IBS

[Tiredtweenmum]

DD (10) has been diagnosed with IBS today and advised to go on FODMAP diet.
She will be distraught when she realises what this entails as she enjoys food.

Can I have any tips you have for this with a child? We’ve been given no support from the Doctor and feeling a bit overwhelmed!

Can I ask if your Gp has diagnosed IBs just by going on his knowledge, has she had any tests etc? What is your daughters symptoms?

My son went on the FODMAP diet but under the supervision of his consultant and a hospital dietitian. You need to eliminate foods and then gradually reintroduce them to find your personal triggers.
He was diagnosed with IBS-D by his consultant and only after numerous tests and procedures to eliminate any other causes.

DD has had a range of bloods and a poo sample tested.
Diarrhoea is her main symptom and sometimes urgency to go.
I’m dubious but GP won’t refer until we’ve done 6 weeks of FODMAP
Does anyone know of any guidance that says that children should do this under supervision of a dietician? I want to complain to GP.
Thanks for your comments x

I was only asking because I know not many GPS have knowledge of IBD and most times put symptoms down to IBS. This is what happened with my daughter, gp dismissed her symptoms being anything else. Thankfully I didn’t stand for it and went elsewhere. This is when she was then diagnosed with IBD.

Thank you. I lodged a complaint with the surgery as I tried to push back on this and was dismissed. Can I ask how your DD was diagnosed with IBD?

It's supposed to be a diagnosis of exclusion - i.e. after excluding all the other more serious possibilities such as inflammatory bowel disease.

I'd be really unhappy about a child being waved off with an "IBS" diagnosis without any camera tests to rule out inflammatory bowel disease etc.

https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/info-support/information-about-crohns-and-colitis/all-information-about-crohns-and-colitis/understanding-crohns-and-colitis/how-to-get-a-diagnosis

Sorry for the late reply.

It was the dental hospital who referred our daughter to the gastro team at the children’s hospital after the checked out the mouth ulcers she kept having.

The gastro team did all the test needed for a diagnosis…. Blood tests, stool test to check calprotectin levels, endoscopy and colonoscopy.

By the time she was tested thanks to our GP she had a lot of damage to her gut😡

Thankfully treatment t worked for her and she recovered but crohns is a life long illness.