IBS & digestion
We are here to eliminate the cause of your digestive troubles, whether you are affected by bloating, constipation, IBS, pain or allergy. Our medical team works closely with nutritionists who provide specialised tests to assess your needs and devise a lifestyle and treatment plan suited to you. We have support from ultrasound scanners and laboratory specialists, and also test for inflammation and cancer. Our view that digestion is linked with many factors, including emotions, and our ability to offer you the support you need from within our team, makes us unique in the UK.
Your medical consultant will examine you and discuss tests.
Diagnostic tests may be recommended to analyse your stools; assess your hormone levels; to check for infection; and to assess liver function and check for allergy and food intolerance. Specific tests can be used to assess the possibility of 'leaky gut syndrome' - where tiny molecules of food are thought to pass out of the digestive tract and into the blood, where the body perceives them as foreign and responds with an immune response.
Further tests using gastroscopy and colonoscopy to visualise your stomach and colon may be useful. IBS is typically a 'diagnosis of exclusion', i.e. no underlying physical condition is identified but symptoms persist.
Ultrasound scanning at CDS may be used to check your abdomen and your bowel wall. CDS are experts at monitoring the activity of the bowel relating to ovarian hormones. Further X-Ray, MRI or CT scan imaging is occasionally recommended.
Medical treatment options incluce antacid or constipation medication. If your bowel is inflamed (inflammatory bowel) specific treatment may be prescribed by a consultant gastro-enterologist.
Complementary therapies are often useful to improve digestion and reduce pain and bloating. The options include homeopathy, osteopathy and acupunture.
Nutritional guidance is often important in treatment. A consultation and set of diagnostic tests enable the nutritionist to give you advice on eating to suit your lifestyle, minimise intolerances and reduce discomfort. Treatment may also include supplements (vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids).
Emotional support may help you feel positive and relieve any stress you are feeling. Our doctors, nutritionists and other complementary therapists are aware of the link between thoughts, feelings and digestion, and are here to advise and guide you. Specialist support is available from our 'Emo' team, which includes a family therapist, hypnotherapist, psychotherapist and life coach.
Lifestyle issues ranging from exercise to making time to play and relax might be important for you - our life coach and fitness consultant are here to guide you.
