Figuring out the root cause of your gut symptoms is key to finding long-term solutions. However, this is often easier said than done. One of the tricky things about gut issues is that symptoms between various diseases and conditions can overlap. For instance, diarrhea can be a symptom of both celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but the treatment for these two conditions is totally different. Symptoms are also extremely individualized. For instance, two people with IBS may present with completely different symptoms. Tricky, right?

Today I want to talk about five things to consider when investigating the root cause of your gut problems. These are questions any skilled practitioner is going to go over with you, but it is also helpful to think about if you are trying to sort this out on your own first.

1. When did your symptoms start? 

Did your symptoms start suddenly or gradually appear over time? This can give you insight into what could possibly be going on. For instance, having stomach issues after a bout of food poisoning is often termed post-infectious IBS. Furthermore, most cases of post-infectious IBS are actually SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Going to a GI doctor and testing for SIBO would be helpful in that situation. 

If your symptoms gradually appear over time, then it could be IBS. Knowing when and how your symptoms started will give you good insight into what could be going on and how to treat it. 

2. Do you have a family history of gut issues? 

Does your grandma have Crohn’s? Does your aunt have celiac disease? These are important things to know when investigating your root causes. We know that having a family member with inflammatory bowel disease puts you at a higher chance of developing one as well, so this is an important one to figure out early.

3. Is there a pattern to your symptoms? 

Do you feel bloated first thing in the morning or does this symptom gradually appear over the course of the day? Are your symptoms worse during the week than on the weekend? Stress may be playing a bigger role in your symptoms than you think. 

If you have gut issues, it is always helpful to keep a symptom diary. This is similar to a food diary but instead of tracking food, you track your gut symptoms. I find it helpful to track food too because this shows links between certain foods and possible symptoms. Regardless of how you do it, it is important to track your symptoms to spot any patterns which can clue you in on possible triggers or causes. 

4. Has anything been ruled out? 

When it comes to gut issues, finding the root cause is often a process of ruling things out one at a time. For instance, there is no test to definitively diagnose IBS. The IBS diagnosis is often made after other conditions, such as celiac and IBD, are ruled out. Teaming up with a good doctor is often part of this process. 

5. What are the results of any previous gut health tests, if any? 

Have you done a stool sample, food sensitivity test or breath test in the past? This could be helpful information in figuring out what is going on with you now. For instance, SIBO recurrence is high. If you had SIBO several years ago and are experiencing similar symptoms today, then you might want to look into SIBO as a root cause again. The same is true for candida issues. 

Bottom line: The best way to get to the root of your gut issues is by doing a full investigation. You’ll want to consider each of the questions above and then possibly look into testing to gain a deeper understanding of your symptoms.

When it comes to gut health testing, there are a lot of options out there. Be sure to check back here, as I plan to go over various gut health testing options in the near future!