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The best approach is for the IBS patient to find a sympathetic healthcare professional who will
exclude any more serious condition, provide a means of self-education about IBS, and prescribe
the most suitable individual dietary changes and medication.
Communicate With Your Doctor About IBS
A good doctor-patient communication is essential to making appropriate lifestyle decisions that may
increase quality of life. The doctor must be able to provide reassurance that the symptoms and the
disorder are real. Your doctor will need to perform testing to determine if your symptoms are related to IBS. Some commonly performed tests are:
- Lower G.I. x-ray (a.k.a. the barium enema)
- Small bowel series x-ray
- Stool parasite culture
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy and/or colonoscopy
Keep an IBS Symptom and Diet Journal
Often, a successful diagnosis is dependent on a detailed medical history and a thorough physical examination.
It may be very useful to your doctor if you keep a Symptom and Diet Journal --- simply record what you eat each day and any symptoms
that may occur. This will help healthcare professionals establish a pattern that may be consistent with IBS.
Share Your Experiences With Other IBS Sufferers
Support groups may also be helpful, including those on the Internet. Explore the following links for more information:
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
HealingWell.com
AboutIBS.org Support Groups
HelpForIBS.com Support Groups
IBSAssociation.org
IBS Support Group for Southern California
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