Sometimes we get asked about the types of medical examinations for IBS diagnosis and other stomach problems. What methods do hospitals use and why?
Since it is not known why some people are affected by IBS, there is no simple diagnostic test. The doctor often makes the diagnosis based on a description of your symptoms and by excluding other causes of the problems. Here we describe some common medical examinations used to diagnose IBS and other stomach problems. Most likely you won’t have to go through all of these tests to get a diagnosis of IBS. Your medical history is usually enough. But it is still good to be familiar with them.
Testing for lactose intolerance
Lactose tolerance test
A lactose tolerance test is an examination method the doctor can use to investigate whether you are lactose intolerant. To be able to carry out the examination, one must fast and drink only water ten hours before. The examination begins with a blood sample being taken in the morning and then drinking a solution with lactose, usually at a hospital or a health clinic. During the following hours, new blood samples are taken every quarter of an hour, approximately 6-8 samples. By analyzing the blood, the doctor can assess how well lactose is broken down in your intestines.
Hydrogen breath test
As an alternative to a blood test, lactose intolerance can be diagnosed with a breath test. Instead of taking the blood, breath samples are taken with a device before and after drinking the lactose solution. The device measures the amount of hydrogen gas in the exhaled air. The amount of hydrogen gas increases after consuming the liquid if you cannot break down lactose.
If you are lactose intolerant, you may experience gas and stomach ache from carrying out a lactose test, but this will pass.
Testing for gluten intolerance
Blood test for celiac disease
If the doctor suspects gluten intolerance or celiac disease, a blood test can be done to see if a certain type of antibody can be found in your blood. If they find IgA-transglutaminase (tTG) antibodies, it can confirm a celiac disease.
Gastroscopy
If the doctor suspects gluten intolerance but has not been able to confirm this with blood tests, a small bowel biopsy may be appropriate. For a small bowel biopsy, a gastroscopic examination must be performed. Gastroscopy is used to examine the stomach and the first part of the intestine – the duodenum. This examination is carried out with a gastroscope. The gastroscope consists of a flexible tube (1 m long and 1 cm thick) that the doctor brings down through the mouth. With the gastroscope, you can, for example, find early tissue damage, any changes, and inflammation (common in celiac disease). A gastroscopy examination always begins with fasting before the examination itself. The examination itself is usually very quick, often within 15 minutes. However, if you had stopped eating gluten before this test, the results might not be accurate.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is similar to gastroscopy but is used to examine the large intestine (colon) using an instrument called a colonoscope. The colonoscope is a narrow (approx. 1 cm in diameter) long flexible tube (1.5 m) that the doctor inserts through the rectum. The instrument can light up, flush water, and blow in the air which can be used for examination and treatment. With the instrument, the doctor can see into the intestine, take tissue samples, and carry out certain treatments. The examination can provide answers to whether there are, for example, tumors, polyps, wounds, vascular malformations, or inflammation in the intestinal mucosa. To perform a colonoscopy, one must empty the bowel by drinking laxatives, for example, several liters of salt-balanced liquid. The examination itself takes up to an hour to complete and the patient may receive certain medication to facilitate the examination.
Ultrasound examination
Ultrasound is performed to examine several different organs in the body. This examination works by sending in weak high-frequency sound waves using an instrument applied to the outside of the body. A computer processes the sound waves that are reflected and creates an image that the doctor can see via a monitor. For some examinations, the doctor may require you to fast before or avoid certain foods. An ultrasound examination can, for example, show if there are gallstones or if the gallbladder has become inflamed, also appendicitis can be detected with an ultrasound.
This is a comprehensive overview of the medical examinations that you may encounter but keep in mind that the information on allaboutibs.com can never replace a doctor’s diagnosis.
