IBS Specialist - is there such a thing? - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

Georgette · 01-30-2005, 09:58 AM

Does anyone know if there are doctors that specialize in IBS? I’m not looking for names or referrals or anything, I’m just curious if there is such a thing. I saw a gastroenterologist a few times over the last three years and he did an upper GI and small bowel barium swallow two years ago and a colonoscopy last year. Both were normal. When I had my follow-up appointment for the colonoscopy he just gave me a brochure on IBS that was printed in 1993 and sent me on my way. He didn’t tell me to come back for a follow-up or offer me any medication to help me. I got the impression that because I didn’t have something more serious like Crohn’s, colitis or cancer, he didn’t feel the need to help me any further. I realize he was a very busy person, but I think I deserve help. I figure that maybe a doctor that specializes in just IBS patients might take me more seriously. I also switched GP’s recently and he said he would send me to a new gastro, but I don’t want to have to go through all the same tests again just to find out that they’re “normal”.

Thanks,
Georgette

FireWoman · 01-30-2005, 10:59 AM

you DEFINITELY need to go see a new GI Doc. It is not uncommon for IBS patioents to go through a couple of GI docs before they find the one who will work WITH them and take them more seriously. I actually had I GI doc (my first one who ran all the tests) tell me that it was JUST IBS and gave me some aniti-spasmostics and told me there was nothing more he could do. I immediately sought a better doc and found one who said that he would work with me until he was able to get my symptoms under control. These doctors go to school not JUST to treat the moreserious conditions, but sometimes they lose their manners and forget. Like I said, this is a very common happening, so do not give up. Also, if you see another GI Doc, he will not run the same tests over again. HE will probably want to see your previous medical records from your former doc so don't worry about that.

Good luck!

6th_sense · 01-31-2005, 03:35 PM

Hi Georgette,

IBS is definitely a very difficult condition to treat. There aren't any known cures for the syndrome - so it is an ongoing concern and doctors get frustrated because they can only treat symptoms rather than the actual disorder. The symptoms that you face are often unrelatable to the process that causes it, because there are too many possibilities and the nature of IBS is to change behaviour over time and is different from person to person.

Nevertheless, there are ways to work around the disorder - for instance through the use of pain medication to control the pain regardless of where it is. Most doctors don't want to prescribe pain medication because of the risks involved - many new studies show that pain medications that we have so much faith in have some serious side effects.

But from what I've seen here on the boards, I'm not sure how helpful doctors are in the treatment of IBS. I'm not sure what combinations doctors use to help IBS patients - and apart from having taken anti-spasmodics myself, I haven't required any intervention from my doctor - mostly because of my own inventiveness at dealing with IBS. But I don't think that any doctor has come up with anything closely resembling the techniques that I use in terms of effectiveness and speed.

The only other thing I can think of is the use of hypnotherapy. I have so far only heard of one person on this board who has tried it, and who believes it is effective. I have also tested it myself - over the Internet, and I found it quite effective - although I've not made any personal attempts to look for hypnotherapy (again because of my own abilities). As for helping others - I do occasionally post ideas that I have - although I don't have a lot of time to spend describing visual techniques. I've also put up my webpage.

I don't know of any "IBS" doctors per se - just know of GI specialists - of whose patients it is estimated that about 70 - 80% are in fact IBS patients. There is something new in Canada - Naturopathic doctors - they've been advertising these for a while now and the ones who are certified take 7 years of school to get certification, it seems. Maybe another ear to tug for us?

Well, I hope you can find a doctor who will work with you to help you find a means to control your disorder.

Cheers, - Raju -