Diagnostic Testing for Digestive Disorders

Our digestive health is critical to our overall health. The gut holds 70-80% of our immune system! When we are not digesting our food properly it can lead not only to digestive problems but also to food sensitivities, allergies, weight gain or weight loss, skin issues, autoimmune reactions, joint pain, brain fog and much more.

DIAGNOSIS

Figuring out what is wrong with digestion is critical to treating it. A combination of medical history, clinical symptoms and diagnostic testing are put together to get the whole picture. Symptoms associated with digestive disorders may include:

• bloating
• gas
• heartburn/ reflux/ ulcers
• diarrhea
• constipation
• upset stomach
• headaches
• skin issues- rashes, eczema, psoriasis
• joint pain, body pain/ inflammation

There are some key diagnostic testing we use to figure out the root cause of digestive complaints. We may run any or all of the following:

Food Allergy Panel (FAP)- A serum blood test looking for delayed sensitivity reactions to food

Organic Acid Test (OAT) or Microbial Organic Acid Test (mOAT)- A urine test looking at metabolites (breakdown) of nutrients, pathogens (like bacteria, yeast and parasites) and more to show what may be deficient, mitochondria function, and what pathogens may be present in the body

Comprehensive Stool test- A 3 day stool test looking for yeast, bacteria and parasites in the stool. It also can assess if there is inflammation in the gut, how efficient absorption is and the amount and diversity of your microflora (the good bacteria)

H. Pylori test- Typically done as part of the stool test but can also be a blood or breathe test. This screens for a bacteria called H. pylori that causes ulcers.

From here we will review your results and put together a comprehensive treatment protocol to eradicate any infections or overgrowth and heal your gut. Read more about how we heal the gut at Gut Healing Protocols.