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Should people with IBS be tested for Coeliac Disease?

On the ITV programme “This Morning” shown Tuesday 15th April, Dr Chris Steele suggested that anyone with persistent symptoms of IBS should be tested for Coeliac Disease. See the clip below:

I have to strongly agree with Dr Steele on this. With William, we visited the Doctor 6 times plus a number of telephone consultations over a period of 6 months. It was only upon our insistence that he finally got tested for Coeliac.

This has to be a waste of NHS resources – I’d imagine that what equated 2 – 3 hours of a GP’s time cost more than a single blood test, and that is just our experience – there are plenty of people who have frustratingly been back and forth to the Doctors for years supposedly for IBS, before getting tested for Coeliac.

As Dr Steele says, there is no test for IBS. So testing for Coeliac Disease should be the first port of call – if Coeliac is then ruled out, the diagnosis of IBS can be made with more confidence.

You can see the full programme on the ITV Player at https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/this-morning/15-04-2014

April 15, 2014

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