Could this be you?
Bloating, cramping, constipation, diarrhoea, urgency, or bowels that swing between the two. If you've been given an IBS diagnosis and sent away with little more than "try low FODMAP" or a leaflet, you're probably still looking for real answers.
​
IBS is a description of symptoms, not an explanation of what's actually going on. There's very often more happening underneath than a ten minute GP appointment has time to explore.
Symptoms this often includes:
-
Bloating that builds through the day, especially after eating
-
Bowels that swing unpredictably between constipation, diarrhoea and urgency
-
Abdominal pain or cramping that eases once you go to the toilet
-
Trapped wind or a sense you haven't fully emptied your bowels
-
Anxiety around food, or around being far from a toilet
-
Fatigue or brain fog that seems to follow a flare-up
-
A diagnosis of IBS with no real explanation of what's actually driving it
-
Cutting out food after food, with no lasting improvement
What might be driving your IBS
Rather than focusing only on managing symptoms as they come, I look at the underlying factors that may be contributing. These often include:​
​
Gut microbiome imbalances
Dysbiosis, SIBO, and the overall health of your gut.​
Gut motility
Why things may be moving too fast, too slow, or both at different times.​
Digestive function
Stomach acid, enzymes, and bile flow all affect how well you digest and absorb food.​
Nervous system regulation
The gut-brain connection, and how stress affects your digestion.​
Food sensitivities
Looking at patterns over time, rather than jumping straight to elimination.​
Why the standard advice often falls short
If your GP has suggested a low FODMAP diet, or simply told you to manage your symptoms as they come, that advice isn't wrong. Ruling out anything more serious is genuinely important, and GPs are working within appointment times that rarely allow space for the fuller picture.
​
But it can leave you feeling like you've reached the end of the road, especially if you've already tried cutting out food after food without lasting improvement. That's usually the point where a longer, more personalised look at what's driving your symptoms makes the real difference.
How I approach IBS
I'm Lisa, a Registered Nutritional Therapist and IBS Nutritionist. I work with people who are ready to understand what's actually driving their IBS, not just manage it as it comes.​
What I look at
Your full picture of your symptoms, alongside your digestion, stress levels, sleep, and daily habits, since IBS is rarely about one single thing.​
What I might test
Where it's useful, I may suggest functional testing to look more closely at your gut microbiome or digestive markers. Testing is never a requirement, and many people make real progress without it.
What I support
A personalised plan that includes dietary changes, targeted supplements, and practical lifestyle adjustments, built around your life.
Support wherever you are
I work online, so wherever you're based in the UK, we can work together from home. I'm based in Faversham, Kent, and see clients by secure video call, so you don't need to be nearby to work with me.