APP Insight: How do you develop a treatment plan for IBS-C? What are some considerations?

In this video, Amy Ladewski, PA-C, a physician assistant at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, shares expert insights on how to develop a personalized treatment plan for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Amy explains why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work, emphasizing the importance of reviewing each patient’s medical and psychosocial history, prior therapies, and most bothersome symptoms—whether constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, or distension. She highlights the role of FDA-approved therapies, gut-directed behavioral interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnotherapy, as well as dietary strategies like the low FODMAP diet in optimizing care. Amy also stresses the importance of health literacy, insurance access, and collaboration with GI dietitians to ensure patients understand and can apply their treatment plan. For those with overlapping functional defecatory disorders, she underscores the value of diagnostic testing and pelvic floor physical therapy to achieve better outcomes. This holistic, individualized approach empowers patients with IBS-C to improve both bowel function and overall quality of life. For additional educational resources, visit GHAPP.org and the GHAPP ACE App.