April is IBS awareness month!
One in five Australian’s will suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at some time in their life.
Across the Pacific, our American colleagues have recently released their updated guidelines on the role of diet in IBS.
Essentially, the Low FODMAP diet (developed in Melbourne, Australia) is the best initial intervention for the treatment of most types of IBS.
IBS awareness month was envisaged to raise awareness for IBS, and to inspire patients to book an appointment to discuss their symptoms, as research and treatments are forever evolving.
You can support someone with IBS (as we do here at Gippsland Specialist Group) through encouraging them to discuss their symptoms with their doctor.
We are also here to help.
A/Prof Chris Mills is a world-class interventional and advanced endoscopist (a gastroenterologist with further specialist training in endoscopy) and is currently the only specialist in Gippsland with this level of training and skill. He is particularly adept at caring for patients with IBS and believes that patients should be offered a full gamut of treatments for IBS, including importing medicines not usually available in Australia, medicinal cannabis and faecal transplantation.
To make an appointment please see your GP for a referral, and then contact the GSG rooms on (03) 5630 8800. We are here to help.
Treatments for IBS are extensive, and are often beyond the scope of what ‘traditional’ medicine and gastroenterology is prepared to offer.
Treatments discussed with IBS patients at GSG can include:
01 : diets (including the Low FODMAP diet)
02 : herbal and natural remedies
03 : cognitive behavioural therapy
04 : hypnotherapy
05 : medication (including those not available in Australia)
06 : medicinal cannabis (CBD oil)
07 : faecal transplantation
Call our friendly admin team or drop us a line here if you have symptoms and aren’t sure what to do - or talk to your GP!