Are you plagued by nagging abdominal cramping and bloating that over-the-counter medications barely help? Then you may be suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. To get to the source of your digestive problem, visit gastroenterologist Indran Indrakrishnan, MD, at Gwinnett Digestive Clinic, PC in Lawrenceville, Georgia, for a comprehensive evaluation and treatment. To see if you have irritable bowel syndrome, book an appointment online or over the phone.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a fairly common condition that causes:
IBS isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it can pose moderate discomfort and quality-of-life issues. IBS is a chronic disease that requires vigilant maintenance and medical oversight.
The exact cause of IBS remains a mystery, but there are several factors that may lead to the problem, including:
In addition to the above, many IBS sufferers fall into one or more risk categories and share similar triggers, including:
IBS is a tricky condition to pin down, which is why you should see a gastroenterologist, like Dr. Indrakrishnan, for expert care.
Because there’s no known cause of IBS, there’s no single test that can confirm the presence of the condition. To start, Dr. Indrakrishnan performs an extensive analysis of your problem, which includes a review of your symptoms and medical history. He may also order lab tests. The symptoms of IBS are often red flags for other conditions, so Dr. Indrakrishnan will work to rule out the presence of another problem.
An important part of this process is a colonoscopy, which allows Dr. Indrakrishnan to take a look inside your colon and rectum to see if he can identify the problem that’s causing your symptoms.
After his exhaustive evaluation, Dr. Indrakrishnan will work with you to come up with a treatment plan that will alleviate your symptoms. This plan may include one or more of the following:
In order to successfully gain the upper hand on your IBS, Dr. Indrakrishnan will typically take a multipronged approach that covers every angle.
To determine whether IBS is at the root of your gastrointestinal discomfort, call Gwinnett Digestive Clinic, PC or book an appointment online.