#1 Comprehensive Stool Testing for IBS symptoms – what’s the deal?

Stool testing can be a solution to understand what is happening within this complex system of the digestive tract.  It has become a very popular and useful tool in the functional medicine field.

This article will hopefully help you to understand what a stool test is and why is might be useful for you.

WHAT IS A STOOL TEST?

If you have persistent and distressing digestive symptoms (like the ones listed below) you may have been asked to have a stool test by your GP or functional health practitioner to look for health markers within the digestive tract.

WHO SHOULD GET A STOOL TEST?

You might particularly benefit from more extensive stool and microbiome testing if you have any of the following symptoms or conditions:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea / Constipation (or both)
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Excess gas
• Food sensitivities
• Acid Reflux (GERD)
• Diverticulitis
• Rapid weight gain or loss
• Vomiting

Those with other symptoms outside of the gut might also benefit from comprehensive stool and/or microbiome testing:

• Food intolerances
• Rashes or hives
• Acne
• Mood disturbances
• Depression or anxiety
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Brain fog
• Joint pain
• Chronic sinus issues or allergies

NB It is important to note that the less-common systems above can also be related to a number of other underlying factors, some of which may not relate to the gut.  Certain diet and lifestyle changes might be enough to address these but if nothing has changed a stool test might be worth doing.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GP STOOL TEST AND A FUNCTIONAL STOOL TEST?

Both tests can be very useful and can help understand your gut issues but the main difference is that the GP tests look for more serious conditions such as cancer, Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Functional stool tests look at the health of your gut and underlying parasitic infections, yeast, problematic bacteria’s and imbalances (SIBO) but also whether there is inflammation, occult blood, how well you are digesting and absorbing nutrients and any issues with the barrier of your gut.

WHAT BIOMARKERS DO TESTS LOOK FOR?

The markers tested can vary between providers. I use Invivo GI Ecologix which cover:

• Beneficial bacteria and overall bacterial balance
• Gut pathogens, including potentially pathogenic bacteria, yeasts, and parasites
• Overall gut health, including things like digestion, absorption, immune function, inflammation, and short-chain fatty acids
• Potential signs of inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, or other more serious gut conditions

HOW DO YOU USE A STOOL TEST?

If your health practitioner has suggested a test, it will be posted to you and done in the comfort of your own home. The test comes in a box with the equipment you need and easy step-by-step instructions.

Companies do vary, but as an example you will need to do three separate swabs as directed, place them in the provided bags and post the sample off as soon as possible.  The results will be sent to your practitioner within roughly 15 working days.  Your practitioner will go through your results and will use them to create a health protocol.

DOES EVERYONE NEED A STOOL TEST?

No.  If you are healthy there is no reason you need stool testing, unless you’re just interested to learn more about the microbiome!  If you are struggling with chronic health conditions your first step should be an assessment of your diet and lifestyle habits to see if improvements can be made.

If you have gut issues and have tried an abundance of diets, eliminations, medications and want to investigate further, it could be worth testing your gut to determine if it’s contributing to your health problems.

HOW OFTEN AHOULD I GET A STOOL TEST?

For most people, a single test is enough as a screening tool. If the test identifies a parasite or something that clearly needs to be treated, then it is often a good idea to get a follow-up test to confirm that it was cleared.

Some people like to get more frequent tests to be able to track things over time, and this can certainly be interesting and occasionally help generate hypotheses to guide treatment, but it is important not to get too fussy over the numbers, and instead focus on whether your symptoms and quality of life are improving.

Any further questions on stool testing? Send me a message below 👇