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Get thee to an expert
Next, you'll want to be referred to a board-certified gastroenterologist,
a doctor who specializes in the digestive tract. Your gastroenterologist
will need to give you a full exam, which may include a variety
of tests, such as:
- Full blood test
- Stool review for ova, parasites, and blood
- Urinalysis
- Liver function tests
- Rectal exam
- Abdominal x-rays
- Colonoscopy
- A gynecological exam including a test for ovarian
cancer
The diagnosis of IBS is thus a "diagnosis of exclusion."
Once other possible causes are ruled out, your GI specialist
can focus on identifying your ailment as IBS. From there,
most specialists turn to a set of diagnostic criteria called
the Rome II Guidelines.
These guidelines provide a
list of criteria that the doctor can use to determine
if IBS is a correct diagnosis.
There are some warning signs that your gut troubles are not
IBS, but may instead indicate a more serious illness. These
indicators include:
- Pain and/or diarrhea that often interferes
with sleep
- Blood in your stool
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Abnormal physical examination
- Joint pain
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