There are three main tests used which are incredibly valuable in uncovering the etiological factors for why a person suffers from many gastrointestinal conditions: gas/bloating, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastroesophageal reflux disease/heartburn, gallbladder problems, constipation, diarrhea. Gastrointestinal complaints are very common in the US–IBS alone affects 30-40 million Americans. When a patient comes to AIMS with a long-term gastrointestinal complaint, it is typically guaranteed that the patient will finally get a set diagnosis. That can be achieved by doing these tests:
1. Diet Diary–a patient writing down all they eat and drink for a week is remarkably beneficial for Dr. Morstein to analyze.
2. Food sensitivity testing–this is a blood draw or fingerstick whereby we can check for 96 or 184 food sensitivities which cause chronic disease in children and adults, all over their bodies.
3. Stool analysis–this test will show the types of microorganisms in the large intestine. We can check for the beneficial bacteria, overgrowth of normal bacteria in the intestine, occurrence of pathogenic bacteria in the colon, overgrowth of yeasts, and the presence of parasites. For patients with IBD, I add on an additional section whereby we can see exactly how their digestion is going and check for inflammation and other factors in the stool. The lab doing this test does not accept insurance, so this is out of pocket cost.
4. Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth–this 3 hour breath test shows if there is overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. This is one of the leading reasons patients suffer from terrible gas and bloating. If you know someone who says “I look like I’m pregnant from gas/bloating“, they should see a physician at AIMS for SIBO testing. We can run this test through insurance and if it is denied you are only responsible for the basic lab cost for the test.
With these tests in hand, it is oftentimes very easy to find the answers to what is plaguing your digestion and gastrointestinal system. Stop being miserable and start the healing process; Achieve Your Gut Health Aims but finally having a gastrointestinal expert do tests which can give specific, and treatable, answers.
– Dr. Mona Morstein