IBS Guide

with self-help questionnaire below

The first step.

If you have been dealing with bloating, discomfort, urgency or unpredictable digestion and you haven't yet spoken to your GP, that is the most important first step. Getting the right investigations helps rules out anything that needs attention and gives you a clear picture to work from.

What to ask your GP for:

  • A blood test that checks for anaemia and signs of infection or inflammation.

  • A blood test that indicates inflammation, which helps distinguish IBS from other conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease.

  • A blood test to rule out coeliac disease, which can closely mimic IBS symptoms.

  • A stool test that detects inflammation in the intestines, which helps distinguish IBS from other conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease.

  • In some cases your GP may also arrange a (FIT). This is at your GP's discretion based on your individual presentation and is not a routine part of an IBS investigation for everyone.

Good to know: These tests do not diagnose IBS directly, they rule out other conditions first. IBS is diagnosed based on your symptom pattern once other causes have been excluded. If your GP has not yet arranged these, it is entirely reasonable to ask.

Source: NICE Guideline CG61, Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Adults (updated 2017)

Practical things you can start doing right now.

Three evidence-based steps to make a real difference. No quick fixes, instead you build a solid foundation.

1. Eating habits and meal patterns

Your gut microbiome follows its own circadian rhythm, so when and how you eat can be just as important as what you eat. Digestion benefits from consistency, regular meal times and a calmer eating environment. Modern life can make that difficult, so building sustainable routines around food is often one of the first things we work on together.

2. Fibre

Fibre is one of the most misunderstood areas of IBS management. The type, amount and timing all matter and what helps one person can make another significantly worse. Question: do you know the difference between soluble & insoluble fibre?

3. Targeted supplementation

Probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, oils, gels and powders - it can be confusing to know what to take. Certain supplements have genuine evidence behind them for IBS, but you need to be specific about which types, which formulations and which symptom patterns you want them to address. That’s why supplement recommendations need to be personalised to you.

Source: NICE Guideline CG61; Rome Foundation gut-brain axis research

3. Use food to expand your diet, not shrink it.

Structured dietary approaches for IBS, such as the low-FODMAP diet, are evidence-based and can be genuinely transformative. But they are designed as a short-term investigation tool, not a permanent way of eating. They should be followed with dietitian guidance so the reintroduction phase is done properly and you end up eating more variety, not less.

1. Take your full picture into account.

A dietitian does not just look at what you eat. They consider your symptom history, your lifestyle, your stress levels, your sleep, your relationship with food and what matters most to you. IBS is multifactorial, and good support reflects that.

2. Personalise rather than generalise.

Two people with the same IBS diagnosis can have completely different trigger profiles. A dietitian helps you identify your personal pattern rather than following someone else's list. What needs to be adjusted or reintroduced is individual to you.

4. Help you build long-term confidence.

The goal is not to manage your symptoms with a rigid set of rules forever. It is to help you understand your gut well enough that you can eat freely and make decisions with confidence rather than anxiety.

What a dietitian does differently for IBS

The practical tips in this guide are a helpful starting point. But they are general advice and IBS is not a general condition.

Here why working with a specialist gasto dietitian is different from anything else you may have tried.

  • A dietitian does not just look at what you eat. They consider your symptom history, your lifestyle, your stress levels, your sleep, your relationship with food and what matters most to you. IBS is multifactorial, and good support reflects that.

  • Two people with the same IBS diagnosis can have completely different trigger profiles. A dietitian helps you identify your personal pattern rather than following someone else's list. What needs to be adjusted or reintroduced is individual to you.

  • Structured dietary approaches for IBS, such as the low-FODMAP diet, are evidence-based and can be genuinely transformative. But they are designed as a short-term investigation tool, not a permanent way of eating. They should be followed with dietitian guidance so the reintroduction phase is done properly and you end up eating more variety, not less.

  • The goal is not to manage your symptoms with a rigid set of rules forever. It is to help you understand your gut well enough that you can eat freely and make decisions with confidence rather than anxiety.

  • Only doctors and registered dietitians (not nutritionists) can legally treat medical conditions using diet. It is important to note that a lot of nutrition advice available comes from unregulated practitioners that do not meet this standard.

The difference in practice

You aren’t struggling to manage your IBS because you haven’t tried hard enough. You need a personalised approach, rather than a general one.

This is exactly what I provide… and it’s why the right support, at the right time, changes everything.

5. Regulated healthcare professionals.

Only doctors and registered dietitians (not nutritionists) can legally treat medical conditions using diet. It is important to note that a lot of nutrition advice available comes from unregulated practitioners that do not meet this standard.

Questionnaire…

Everyone’s IBS story is different.

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

My 3-session IBS Programme is built around two things: figuring out what your gut specifically needs and giving you the tools to manage it long term. You don't have to keep figuring this out alone.

The 3-session IBS Programme:

Session 1 - Your full picture (60 minutes). We cover your symptoms, relevant medical history, diet, lifestyle and goals in full. You'll leave with personalised initial changes to implement before we meet again.

Session 2 - Building on what's working (45 minutes). We review your response to session one, build on what's working and introduce the next phase, often including structured food reintroduction. Everything is based on how your gut has actually responded, not a pre-written plan.

Session 3 - Making it stick (45 minutes). We review progress, troubleshoot and refine. The goal is to leave you with a clear long-term strategy and the confidence to manage your gut independently.

Also included: Written summary after every session, email support between appointments and resources tailored to your IBS type. Delivered by a Registered Dietitian (HCPC regulated).

Price: £265

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Not ready to book yet? Email me your questionnaire answers and I will send you a personalised note on where to start.

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your GP or a registered healthcare professional for any medical concerns. © Olivia Molyneux, RD · Olivia The Dietitian ·