How to Finally Heal Your IBS: Putting All the Pieces Together
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects an estimated 10–15% of adults worldwide. What I've learned as a physician assistant over the past 12+ years is that many conventional practitioners aren't trained to create a healing roadmap for IBS. They're trained to diagnose IBS as the endpoint rather than ask why it's happening in the first place.
IBS is a symptom. Not a diagnosis. I’ve been tained to ask “What’s causing your IBS?” Which is what leads to actual healing so that you can actually walk around in the world without the digestive drama that has unfortunately become a part of your personality.
What to do first: Make sure you're chewing your food, eating in a calm state, managing stress, walking after meals, staying hydrated, and giving your digestive system the basics it needs to function well. For a deeper dive Part I: 5 Things You Haven't Tried for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) That Your Doctor May Never Have Mentioned
Work with a Root Cause Focused Practitioner. I know that this has become a buzz term, but it really does matter. And when you work with a physician or practitioner who is actually well trained, you get results (I know my patients do). I know there is a lot of snake oil out there, so make sure you understand how to find a good qualified practitioner! I personally like to see doctors or practitioners myself who are trained in BOTH conventional and functional medicine and pick the appropriate tool for the task at hand! Common root causes include SIBO, H. pylori, celiac disease, gallbladder dysfunction, low stomach acid, dysbiosis, parasites, and sometimes even thyroid dysfunction.
Match the Treatment to the Cause. Instead of “everyone gets an elimination diet” (which honestly doesn’t solve anything in this case) work with a practitioner who figures out what YOU need. Not a cookie cutter protocol they give to everyone. Is it your thyroid driving SIBO? Histamine causing chaos in your gut mucosal barrier? Is your gallbladder screaming for help? In most cases I work with, there is more than just ONE thing going on.
Healing Takes Time. I know how frustrating this is to hear, but most of my patients have been struggling with years or decades. Which is why I don’t see them for one visit— I see them for a six month minimum. While most of my patients see a 50% symptom reduction in 30-60 days, complete healing can take time. Don’t expect rome to be built in a day.
You don’t heal IBS by collecting more supplements and prescriptions. You heal IBS when you and your practitioner are asking better questions!
If you've been told your IBS is "just IBS" and you're tired of treating symptoms instead of uncovering the cause, we'd love to help.. Book a consult today + learn what your healing journey can look like!
Be sure to check out the rest of the series:
Part 2: 5 Tests That Can Reveal the Underlying Cause of Your Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Part 3: The IBS Treatments That Actually Work (And the Ones That Usually Don't)
