If you’ve been told you have IBS…

but treatments haven’t worked —

there’s a good chance you’re dealing with something else.

In many cases, that IBS diagnosis is actually Candida.

And the difference matters.

I’ve been treating IBS and related conditions like Candida for over 25 years, and I founded the IBS Treatment Center in 2005, where we’ve helped more than 10,000 patients recover.

And here’s something most people don’t realize:

IBS is a description of symptoms.

Candida is a cause.

Today, I’m going to show you how to tell the difference — and why so many people are misdiagnosed.

What IBS Really Is

IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

It’s diagnosed when someone has symptoms like:

• Abdominal pain

• Diarrhea and/or constipation

• Gas

• Bloating

But here’s the key point:

IBS is not a disease.

It’s a label used when tests are normal and symptoms persist.

IBS tells you what you’re experiencing —

it doesn’t tell you why.

What Candida Actually Is

Candida is a yeast — a fungus — that naturally lives in the gut.

Everyone has some. That’s normal.

It becomes a problem when it overgrows and disrupts the microbiome.

When that happens, it can affect digestion, inflammation, immune function, blood sugar regulation, and yes, even brain chemistry. I know because I’ve seen it happen in patients, many time.

Unlike IBS, Candida is a specific biological problem — and when we identify it correctly, it can be treated.

PART 3 — Where IBS and Candida Overlap

This is where things get confusing.

Both IBS and Candida can cause:

• Abdominal pain

• Diarrhea or Constipation

• Gas

• Bloating

So on the surface, they can look exactly the same.

But in our clinic, Candida almost always shows additional clues that IBS alone does not.

PART 4 — Signs It’s More Likely Candida Than IBS

Here are the biggest differences we see clinically.

1. Sugar and Carb Cravings

IBS does not cause cravings.

Candida does — because yeast feeds on sugar.

When someone craves carbs even when they don’t want to, that’s a major clue.

2. Brain Fog

Difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, feeling “not yourself.”

We see this in a lot more Candida patients, that in IBS alone.

3. Skin Problems

Rashes, itching, acne, dandruff, eczema-like symptoms.

These are often seen with Candida.

4. Symptoms After Antibiotics

If symptoms began or worsened after antibiotics — or years of antibiotic use — Candida should be strongly considered.

Antibiotics kill bacteria, not yeast.

5. Yeast Infections or Oral Thrush

Recurring vaginal yeast infections, coated tongue, or oral thrush do not come from IBS.

They often point toward a larger Candida picture.

PART 5 — Why So Many Candida Patients Are Told They Have IBS

When tests are normal and symptoms persist, many providers default to IBS.

The problem is that most doctors are not trained to recognize intestinal Candida, and the tests often miss it.

So patients are told:

• “It’s IBS.”

• “It’s stress.”

• “It’s anxiety.”

• “You’ll just have to manage it.”

Meanwhile, the underlying cause goes untreated.

PART 6 — How We Tell the Difference in Practice

At the IBS Treatment Center, we don’t stop at labels.

We look at:

• Symptom patterns

• Medical history (especially antibiotic exposure)

• Targeted testing

• And how symptoms respond to treatment

• And we have decades of experience helping people treat both IBS and Candida.

This is why we’ve helped thousands of patients who were told, “This is just IBS.”  We never say that.

FINAL MESSAGE

If you’ve been diagnosed with IBS but:

• treatments haven’t worked

• your symptoms don’t fully make sense

• or you also have cravings, fatigue, brain fog, sinus or skin issues

• or you simply haven’t gotten your IBS resolved

Candida may be the missing piece.

This is exactly what we do at the IBS Treatment Center.

We work with patients across the U.S. and around the world through telemedicine, and we’ve been doing this since 2005.

And I personally guarantee that we can help you too. So give us a call.

And remember — take good care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.

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