Digestion Problems

 Using state-of-the-art stool testing for investigation, Jan uses her "health detective" skills to discover the true cause of her client's digestion problems and then addresses that cause to gain the best possible improvement in health and reduction of symptoms. Many times patients are told they have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) which is an umbrella term for "Not sure what is causing your symptoms". Having experienced IBS herself, Jan made it her mission to really get to the root cause of IBS and then with a combination of supplements and diet, sort out the problem once and for all.
 
The best way to test for your overall gastrointestinal function is with a diet especially created for people with digestive problems along with a specialised stool test to identify microbiota including anaerobes, which are your “good bacteria” and a previously immeasurable area of the gut environment – in addition to pathogenic “bad bugs” such as parasites, bacteria and yeast/fungi.  

Why use a stool analysis test?
Gastrointestinal function is important for general health. The intestinal tract contains significant amounts of bacteria; some beneficial, some neutral, and some harmful. Balancing beneficial microbial flora in the gut is key to proper digestion, efficient nutrient usage, and ridding the body of waste and pathogens. Poor digestion and malabsorption can lead to immune dysfunction, nutritional insufficiencies, mental/emotional disorders, and autoimmune diseases.

The stool testing used is PCR-based for the most accurate look at the gut environment and overall function. Jan may suggest one of the following tests:

• Complete Microbiome Mapping  - was designed to assess a patient’s microbiome from a single stool sample, with particular attention to microbes that cause disease or that disrupt normal microbial balance and contribute to perturbations in the GI flora and contribute to illness. The panel is a comprehensive collection of microbial targets as well as immune and digestive markers. It screens for pathogenic bacteria, commensal bacteria, opportunistic pathogens, fungi, viruses, and parasites.
• Microba - to check for gut infections and undergrowth of essential bacteria. Microba uses an advanced method called metagenomic sequencing. This creates a larger amount of data, providing a comprehensive, high-resolution picture of all of the microorganisms present—including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protists. They provide information such as what foods you need to eat to improve the balance of your gut microbiome. 
• PCR Multiplex - is a basic test to test for the presence of parasites or pathogenic bacteria.

SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth)
Jan may suggest a SIBO breath test if you have symptoms that may indicate that SIBO is the underlying problem for you. You can read more about that condition and testing here. The treatment for SIBO is a specific dietary protocol along with supplements to improve your small intestine function and bacterial levels. 

Is Jan's approach for you?
You would benefit from Jan's expertise with testing and in correcting digestive conditions if you have been diagnosed with IBS, if you haven't had success with previous treatment for digestion problems, and/or if you suffer with any of these symptoms:

• bloating
• flatulence
• excess burping
• stomach pain
• reactions to foods
• nausea
• distension of your abdomen
• candida infection
• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative Colitis
• traveller's diarrhoea
• unhappy digestion when travelling overseas
• rashes
• allergies and hayfever
• chronic low iron levels
• constipation
• loose stools or diarrhoea
• itchy anus