Gut Health & Digestive Issues

If you've been told your bloating, irregularity, or a "sensitive stomach" is just something you have to live with, I want you to hear this clearly: your gut is not being dramatic. It is telling you something, and most of the time nobody has actually gone looking for the mechanism.

I work with women who are done getting a diagnosis with no explanation. IBS is a label, not an answer. SIBO gets missed for years because nobody ran the breath test. Bloating that's gone in the morning and back by evening is not "just IBS," it's a clue. My job is to find what's actually driving your symptoms using functional lab testing, then build a plan that gets to the root of it instead of managing it forever.

SIBO

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth happens when bacteria that belong in your large intestine end up fermenting food higher up, in your small intestine. That fermentation is what produces the gas behind that tight, distended feeling by the end of the day. SIBO gets missed constantly because standard GI workups don't include a breath test unless you specifically ask for one.

IBS

IBS is not a diagnosis, it's a category for "we ran some tests and didn't find an obvious structural problem." That's useful information, but it's not the end of the road. Underneath an IBS label there is almost always a mechanism: SIBO, dysbiosis, food sensitivities, a nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight, or some combination. I test for it instead of stopping at the label.

Bloating

Bloating that shows up predictably after certain meals, or that builds through the day, is data. Bloating is not normal, even though it's treated as a universal female experience. The pattern of when it happens and what triggers it tells me where to look first.

Constipation and Diarrhea

Both ends of the motility spectrum point to the same question: is something interfering with how your gut moves, digests, or absorbs. Thyroid function, the gut-brain connection, dysbiosis, and even hormone shifts across your cycle can all show up as changes in your bowel habits. We look at the full picture instead of just reaching for fiber or Imodium.

Dysbiosis and the Gut Microbiome

Your microbiome does more than digest your food. It helps regulate your immune system, your hormones, and yes, your skin. When the balance of bacteria in your gut shifts, it can show up as bloating, irregularity, brain fog, skin flares, and food reactions that seemingly came out of nowhere. Comprehensive stool testing is how we actually see what's going on instead of guessing.

Food Sensitivities

Food sensitivities are often a downstream symptom of a gut that's already inflamed or imbalanced, not the root cause on their own. Chasing an ever-growing list of foods you can't eat anymore without addressing what made your gut reactive in the first place is exhausting, and it doesn't get you your life back.

The Gut-Skin Connection

Your gut and your skin are in constant communication. Inflammation that starts in your gut doesn't stay there. It's a huge part of why women with acne, eczema, or rosacea often see real improvement once we address gut health, and why skincare alone was never going to be enough.

If your gut has been dismissed as "just stress" or "just IBS," I'd love to support you in finding out what's actually going on.