Stomach Ache or IBS? We Help You Determine What's Going On with Your Gut

Between 60 and 70 million Americans have some kind of digestive disease. If you have a chronic stomachache, you’re not alone. It’s important, though, to understand what’s causing your problem so that you can address it effectively. 

At Osteopathic Center for Healing in Rockville, Maryland, Neil Spiegel, DO, and Jennifer Gularson, PA, practice functional medicine. That means we find the root cause of your symptoms and treat that problem. 

If you have heartburn after every meal, we figure out why and treat that problem instead of only addressing the symptoms of heartburn. 

Digestive distress can be the result of a wide variety of issues, from stress to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and many things in between. We help you determine what’s causing your problem and then create a plan to correct that problem. 

In this post, we discuss some of the ways we investigate your gut health. 

A thorough exam

Since we practice functional medicine and believe that your health is a result of all the systems in your body functioning in harmony, we begin with a thorough evaluation that includes:

• A review of your medical history
• A discussion about your symptoms and your lifestyle
• A physical examination 

We take blood to make sure you have appropriate levels of vitamins, minerals, hormones, and other crucial measures. We check your vital signs and make sure your eyes, ears, nose, and throat all look as they should. 

This exam is a perfect time for you to ask questions and describe issues you’re experiencing. 

Nutritional counseling

You’ve heard that “you are what you eat,” and often digestive distress is connected to a physical problem with a particular food. For example, people who have celiac disease have severe issues with gluten, which is an ingredient in some surprising foods. 

Allergies and sensitivities are real, cause real problems, and can be difficult to identify. We can guide you through an elimination diet to find out if you have food sensitivities you weren’t aware of. Having medical guidance when you try an elimination diet is crucial.

We can also help you evaluate your diet in the context of your bloodwork to make sure you’re consuming an appropriate amount and variety of foods. Nutritional science is confusing. Working with our experts can help you understand what you need to know about your own health. 

Alternative modalities

We find that some patients with digestive difficulties benefit from acupuncture, hormone balancing, or other treatment options that may not seem immediately obvious.

When you come to us for help, we consider your issues as part of your overall circumstances and identify treatments that are designed to improve your health overall. 

Don’t just live with that stomachache. Schedule an appointment at Osteopathic Center for Healing in Rockville, Maryland. Let’s find out what’s causing it and design a treatment plan to eliminate your discomfort.