Digestive Health Support
For persistent bloating, bowel changes, reflux, IBS and SIBO
DIGESTIVE HEALTH & GUT HEALTH NATUROPATH · SUNSHINE COAST & TELEHEALTH
Many patients come to my clinic with persistent bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, reflux or reactions to food. I often hear things like, “The healthier I eat, the worse it gets” or “I keep cutting out more and more foods.” It’s frustrating when you’re trying to eat well but the list of foods you tolerate keeps shrinking.
Most have already tried dietary changes, supplements or other treatments, but their symptoms keep returning.
I start by looking at how your symptoms developed and reviewing any investigations you’ve already had. I also want to know what you’ve tried and how you responded. From there, we work out where to go next without unnecessary testing or another overly restrictive diet.
What I often work with
DIGESTIVE CONCERNS
Persistent bloating & distension
Frequent or uncomfortable bloating that may worsen after eating or build throughout the day.
Constipation
Infrequent bowel movements, straining or feeling as though you haven’t completely emptied.
SIBO & IMO
Digestive symptoms where bacterial overgrowth or methane production may be contributing.
Diarrhoea & altered bowel habits
Loose stools, urgency, alternating bowel habits or a persistent change from what’s normal for you.
IBS
Ongoing abdominal pain, bloating or bowel changes, including symptoms that have continued despite an IBS diagnosis.
Reflux & food reactions
Reflux, heartburn or foods becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate.
Digestive symptoms often overlap. You may recognise one clear concern, or several that seem to occur together.
The same symptom can have different causes
Bloating can be related to constipation, food reactions, altered gut motility or fermentation in the digestive tract. Reflux can also look similar from one person to another, even when the reasons behind it are different.
I want to know when your symptoms began and what was happening around that time. Symptoms that started after gastroenteritis or food poisoning may need a different approach from those that developed gradually or alongside changes in your menstrual cycle.
This background helps me decide what needs closer attention. I’m not interested in chasing every possible imbalance or ordering tests without a clear reason.
IBS, SIBO, IMO, and recurring digestive symptoms
You may have been diagnosed with IBS and thought, “Great, now what?” The diagnosis gives a name to the pattern of symptoms, but it doesn’t always give you much direction about what to do next.
For some people, SIBO or IMO may be contributing to their IBS symptoms. This doesn’t mean everyone with IBS needs breath testing. I recommend testing when I think it will help direct your treatment.
Digestive symptoms and the menstrual cycle
Some women notice that bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, reflux or food tolerance changes before or during their period.
When this happens consistently, changes across the menstrual cycle may be affecting gut motility and pain sensitivity. I take this pattern into account when planning treatment.
My Approach to Gut Health
Your initial consultation looks at the sequence and pattern of your symptoms rather than focusing only on what you ate most recently.
I consider what has already been investigated, what you have tried and your whole clinical presentation.
01 — Understand how the pattern developed
When symptoms began, how they have changed, bowel habits, food tolerance and what was happening around the time they started.
02 — Review what has already been done
Previous diagnoses, pathology, investigations, dietary approaches, supplements, medications and how you responded.
03 — Identify the priorities
Consider factors such as bowel function, motility, nutritional intake, previous infection, stress, sleep and menstrual patterns where relevant.
04 — Build a plan
Recommendations may include nutritional changes, lifestyle strategies, practitioner-prescribed supplements or herbal medicine, and further functional testing if relevant.
When functional testing can be useful
Testing will be considered when the result is likely to clarify the clinical picture or change what we do next. Depending on your presentation, this may include SIBO breath testing or selected stool and microbiome testing.
Testing should answer a clear question
I first consider your history and existing investigations. Where further testing may be useful, we discuss its likely value, limitations and cost before proceeding.
I always conciser recommending testing carefully and discuss alternatives if it’s not accessible for you.
Start with the whole digestive picture
If digestive symptoms are persistent, recurring or becoming increasingly difficult to manage, an initial consultation gives us time to bring together your symptom pattern, previous investigations and what you have already tried.
From there, we can identify the priorities and determine which next step is most likely to provide useful information or meaningful support.
Consultations are available in Maroochydore and Forest Glen on the Sunshine Coast, with Telehealth throughout Australia.