Dr Lisa Das - Managing IBS

Dr Lisa Das is a Consultant Gastroenterologist and IBS specialist based in London, with twenty-three years of experience in diagnosing and treating IBS in the US and UK. She currently holds both Board Certification in Gastroenterology (USA) and full accreditation on the UK General Medical Councils Specialist Register in Gastroenterology. As the UKs first Community Gastroenterology Consultant at Barts Health NHS Trust, where she worked until early 2020, Das has been uniquely well positioned to understand the challenges around IBS encountered by health practitioners and patients alike.

Beyond being outspoken about IBS within the healthcare community, Das has also contributed to TVs Dr Christian Will See You Now and has been featured in several Cosmopolitan articles shedding light on the disorder. As an expert consultant, Dr Das focuses on providing clinically excellent care with a kind, friendly approach. Her passion for deepening IBS understanding and emphasizing the importance of a strong patientdoctor relationship brings Managing IBS to life.

The Penguin Life Experts series equips readers with simple but vital information on common health issues and empowers readers to get to know their own bodies to better improve their health. Books in the series include:

Managing Your Migraine

by Dr Katy Munro

* * * * *

Preparing for the Perimenopause and Menopause

by Dr Louise Newson

* * * * *

Keeping Your Heart Healthy

by Dr Boon Lim

* * * * *

Understanding Allergy

by Dr Sophie Farooque

* * * * *

Managing IBS

by Dr Lisa Das

* * * * *

Next in the series:

Living with ME and CFS

by Dr Gerald Coakley and Beverly Knops

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First published by Penguin Life in 2022

Copyright Dr Lisa Das, 2022

The moral right of the author has been asserted

ISBN: 978-0-241-53004-7

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To my mum & dad, Ami Tomake Bhalobashi. You instilled the magical pleasure of active listening, which I realize now is also an act of love.

And to those who have spoken endlessly to brick walls and barriers, dont simply be heard choose to be understood.

We can all agree that our quality of life is crucial. But when it comes to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), this can all too often be forgotten.

IBS is a chronic and often debilitating disorder that is known to affect approximately 10 per cent of the global population (although this can vary in different parts of the world). It affects all members of society, regardless of age, sex, race or socioeconomic standing, though women are twice as likely to suffer from IBS worldwide as men, except in India, which surprisingly reports more male prevalence.

Those affected often struggle on with symptoms that can cause pain, discomfort and embarrassment before getting the right help. As a consultant gastroenterologist, I have seen patients try restrictive diets without proper medical guidance, or spend money on expensive tests or supplements to no avail. Others turn to Dr Google, with extensive internet searches that can herald confusing and contradictory information. And when they do seek medical help, it can frequently take multiple frustrating appointments with several doctors to get a diagnosis.

Even then, a diagnosis of IBS can in itself be confusing. IBS has no one specific cause: it is what is known as a functional problem, so it is not something that shows up through any one test or procedure. The type and severity of symptoms vary from person to person and even then they may change over time in an individual. There is no single standard treatment. This can be upsetting for some patients, who may believe they arent being listened to and are instead being given a catch-all dustbin diagnosis of IBS.

Perhaps you have been struggling with digestive symptoms for some time or have recently received an IBS diagnosis. Maybe you have a friend or family member who is struggling with the condition. Whatever your reasons for picking up this book, Ill take you through everything you need to know about IBS, including:

• How the digestive system works, and the role that the brain and gut microbiome play in a healthy gut
• The main symptoms and types of IBS and the red-flag symptoms you should never ignore
• How to get the most out of your medical appointments
• Everything youve ever wanted to know about bowel movements but have been too embarrassed to ask.

And, crucially, well be looking at strategies showing you how to successfully manage your symptoms in order to achieve that all-important quality of life, including medication, diet, exercise and psychological therapies.

IBS can be a very isolating syndrome, but you are certainly not alone. In fact IBS is a proverbial iceberg condition, whereby the majority of people with IBS symptoms havent even been diagnosed yet. Thats why youll be reading stories from patients of all ages and symptoms who have regained control of their lives, using the right treatment.

It really is possible to have a happy, fulfilling life with IBS, and Ill show you how. This book is about taking a deeper look at IBS, so that you can get to know your own body better and take charge of your health and treatment. Self-empowerment and acceptance of this diagnosis go a long way towards improved quality of life.

What does a normal digestive system look like?

Often patients will say to me, I feel I am not digesting my food properly or I feel like theres something wrong with my gut. This feeling can mean anything from nausea to heartburn, to seeing food remnants in ones stool.

Before we look at IBS in more detail, it is worth taking a step back to understand the basics of our digestive system. Having a greater knowledge of this intricate process will help you understand the reasons why parts of the process can go awry and trigger IBS symptoms. In this chapter I will also outline what IBS is, and show why it is very much a real diagnosis. Well also look at advances in our knowledge about IBS over the last decade and why this is a very exciting time for IBS and other symptom-based syndromes.