proper diagnosis for IBS?

I've been doing low FODMAP recently with some limited success but am suffering with what I've diagnosed as IBS!

Thanks,

John

[b1b1b1]

What is the reason your doctor does not diagnose IBS. What diagnosis does he give you?

[JohnS63 in reply to b1b1b1]

Good question.

It's less of a case that the doctor doesn't diagnose but I've gone to him with symptoms and with an approach I'm using to try and tackle them but in the end, I feel I'm self diagnosing as from what I've seen, a full diagnosis would entail more investigations than just a chat.

[b1b1b1 in reply to JohnS63]

Yes, you are right. A full diagnosis may involve a colonoscopy, depending on your age and symptoms. The doctor probably cannot give you a more definitive diagnosis unless he explores things a bit further.

[JohnS63 in reply to b1b1b1]

That's what I thought.

I'm guessing I might need to push the doc further on this. Of course, may come down to cash in the end!

Thank you for help.

John

[Marathoner]

Hi John! Yah, anybody will tell you that any good doctor will do the full battery of tests including stool samples, blood work, colonoscopy, endoscopy, and maybe even repeats of the above listed tests. It's diagnosed by a process of elimination. Your bloods and stool samples all come back negative, then they check out your guts up and close! For me, I went through repeats of all of those tests over the course of a summer. It sounds as though you are trying to get your doctor to verbally tell you without testing and only having vague questions for him. If it's money you are worried about, do you have insurance?? I think my testing and appointments all ran about $20,000, but I paid $2,000 out of pocket. Don't play coy with your doctor, just let him do what he does if you are beating around the bush with him. You will feel better if you really know what's up with your guts. Good luck!

[Marathoner]

Sorry, I re-read the previous posts again. I apologize for assuming you were beating around the bush with him. Maybe get a second opinion. I went to an actual gastroenterologist, if that helps.

[JohnS63 in reply to Marathoner]

Thanks for your advice.

I'm thinking that my regular doctor just isn't interested in taking things further and like you say, I'll be better trying another.

Thanks.