Our team is committed to making the right diagnosis and ruling out any other conditions, such as an inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. To diagnose, we perform a comprehensive examination and collect a thorough history. Rome III criteria, a set of criteria developed by experts on digestive diseases to help determine DGBIs, is also used to assess your symptoms.

To meet Rome III criteria for irritable bowel syndrome:

• Your symptoms must have begun at least 6 months ago
• You have stomach pain or discomfort for at least 3 days a month for the last 3 months
• At least two of the following statements are true: Pain is relieved by having a bowel movement; pain is linked to a change in how often you have a bowel movement; pain is linked to a change in the appearance of your stool.

To meet Rome III criteria for functional dyspepsia:

• Your symptoms must have begun at least 6 months ago
• You have one or more of the following symptoms: Bothersome fullness after eating a meal; you become full quickly while eating; pain in upper central portion of the abdomen; burning in upper central portion of the abdomen;
• And there is no evidence of structural disease that is likely to explain the symptoms.

Your doctor may order tests through our comprehensive gastrointestinal lab to rule out other conditions, which can include:

• Colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy: Used for initial diagnosis, both use a thin, flexible fiberoptic scope with camera to examine different areas, including the colon, small intestine and large intestine to see any ulcers, bleeding and inflammation.
• Upper endoscopy: Uses a thin, flexible fiberoptic scope with camera inserted through the mouth, following the tract to the stomach and upper small intestine to look for bleeding, ulcers and inflammation.
• Esophageal manometry: Uses a thin, flexible tube to measure the muscles of the esophagus and the function of the lower esophageal sphincter to see how well you are swallowing and digesting food.
• Anorectal manometry: A thin, flexible tube with a balloon at the end is inserted into the rectum to measure the tone in the anal sphincter and rectal muscles to determine problems with moving the bowels.
• Laboratory tests: Blood work plus stool samples to check for bacteria and intestinal bleeding.
• Imaging tests: Collaborating with experts in Radiology for imaging and interpreting gastrointestinal abnormalities, including abdominal x-rays, barium enema, computed tomography (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and assessment of stomach emptying.

There are no cures for DGBIs. Patients suffering from these gastrointestinal disorders will all experience abdominal pain and discomfort, but then have varying degrees of constipation, diarrhea, bloating and urgency. To treat effectively, it’s important for our team to understand your frequency and severity of symptoms - from being a nuisance to mapping out every bathroom to avoid an accident - so we can create an individualized plan that’s right for you.

• Diet plus lifestyle changes, such as decreasing stress and adding an exercise program, are often all that’s needed for those whose symptoms are mainly a nuisance. Our team, which includes a board-certified dietitian, will create a treatment plan for you.
• Over-the-counter or prescription medication is an option when diet and lifestyle changes aren’t enough. A variety of medications are available, and your doctor will determine which medicine(s) is right for you.
• Physical therapy and/or biofeedback training (an alternative therapy that uses the mind to control a body function using guidance from a biofeedback instructor) can be used to help retrain the muscles of the pelvic floor and/or anal sphincter.
• Clinical trials are an option for those who qualify. We are a key site for the development of virtually every drug to treat IBS in the last 10 years.