Abdomen
FODMAP Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
A low FODMAP diet can really help improve the symptoms of IBS.
A list of foods that are high (avoid) and low can be found at https://www.ibsdiets.org/fodmap-diet/fodmap-food-list/
Coeliac disease
Coeliac disease is an immune condition that affects your gut and bowels. This is triggered when you eat foods containing gluten, and can cause long term damage to your health.
Symptoms can include bloating, diarrhoea, and cramps.
If you have these symptoms, see a doctor. We may arrange for you to have blood and stool tests, and further investigations if these are abnormal, such as an endoscopy.
The treatment of coeliac disease is by modifying your diet - please only do this on the direction of your doctor.
What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a family of conditions including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
IBD causes involve inflammation in the gut and bowels, and can cause a number of symptoms:
- Tummy pain and cramps
- Bloating and swelling
- Diarrhoea and bloody diarrhoea
- Mucus in the stool
- Unintentional weight loss
- Mouth ulcers
- Skin rashes
- Extreme tiredness
- Joint problems
If you have symptoms, please make an appointment with a doctor, who may send you for further tests.
If you are diagnosed with IBD, you will be supported and treated by a specialist gastroenterologist and have access to the IBD nurse hotline if you have any flares or problems.
Bowel Cancer screening
The NHS Bowel Cancer screening programme invites all men and women aged 60-74 to complete a home stool FIT test every two years. This test checks for microscopic amounts of blood.
You will be automatically sent a home bowel testing kit in the post - follow the simple instructions and send this back in the post to the testing clinic.
If the test is abnormal, you will be automatically be referred to Nottingham hospitals for further assessment, with most patients being offered a colonoscopy.
The aim of screening is to detect early cancer before it makes you feel poorly. Catching it early can save your life.
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is a common procedure to check your bowels for signs of cancer and inflammation.
Watch this video by Bowel Cancer UK, which explains what a colonoscopy is and what's involved.