Initially, your specialist will most likely perform a range of investigations, which may include endoscopy, colonoscopy, stool tests or other scans or blood tests.

Your Doctor or Gastroenterologist may suggest a range of options to treat and manage your IBS or FGID. The most common ones are:

Dietary:
One common and successful strategy is to see a Dietician, in order to identify if there are any foods irritating your gut. Even though there may not be outright food allergies, some foods are more difficult to digest and more poorly absorbed than others, especially when the gut has become irritated. A Dietician may recommend a diet called the FODMAP diet, which excludes certain foods group and then gradually brings them back in to your diet, so an assessment can be made of any foods in particular which your body is tolerating poorly.

Medications:
Your Doctor will most likely recommend certain medications, depending on the symptoms that affect you most frequently. These can help to manage your symptoms so they are less intrusive in your life.

Psychological Therapies:
Your Doctor may also suggest that you speak to a Psychologist specialising in gut disorders, in order to explore how psychological strategies can assist, in minimising gut related symptoms or the impact of stress.

Research indicates that both dietary and psychological therapies to be equally successful in minimising and reducing IBS symptoms. Often your treating specialist will recommend both dietary and psychological interventions at the same time.

At times, your specialist may also refer you to a pelvic floor Physiotherapist or even a Gynaecologist to fully investigate or treat a range of symptoms.