Top 7 Questions to Ask Your Gastroenterologist!

When visiting your doctor for digestive issues, asking the right questions can make all the difference in receiving proper care. Digestive problems are often mismanaged, leaving patients with unresolved symptoms and no clear answers. These seven essential questions will help you determine if you’re getting the best care possible and guide you toward a solution that addresses the root cause of your issues. 

How Often Do You Help People Solve Digestive Problems Like Mine?

This question helps assess your doctor’s experience and confidence in addressing your specific symptoms.

• If they can’t assure you that they frequently and successfully treat similar cases, it may be time to find a specialist.
• Beware of dismissive responses like “It’s just stress” or “It’ll go away on its own.” You deserve a deeper investigation.

Can You Map My Microbiome?

Your microbiome plays a crucial role in digestive health, but many doctors don’t fully evaluate it.

• A thorough stool test should analyze over 100 types of bacteria, yeast, and viruses to provide a comprehensive picture of your gut health.
• If your testing doesn’t include this level of detail, it’s likely insufficient.

Can You Test Me for Food Allergies That Cause Digestive Problems?

Food allergies and intolerances are common triggers for digestive symptoms, yet they’re often overlooked.

• Comprehensive blood testing for over 200 food reactions is critical.
• If your doctor dismisses these tests or refers you to an allergist, be cautious. Most allergists aren’t trained in identifying the food reactions that cause digestive issues.

Can You Determine If I Need Enzymes or Probiotics?

Digestive health relies on proper enzyme production, probiotic balance, and gut integrity.

• Ask if your doctor can test for enzyme deficiencies, good bacteria (probiotics), gut inflammation, and permeability issues.
• Without these evaluations, your care may not address key factors affecting your digestion.

Do You Know About Any Diets Beyond the Low FODMAP Diet?

The low FODMAP diet is popular but generalized, often serving as a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

• A good doctor should customize dietary recommendations based on your individual needs and test results, not guesses.
• If the low FODMAP diet doesn’t work for you, there are other options worth exploring.

What Will You Do If All My Tests Come Back Negative?

Digestive issues often go beyond what standard tests can detect.

• Ask your doctor how they approach cases where tests don’t reveal a clear cause.
• Many doctors may stop investigating at this point, leaving patients in limbo. An experienced specialist should explore other possibilities, such as acid production issues, biofilms, or hard-to-diagnose conditions.

Are You Focused on Helping Me Feel Better?

This is a question for yourself.

• If your treatment doesn’t eliminate your symptoms without relying on symptom-masking drugs, the root cause hasn’t been addressed.
• A good doctor will work with you until your problem is fully resolved. If they don’t, it’s time to seek care elsewhere.

• An optometrist handles basic needs.
• An ophthalmologist addresses more serious problems.
• Subspecialists like retinal or glaucoma experts tackle complex cases.

In digestive health, the next level beyond a gastroenterologist is an IBS specialist or a practitioner experienced with specific conditions like Candida, microscopic colitis, or eosinophilic esophagitis.

At the IBS Doctor ORG, we specialize in uncovering and treating the root causes of digestive problems. We’ve worked with thousands of patients via telemedicine since 2005, offering expert care regardless of location.

Take Control of Your Digestive Health

Don’t settle for incomplete answers or unresolved symptoms. By asking these questions and seeking the right care, you can take the first step toward lasting relief and better health.

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