Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: What kind of doctor?

I think a gastroenterologist is best but if you can find a really good general practitioner or internist that works, too.

No doctor of any type should be diagnosing IBS without a boatload of testing. IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion which means you have to exclude every other possibility first. Take a look at the information starting here to see what tests you need and what your doctors need to exclude to diagnosis you with IBS.

I don't see where you are but you can look through this thread to see if there's a doctor in your area who does a good job with IBS. You can also do a new post saying where you live and asking if anyone in your area can recommend someone.

Whether you need a referral depends on your health insurance plan and may depend on the GI doctor himself.

And, crazy as it sounds, waiting 5 days to see a "real" doctor is pretty standard. (A friend of mine once called his Family Doctor because he had a fever of 102 and was told he would have to wait a week for an appointment.) Where I live the wait for some specialties - like endocrinology or dermatology - can be a month or more. If you've already made the appointment with the GP keep it and see if she can help or, if not, if she can point you to a good GI guy.

While you're waiting to see the doctor, try the EFI Diet and some herbal teas and see if that helps ease your symptoms somewhat.

HTH. Good luck.

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