IBS-C (Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation) is a chronic condition that disrupts how your gut works—causing abdominal pain, bloating, and infrequent, hard-to-pass stools. It can seriously impact your quality of life, and finding the right treatment is often a journey filled with ups and downs.

So, how do you get relief from IBS-C symptoms without feeling like you’re back at square one?

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Bryan Curtin, Director of The Center for Neurogastroenterology and GI Motility at The Melissa L. Posner Institute for Digestive Health & Liver Disease at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. Together, we discuss:

• Why managing IBS-C often requires some trial and error
  
  

• What to do when progress isn’t perfect
  
  

• Signs it might be time to adjust your treatment plan
  
  

• Practical tips to prepare for your next appointment—so you can have more productive conversations with your provider
  
  

This episode is made possible with support from Ardelyx.

We’re joined by Tedra Gray, a seasoned Advanced Practice Provider, who shares real-world examples and practical advice for patients navigating chronic reflux, Barrett’s Esophagus, or treatment follow-up.

You’ll learn:

• Why early diagnosis and follow-up matter

• What can happen if Barrett’s Esophagus is left untreated

• How shared decision-making helps build the right care plan

• The different approaches for patients at low, moderate, or high risk

Whether you're newly diagnosed or managing long-term reflux, this episode offers compassionate, expert-backed guidance to help you feel informed and empowered.

Missed the earlier episodes? Catch up here:
Part 1 – From Reflux to Risk: How Heartburn and GERD Could Lead to Esophageal Cancer https://gastrogirl.com/podcast/from-reflux-to-risk-how-heartburn-and-gerd-could-lead-to-esophageal-cancer/

Part 2 – Barrett’s Esophagus: The Hidden Risk of Chronic Heartburn
https://gastrogirl.com/podcast/barretts-esophagus-the-hidden-risk-of-chronic-heartburn/

Part 3 – Managing Barrett’s Esophagus: Treatments and Risk Reduction
https://gastrogirl.com/podcast/managing-barretts-esophagus-treatments-risk-reduction/

This series is sponsored by Castle Biosciences and produced in collaboration with leading clinicians and researchers committed to improving patient outcomes.

In Part 3 of our 4-part series on GERD and Barrett’s Esophagus, we’re joined by Dr. Caitlin Houghton, a foregut surgeon with Keck Medicine of USC, to discuss what happens after Barrett’s Esophagus is diagnosed—and how patients can reduce their cancer risk and manage the condition effectively.

From reflux control to endoscopic eradication therapy (EET), and in some cases, surgery, Dr. Houghton breaks down the latest treatment strategies and what patients need to know. This episode offers practical advice, expert insights, and real hope for those navigating life with Barrett’s.

Topics include:

• What Barrett’s Esophagus is and why it matters
  
  

• How doctors decide when and how to treat
  
  

• The role of EET, medications, and lifestyle changes
  
  

• When surgery may be necessary
  
  

• Tips for patients to advocate for their care
  
  

Missed the earlier episodes? Catch up here:
Part 1 – From Reflux to Risk: How Heartburn and GERD Could Lead to Esophageal Cancer
https://gastrogirl.com/podcast/from-reflux-to-risk-how-heartburn-and-gerd-could-lead-to-esophageal-cancer/

Part 2 – Barrett’s Esophagus: The Hidden Risk of Chronic Heartburn
https://gastrogirl.com/podcast/barretts-esophagus-the-hidden-risk-of-chronic-heartburn/

This series is sponsored by Castle Biosciences and produced in collaboration with leading clinicians and researchers committed to improving patient outcomes.