Gastroenterologists are the doctors that most people go to when you have a digestive problem. But ironically, they aren’t experts in helping you solve most digestive problems. Think I’m making this up or exaggerating?  Stay tuned and you’ll be shocked to find out how small the chance is that a gastroenterologist is going to help you solve your digestive problem, and why you still need to see one.

IBS is by far the most common digestive problem known to humans. At least 10% of the population experiences IBS, and yet gastroenterologists are not experts in IBS. In fact, if you have abdominal pain, or constipation, or diarrhea, or gas or bloating, the chance of your gastroenterologist actually being able to help you figure out why you have those symptoms and how to cure them is very small.

How can that possibly be? And why should you go see a gastroenterologist anyway?

Almost everyone believes that gastroenterologists are experts in everything digestive. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Not even close to the case. Gastroenterologists are experts in doing colonoscopies and upper endoscopies, and a few other tests.

Those are important and valuable tools, but the chances that they will solve your digestive problems is incredibly slim.

What gastroenterologists do is look for serious disease. They evaluate you for tumors and cancer, and ulcers in the digestive tract, and diseases of the liver and pancreas and gallbladder.

And that is very important, because you want to catch of those things as early as possible.

That’s what a gastroenterologist does.

But what they don’t do is at least as important.

Because the flip side of the coin that they never tell you IS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF ABDOMINAL PAIN, DIARRHEA, CONSTIPATION, GAS AND BLOATING IS NOT CAUSED BY MAJOR DISEASES.

The data is crystal clear on this. It’s not even close. When you see the gastroenterologist, you only have a very small chance of them finding a major disease. WHICH IS A GOOD THING!

However, you also only have a small chance of them actually being able to truly help you with your symptoms, WHICH IS A BAD THING.

And that is why most people find out that they are on their own when it comes to solving most digestive problems. I had the same experience when I had IBS. I had to work years and even decades all by myself to figure out what was wrong.

But you don’t have to do that. Because that’s why I created the IBS Treatment Center. To help the vast majority of people we see solve their digestive problems. Once you’ve ruled out those major and serious diseases, you still need a doctor who can help you figure out what’s wrong. And that’s what IBS specialists like us do.

And regardless of where you live, you can take advantage of our expertise. Because since 2005 we’ve been working with people around the U.S. and the world via telemedicine, and now you can too. So, if you feel stuck, give us a call about your digestive problems.

Related Content:

Top 7 Questions to Ask Your Gastroenterologist

What is Causing All of That Gurgling in My Stomach?

Why Do I Feel Better After My Colonoscopy?

Do You Need Anesthesia for a Colonoscopy‍