Conditions we treat
Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI)
Abdominal pain, IBS, functional dyspepsia, chronic nausea, cyclic vomiting, and constipation, especially when you’ve been told nothing is structurally wrong.
See it
Why normal tests can still mean real pain
Digestion sends a steady stream of signals to the brain. Most of them are filtered out, so normal digestion goes unnoticed.
Normal tests don’t mean nothing is wrong. In disorders of gut-brain interaction like IBS and abdominal pain syndromes, tests can look normal while the nervous system turns ordinary gut signals up into real pain.
A simplified illustration of visceral hypersensitivity, one of several factors in these conditions.
The gut’s second brain
Your gut has its own nervous system, often called the second brain. It holds more nerve cells than anywhere in the body except the brain, and the two are in constant conversation. That’s why gut symptoms are so often part of a bigger picture that includes headaches, dizziness, sleep, mood, and pain elsewhere.
Gut symptoms are especially common in autistic and neurodivergent kids and young adults, and they’re often missed, because pain and nausea can be hard to describe or show up as changes in eating, sleep, or behavior.
Our approach includes
- Evaluation of the gut-brain axis
- Constipation and bowel management
- IB-Stim (percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation)
- Dietary and nutritional strategies
- Treatment for the nervous system side of gut symptoms
- Targeted medication and supplement protocols
- Testing and treatment for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) when symptoms point to it
- Functional lab testing, including organic acid testing and GI-MAP microbiome analysis
How we approach it
We treat gut symptoms in the context of the whole person, because in our patients they rarely travel alone.
Abdominal pain often comes with migraine, anxiety, fatigue, POTS, and hypermobility, and it’s common in autistic patients. We also check for abdominal wall pain, which is often mistaken for a gut problem.
Constipation and belly pain often travel with pelvic floor dysfunction, when the muscles that control bowel movements tighten instead of relaxing. Getting those muscles to coordinate again is often part of the fix, so we screen for it and work with pelvic floor physical therapists.
- One plan that covers the gut and everything connected to it
- Constipation and bowel management
- Checking for abdominal wall pain that can mimic or worsen gut pain
- Screening for pelvic floor dysfunction and coordination with pelvic floor physical therapy
- Coordination with your gastroenterologist when you have one
- Practical strategies for eating, school, and activity
- Device, medication, and nervous system treatments used together
About IB-Stim. IB-Stim is a small, drug-free device worn behind the ear that stimulates nerves connected to the brain’s pain pathways. It is FDA-cleared for patients ages 8 to 21 with functional abdominal pain associated with IBS and with functional dyspepsia. Read more about IB-Stim.
Often travels with
Gut symptoms rarely travel alone in our patients.
Questions families ask
What is a disorder of gut-brain interaction?
A problem in how the gut, its nervous system, and the brain work together, involving things like gut sensitivity, movement, the microbiome, and immune signaling, rather than a visible structural problem like a blockage. That’s why scopes and scans can look normal while the symptoms are very real.
Why are gut problems so often part of a bigger picture?
Because the gut has more nerve cells than anywhere outside the brain and is wired directly to it. The same nervous system that sets pain levels, heart rate, and sleep also runs digestion, so gut symptoms often travel with headaches, dizziness, anxiety, and pain elsewhere.
Are gut problems more common in autism?
Yes. Abdominal pain, constipation, and other gut symptoms are more common in autistic kids and young adults, and they are often missed because they can show up as changes in eating, sleep, or behavior rather than complaints of pain.
What is IB-Stim?
A non-surgical, drug-free device placed behind the ear and worn for several days at a time, once a week for four weeks. It sends gentle electrical signals to nerves in the ear that connect to pain-processing areas of the brain. It is FDA-cleared for ages 8 to 21 with functional abdominal pain associated with IBS and with functional dyspepsia.
Is my child’s pain “in their head”?
No. The pain is real and comes from real changes in how the gut and nervous system communicate. Stress and anxiety can turn the volume up, which is why we treat the nervous system along with the gut.
Terminology from the Rome V criteria for disorders of gut-brain interaction (Rome Foundation, 2026). IB-Stim indication from the FDA 510(k) clearances (functional abdominal pain associated with IBS, ages 8 to 21; functional dyspepsia, 2025).
Ready to start?
Book online in a few minutes. No referral needed. We see children, teens, and young adults up to age 30 in Greenville, Charlotte, and by telehealth in SC and NC.