New diagnosis of IBS?

Being told you have IBS can feel disappointing.

You might have waited months for appointments, finally had tests done, and then walked away with a diagnosis and:

❌ No clear plan.
❌ No explanation of why your gut is behaving this way.
❌ And definitely no handbook on what to do next.

If that’s you, you’re not alone.

IBS is one of the most common digestive diagnoses, thought to affect 1 in 5 people in the UK. Yet it’s also one of the most poorly supported once you leave the GP or gastroenterologist’s office.

The good news?

There is a clear, evidence-based way forward. And you may be surprised to learn that it doesn’t start with the low FODMAP diet.

What IBS actually is (and isn’t)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, aka IBS, is typically defined by ongoing abdominal pain and bloating, alongside changes in bowel habit, whether that’s constipation, diarrhoea, or a mix of both.

IBS used to be classified as a Functional Gut Disorder, where the structure of the gut is normal, but the function is altered. More recently IBS has been reclassified as a Disorder of Gut–Brain Interaction.

But I want to be super clear… this does not mean it’s “all in your head”!

It reflects what we now understand about IBS: altered pain signalling, gut sensitivity, changes in gut movement, and how the nervous system interacts with your digestive system.

This new classification is recognising that once symptoms start, the gut-brain communication can become “stuck” in an unhelpful loop with the wrong messages going back and forth, keeping the body in symptom mode.

What’s important to know is this:
✅ IBS is real.
✅ Your symptoms are real.
✅ Normal test results don’t mean nothing is going on.

Why so many people stay stuck after an IBS diagnosis

IBS is often poorly managed because people are given fragments of a plan instead of a full plan.

One person is told to cut foods out.
Another is prescribed a medication with little context.
Someone else is left tracking symptoms endlessly, hoping patterns will magically appear.

None of that addresses how IBS actually works.

IBS isn’t something you fix with one diet, one supplement, or one appointment. It improves when the gut, the nervous system, and daily routines are supported together.

And food isn’t always the main problem.

What helps isn’t doing more. It’s doing the right things, in the right order.

What actually moves IBS forward

Most people do better when support focuses on three foundations.

1. Understanding their IBS.
That means looking at how symptoms began, what keeps them going, and what else is influencing the gut outside of food: stress, sleep, hormones, illness, medications.

2. Supporting digestion before restricting it.
Regular meals, adequate intake, movement, and nervous system regulation often make a bigger difference than people expect. For some, symptoms settle significantly at this stage alone.

3. Making smart simple food changes.
This is where fibre adjustments, reducing irritants, or modified FODMAP approaches can be useful – but only when they’re targeted, time-limited, and guided. The goal is always to add confidence back in, not narrow the diet further.

This is exactly where working with a specialist dietitian makes the biggest difference.

At Green Light Nutrition, IBS support is led by Jo Cunningham and Hazel Clarke, both Registered Dietitians with specialist experience in digestive health. We’re fully trained in the use of the low FODMAP diet, but we only use it when it’s genuinely appropriate - and always with a clear plan to reintroduce foods and avoid unnecessary restriction.

Our focus is on helping you understand your IBS, reduce symptoms without fear, and build a way of eating that actually works long term. We want to restore your gut microbiome so that your microbes can keep you healthy and happy.

👉 If you’re ready for structured, evidence-based support, you can find out more about our IBS appointments

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, this is the bit I want you to know:

✅ IBS is manageable.
✅ You don’t need to do everything at once
✅ You don’t need to live in fear of food
✅ You don’t need to do this alone.

Long-term improvement comes from shifting away from firefighting symptoms and towards supporting gut health as a whole. That includes fibre diversity, flexible eating patterns, and routines that help keep the gut–brain connection regulated.

If you’ve been diagnosed recently and feel unsure where to start, or if you’ve had IBS for years and still feel stuck, structured support makes all the difference.

At Green Light Nutrition we focus on evidence-based, non-restrictive strategies that help you understand your gut, not fight it. Whether that’s through 1:1 support or accessible digital resources, the goal is the same: clarity, confidence, and a way of eating that actually fits your life.

You deserve more than a diagnosis and a handout.

There is a way forward, and it can feel far more manageable than you’ve been led to believe.