IBS or???

[Daisy2191]

So i have been researching alot as while I'm having more good days there are still the bad days and i feel flattened in mood and energy when they occur. I have been tested (bloods) for inflammation and celiac disease which i show no signs of. There are a number of other things that have the same symptoms as IBS. Thyroid issues, SIBO ( small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), Pancreatitis , BAM (bile acid malabsorption), diverticulitis. How do i approach my (gp)doctor to make them actually try to help me and test for these things to rule them out.

[Liz1234ty]

Hi there, it took me 12 months to diagnose my SIBO. My GP kept fobbing me off with a 'It's IBS and I have given you the treatments I can' line so i went private and paid £165.00 for a SIBO breathe test. I then presented my results to my GI specialist who was embarrassed as he had refused to test for it and my results were very highly positive for SIBO so I have now been getting treatment off the NHS for it. My GP did test my thyroid though. If you have been having symptoms for more than 6 months and have tried GP recommendations e.g. diet, over the counter treatments etc then you should ask to be referred to a GI specialist for further treatments as things like SIBO and BAM are treatable if not curable. I strongly recommend ruling out treatable illnesses before thinking that this might be a long term illness with little options for recovery.

[Daisy2191 in reply to Liz1234ty]

Thanks for the reply. Are you in uk? How do you go about going private. Ive suffered for years with it but since the February i just feel ill everyday. Even on the good days (no toilet issues) I'm bloated, feel sick, I'm so exhausted all the time too.

[Liz1234ty in reply to Daisy2191]

Yes i live in england. If you search google for ibs/sibo centres a few come up in manchester, London etc. I went with a nutritional therapist with links to a private gp practice. The company is smart nutrition and they offer an array of tests and follow up consultations. I have no hesitation in recommending them. Another option is to contact a private gi specialist eg at nuffield or spire but i decided not to go this route as fewer testing options and more expensive - or at least so it seemed to me. Getting more tests and a diagnosis really has been reassuring even though the treatment is more a marathon than a sprint. It is comforting to know that there is an understanding person out there willing to get to root of my health issues. The nhs can be wonderful but for chronic health conditions the system just seems too overstretched and underfunded. It is worth also persisting with nhs to see what further they can do to help. Good luck!