Living with IBS can affect more than just your digestion. It can influence your energy levels, mental wellbeing, social life, and even your confidence around food. The good news? You don’t have to navigate it alone. An Accredited Practising Dietitian can support you to better understand your symptoms, identify potential triggers, and develop a personalised plan that fits your lifestyle.
What is IBS?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, known as IBS, is a chronic illness that affects about 1 in 7 Australians, but is so often underdiagnosed or misunderstood. IBS is a functional gut disorder, which means that while there’s no structural damage to the digestive system, the gut isn’t working quite as it should.
Symptoms can vary from person to person, but often include:
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Bloating and excess gas
- Diarrhoea, constipation, or a mix of both
- Urgency to go to the bathroom
- A sensation of incomplete emptying
Dietary Changes
IBS is experienced so differently for each person, and so treatment needs to be individualised to best manage your gut and specific symptoms. As Dietitians, we will work with you to pinpoint effective strategies for your experience of IBS.
What to expect when seeing us for IBS support:
- Detailed assessment to understand your gut symptoms, frequency, severity and duration
- An understanding of other aspects of your health including other health issues, psychological wellbeing, energy levels, weight history etc.
- An exploration around identifiable foods or external triggers
- An understanding of eating patterns and behaviors on a day-to-day basis to identify potential avenues to enhance the diet
- Exploration of a low FODMAP or Food Chemical elimination diet if required to identify trigger foods and tolerable quantities
- Discussion around stress management, particularly around food and eating out
- Managing fibre intake and supporting gut health with beneficial nutrients
Whether you’ve just been diagnosed or have been living with symptoms for a while, know that support is available, and that small changes can make a big difference!
Ready to take the next step? Reach out today to book an initial consultation and start feeling more confident in your gut health journey.
