I’ve been diagnosed with IBS for 20 years but it’s been significantly worse over the last couple of years, and also my symptoms are different than they’ve previously been.
I’ve tried my GP on numerous occasions but don’t get any advice beyond “sorry, you’ve got IBS, there’s nothing I can do.”
I’m very much against private healthcare but am getting to the end of my tether - has anyone paid for a private consultation? Has it made any difference?
I feel the same way I've had IBS for over twenty years too, nothing helps.
who diagnosed you with ibs? Have you seen a gastro? Have you had other tests to rule out ibd? Such as colonoscopy etc? A lot can change in 20 years so you should see another gastro. What are your symptoms? How have your symptoms changed? I have health insurance so all my medical stuff is private and you need to do your research to find a gastro that specifically focuses on your health issues. It isn’t cheap when I see the paperwork with what my insurance pay out things like an mri can cost over £1000 I’ve had over £1000 worth of blood tests before so you must be prepared however it is much faster and they will keep going to help you vs waiting months or years via NHS but without my insurance I wouldn’t of been able to afford it however you could try for an initial consultation privately then ask to be put on their nhs list and work with them that way some will and some won’t good luck xx
I think you should seek further advice whether NHS (a different doctor) or private. Don't have any qualms about private, ethical or other. You're not getting anywhere with your GP and seeing as your symptoms are different from what they were, it's worth having another opinion whether NHS or private.
I agree with the previous comments. Although my doctor did referred me for more tests (colorectal) to rule things out. To speed up the process, I went private to have these done. In total I saw a colorectal, gastro, and gyne consultant. With other things ruled out, a saw a dietitian. I was advised to try the FODMAP diet and found some foods triggered my symptoms more than others.
You have to be very careful when going private. Some doctors will offer all kinds of tests and treatment just for the money. I saw the same consultant who said he would operate on me when I went private, the same consultant told me there was nothing he could do when I saw him on the NHS.
I went private and paid for colonoscopy and endoscopy. I was concerned about bowel cancer. The Private gastroenterologist listened and had time and he was so different to the dismissive NHS dr I saw. My excellent GP was concerned and referred me but the hospital overruled him and labelled me ' functional problems ' , based on old ct scan. Well the tests discovered three different diseases which need ongoing treatment. So much for IBS.
You will pay around £250 for a private 30 minute consultation with a gastroenterologist. I did this back in 2021 because my GP refused to send me to see gastro on the NHS merely as my FIT test came back negative yet I knew I had possible issues more than 'just IBS' that I have had well over 25 years...(I had lost a stone in a month which was very unusual and had a bad flare at the time). The gastro I saw also worked at a local NHS hospital (you need to do this also). In my case I was referred back by this gastro immediately for a colonoscopy on the NHS (done within 6 days) and they found I also had patchy pancolitis. The gasto I saw said if I have a colonoscopy private it could cost £1800 but because I needed to go on the 2 week pathway I may as well go back to the NHS. The point I am making is that whilst there are indeed some consultants who suggest all sorts of tests, the only people that benefit in this will be the private hospital! You may well find, especially if you come clean and say that you cannot afford tests private, that your gastro who you see can help you in terms of possibly avoiding the very long waiting lists if they think you need tests sooner rather than later.
I am still under this gastro and see him on the NHS regularly but also have paid for a couple of follow ups in between. Money well spent. Good luck
Hi! I have private health care through work. A couple of years ago when I had a change in symptoms I decided to get checked out. My GP referred me to a colo-rectal consultant. I had a consultation and colonoscopy a few days later. All was good and the consultant confirmed IBS-A and gave me more diet info. Peace of mind is priceless!!
Hi
I have great empathy and echo many of the comments above. The harsh reality (and it is a very bitter pill to swallow) - the situation is that the NHS is fundamentally broken and it simply doesn’t have the capacity, resources, funding, will or time to adequately deal with the complexity of our illness. Our treatment in many cases requires early & timely intervention, tests, on going care & support which is far more than just popping pills. Like many people including myself, unfortunately you will need to straddle both the private & NHS to get anywhere near adequate treatment. I have had to do this to effectively save my life! You can easily waste money in the private sector so you are going to have to do your research. My journey- a family member recommended that I push my GP to refer me to St Mark’s (a top NHS bowel hospital in the country). I found out that some of their consultants were working in the private sector. (That’s the other thing, a lot of NHS consultants are in the private sector where they can offer more than the NHS) . I then managed to switch to private with one of these consultants so I could have all the tests until my NHS appt caught up. (On the NHS it took 5 months waiting for Gastro & then another 5 months for pelvic floor specialist, so 10 months in total). My on going care is in the pelvic floor specialist however on the NHS I only get 6 sessions in total, one every 3months and there is no support telephone or face to face in between (imagine). Last week I had a major flare up as the NHS Gastro had given me another pill to pop which was disastrous. With no access to neither NHS Gastro or Pelvic floor until March I had to reach back out to the Private therapist. We went back to basics to get me back on the right path. I have come to the conclusion that there is no way that I am going to get any better or any semblance of normal life under the NHS. The capacity is simply not there. I will have the NHS appointments but will need to top it up with private in between for the support & therapy. It is financially draining but I have no choice. The longer you are in this condition without support the longer it takes to resolve or at least find some sort of way of living. I hope you have found some of this useful. I do hope to get better although my main objective is not to get any worse. The unfortunate thing is that the delay with the NHS appointments alone means that each time you get to your next appointment you are presenting with a new problem. Good luck!
One has to accept that having IBS is a life long illness that has to be managed! It seems as though you could spend a lot of money going privately and not necessarily get the results that you require and eliminate IBS once and for all.
All we ever have is the present moment, you may feel worse than you ever had at times, but it will pass and you will have good times too. Listen to your body, eat healthy and avoid processed foods, go to bed earlier so that you get enough rest/sleep, exercise regularly and spend time do things that you enjoy! At the end of each day, spend a few minutes looking back over the day and focus on the positive things that you have done. Remember there are people out there who don't have IBS, also have bad days too and they may not have health issues.
Tomorrow is a new day, with new possibilities…
Take care. x
Just be aware several private drs also work on NHS too. So it may be worth asking you Dr to refer you to a gastroenterologist on the NHS first.
I resorted to seeing a gastro privately within last 2 years as I failed to see NHS one despite asking. At the time I understood hiatus hernia was the issue (from endoscopist). He is a surgeon but I told him I definitely didn’t want surgery (difficulty with previous NHS prolapse surgery) and seeing the endoscopy photos he said he didn’t consider I had a hh anyway. Recommended another end with biopsies. I was booked but my husband had a stroke so had to cancel and eventually I decided I would pursue NHS again as it was going to cost 2K just for the endoscopy and I could see costs spiralling as this issue feels endless. I managed to switch back to NHS and finally saw a gastro (took all my paperwork) who diagnosed IBSC and agreed with private surgeon - though I think he might have been swayed by his reputation! However I am still struggling with his recommendations and my symptoms are getting more extreme/altering so I might be pleading for another gastro appt.
I advise you to be VERY assertive and insistent. Evidence that you are doing all the right things re food, meds exercise, relaxation and repeat you want more specialist help. IT IS YOUR ENTITLEMENT! (Last GP appt said if I returned they would repeat same suggestions but if I am doing all I can to help myself and I’m still struggling I won’t give up. Life is too precious)
My feeling is -for me- I could be spending an unknown amount if I went privately and I would be seeing the same team members as the NHS gastros. There is plenty of literature for us to understand the issues and I honestly think/hope slowly trying the various meds/ foods and noticing their effects over time will result in the best compromise for me. I don’t see any quick fix but it’s not terminal (I hope) and I try to balance my caring role with a bit of time for me and when I just can’t eat I tell myself it will subside.
I do find it hard not being able to explain to others how difficult my relationship with food is and how ill I sometimes feel. They only see me when I’m well. Even my family does not know - but my husband does know and I feel so lucky that we can support each other with our difficulties. I try to live in the present. This group is v helpful
Apologies for this lengthy response and I do wish you all the very best.
My GP said if my symptoms change to come back and see him. Easier said than done so dug into our emergency pot and went private. Had new upper GI probs as well as my long standing lower probs. So pleased I did all sorted with Gastroscope and colonoscopy.
My mum did a law degree in alternative medicine and is qualified in acupuncture.
It’s not just private healthcare that’s worth considering.
Sometimes I feel like some GP’s think I have two heads when I try to link up some of the symptoms I have.
I suffer from allergies, repeated infections and I feel they’re linked.
Unfortunately I feel there’s a push to treat symptoms rather than the cause in conventional medicine.
Sometimes a different opinion is useful.
My daughter got diagnosed with abdominal migraine when she was 3-4 year old from a really good GP after countless investigations at the hospital which proved fruitless.
I’m actually considering it myself.
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