APP Insight: Provide Diagnostic Tips for IBS-C

Join Monica Nandwani, GI nurse practitioner in California, as she outlines key diagnostic strategies for identifying Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders. In this detailed overview, Monica explains how to recognize IBS using symptom-based criteria such as the Rome IV diagnostic guidelines, which focus on recurrent abdominal pain and changes in stool habits. She emphasizes the importance of a positive diagnostic strategy over exclusion-based testing, as supported by the 2020 ACG Clinical Guidelines. This video explores IBS subtypes—including IBS-C, IBS-D, IBS-M, and IBS-U—and explains when to consider additional testing such as serologic celiac panels, fecal calprotectin, CRP, and colonoscopy to rule out inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), microscopic colitis, or other conditions. Learn how to identify red flags that require further evaluation, and discover how tools like the Bristol Stool Form Scale and patient stool diaries can guide diagnosis. Whether you're a clinician or a patient seeking clarity on IBS, this evidence-based discussion provides practical insights for timely and accurate diagnosis. For more education, visit the GHAPP website or GHAPP ACE App.