What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?
If you've been diagnosed with IBS, or suspect it may be contributing to your symptoms, you may be going through a really difficult time at the moment.
I want you to know that you're not alone, and there are evidence-based approaches that may help to significantly improve your symptoms and quality of life.
Although everyone's experience is different, many people notice meaningful improvements once they better understand what's influencing their symptoms. From there, they can begin making nutrition and lifestyle changes that are tailored to their individual situation.
If you're not already familiar with what IBS is, it's one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, affecting approximately around one in five Australians. IBS is classified as a Disorder of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI). In simple terms, this means that the communication between your gut and your brain isn't functioning as well as it should.
This can make the bowel more sensitive and affect how the muscles move food through your digestive system.
I want you to know that you're not alone, and there are evidence-based approaches that may help to significantly improve your symptoms and quality of life.
Although everyone's experience is different, many people notice meaningful improvements once they better understand what's influencing their symptoms. From there, they can begin making nutrition and lifestyle changes that are tailored to their individual situation.
If you're not already familiar with what IBS is, it's one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, affecting approximately around one in five Australians. IBS is classified as a Disorder of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI). In simple terms, this means that the communication between your gut and your brain isn't functioning as well as it should.
This can make the bowel more sensitive and affect how the muscles move food through your digestive system.
What are common IBS symptoms?
IBS symptoms vary from person to person and can change over time. Some of the most common symptoms include:
✓ Abdominal pain, cramping or discomfort
✓ Bloating or abdominal distension
✓ Diarrhoea, constipation or both
✓ Bowel urgency or incomplete bowel emptying
✓ Gassiness and excessive wind
✓ Mucus in the stool
✓ Reflux or upper digestive discomfort
Before diagnosing IBS, it's important that your doctor considers and, where appropriate, rules out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). If you have ongoing digestive symptoms and haven't yet been assessed by your GP, I'd encourage you to do that before assuming it's IBS.
Important: If you have rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, persistent night-time pain or new symptoms, please speak with your GP as soon as possible.
Your symptoms are telling part of the story
Your symptoms are pieces of a puzzle. Rather than seeing your symptoms as random or something you simply have to put up with, it can be helpful to see them as information about how your body is functioning. The foods you eat, stress, sleep, previous illness, medications, physical activity and many other factors can all influence the way your gut functions.
By stepping back and looking at the bigger picture, we can begin to understand which pieces of the puzzle are most relevant to you.
That's why understanding your individual situation is such an important part of managing IBS and improving symptoms.
By stepping back and looking at the bigger picture, we can begin to understand which pieces of the puzzle are most relevant to you.
That's why understanding your individual situation is such an important part of managing IBS and improving symptoms.
Why does IBS happen?
There isn't one single cause of IBS. Symptoms can be influenced by a combination of factors involving the gut, brain, nervous system, digestion and gut microbiome, and the factors involved can vary considerably from person to person.
Understanding which factors may be relevant to you can help guide which strategies are most appropriate for managing your symptoms.
Understanding which factors may be relevant to you can help guide which strategies are most appropriate for managing your symptoms.
Want to explore what may be influencing your IBS?
My free Understanding Your IBS workbook will guide you through a range of factors that may have shaped your gut health and could be influencing your symptoms today.
Should you follow the Low FODMAP diet?
The Low FODMAP Diet is one of the most well-researched dietary approaches for IBS, but it's only designed to be followed for a short period of time. For many people, it's just one piece of the puzzle. Lasting improvements often come from taking a broader approach that supports gut health and function.
How I help people with IBS
Rather than assuming everyone with IBS needs the same advice, I believe it's important to understand your individual situation and focus on the strategies most likely to make a meaningful difference for you.
My goal isn't simply to reduce your symptoms.
It's to help you better understand your gut and support the health and function of your digestive system. I want you to be able to experience greater confidence, comfort and freedom in everyday life again.
This philosophy forms the foundation of my Gut Recovery Method. After more than 15 years living with IBS and over a decade helping others improve their gut health, I've developed this personalised, step-by-step framework to help us better understand your gut, improve your IBS symptoms and build lasting confidence in managing your health.
My goal isn't simply to reduce your symptoms.
It's to help you better understand your gut and support the health and function of your digestive system. I want you to be able to experience greater confidence, comfort and freedom in everyday life again.
This philosophy forms the foundation of my Gut Recovery Method. After more than 15 years living with IBS and over a decade helping others improve their gut health, I've developed this personalised, step-by-step framework to help us better understand your gut, improve your IBS symptoms and build lasting confidence in managing your health.
The Gut Recovery Method
Discover the seven-stage framework I've developed to help you better understand your gut, improve your IBS symptoms and support long-term gut health.
Continue learning
If you'd like to understand IBS in more detail, these pages may be helpful.
The Low FODMAP diet
Learn when the Low FODMAP Diet may help, how it's designed to be used and whether it's the right approach for you.
→ Read about the Low FODMAP diet
Learn when the Low FODMAP Diet may help, how it's designed to be used and whether it's the right approach for you.
→ Read about the Low FODMAP diet
Food Intolerances
Learn more about food intolerances, common triggers and why identifying problem foods isn't always straightforward.
→ Read about food intolerances
Learn more about food intolerances, common triggers and why identifying problem foods isn't always straightforward.
→ Read about food intolerances