Many patients are diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Crohn’s Disease, IBS or Irritable Bowel Disease when they have an onset of symptoms, either diarrhea, constipation, or not being able to make it to the bathroom. It can come on suddenly or something that gets worse over time. They may be told that they have a diagnosis of IBS and their condition may not be investigated further. IBS is a category of symptoms that we don’t know what to do with but with further testing, an IBS patient may actually have a different diagnosis of IBD or Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Crohn’s Disease.
Many patients feel like they are left without options after visiting the doctor except imodium and being told to manage their stress. They may not even get a definitive diagnosis. It can be a hopeless, helpless situation that patients may feel they are not be receiving adequate treatment for their condition or that not much seems to help. They also will not be able to understand their prognosis or what their disease process will look like in the future. As it progresses, a proper diagnosis can help plan for the disease and prevent aspects of the disease or hold it off.
Labs have come a long way to help us understand what the future of these diseases look like for a person. For example with Crohn’s disease, there are certain genetic markers that can tell whether they will have a more challenging disease process sooner in life. This information can help plan for more aggressive treatment earlier if you have it or knowing the alternative treatment will likely be effective for long term if you don’t have the gene. There are also specific antibodies that can tell us whether treatment is working or not by if their markers improve.
If inflammatory bowel disease and crohn’s are ruled out and the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome remains, there are still many options. Discovering the reason for irritability such as dysbiosis, infection or food intolerances as well as stress management and adequate nutrition can often help with finding some answers.
Seeing patients empowered with tools and knowing what is best for them is the best part of my job. Irritable Bowel Symptoms can go on forever. If you or someone you care about is suffering from these symptoms, please reach out to your Naturopathic Doctor so we can find some alternative and integrative medicine options. Symptoms can include:
Constipation
Alternating constipation and diarrhea
Fatigue
Trouble sleeping
Pain and Cramping
Gas and Bloating
Feeling exhausted, Fatigue
Anxiety and Depression
We specialize in this kind of thing and see it frequently in our office so it’s not a new idea for us. Getting the right care for your body is important and tailored for your specific body in mind. At Journey of Health we are dedicated to finding the right naturopathic solutions for each patient. We proudly serve the San Diego area, providing some of the best service in naturopathic medicine. If you wish to further your own journey of health with naturopathic solutions and alternative medicines, give us a call at (619) 772-1164.
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