Gut health with Dr Stavy
Gut symptoms.A clearer next step.
Gut health assessment with Dr Stavy brings your symptoms, past results and current treatment into one visit. It helps decide whether a further test, specialist referral or a plan without more testing is appropriate. This is a functional medicine consultation for persistent digestive concerns in London or online.
- 20 years
- of medical experience
- London & online
- Consultations with Dr Stavy
- From £200
- Functional medicine consultation.
Laboratory tests cost extra.
Which question brought you here?
Dr Stavy offers consultations for gut and digestive concerns. You can ask about lasting symptoms, what past results mean or whether another test would help. The visit starts with your story. You do not have to choose a test package.
Bloating, discomfort, constipation and diarrhoea describe symptoms. They do not, on their own, identify the cause. The doctor looks at the pattern and the possible causes together. [2][3]
This page explains gut-health care within doctor-led functional medicine in London. You can read the assessment approach below before deciding whether to enquire.
How does Dr Stavy decide what to do next?
Dr Stavy reviews the history, existing results and current treatment before considering more tests. A test should answer a defined clinical question or have a reasonable chance of changing the next step. Sometimes the appropriate decision is referral, standard investigation or no additional testing.
This is how Dr Stavy approaches gut-health visits. The aim is to use what you already know to help decide what comes next. There may be more than one cause. You may not need more tests.
You still need advice about your own care. Guidance on suspected IBS supports making a diagnosis from the symptom pattern and a few well-chosen tests. It does not support an open-ended search through every test on offer. [3]
Meet Dr StavyWhat information is useful?
Bring the reports you have and a short account of what has changed. You do not need to make a diagnosis before the consultation.
- Your symptom pattern: when it began, how often it happens and how it affects daily life.
- Previous investigations: blood and stool results, scan or endoscopy reports, and specialist letters, if you have them.
- Current treatment: prescribed medicines, supplements and any food changes you have tried.
- Your main question: what you would like the consultation to help you understand.
If you do not have a report, tell the practice which test you had and where. Ask how to share medical information before sending records.
Why can similar symptoms need different care?
Different gut problems can cause similar symptoms. Bloating does not establish SIBO, and a doctor needs to assess possible IBS. A test should address a question about your symptoms and past health, rather than the label on a test package. [2][3]
| Concern | What the assessment considers | A useful limit to understand |
|---|---|---|
| Possible IBS | Abdominal pain linked to bowel movements, with a change in stool frequency or form. IBS means irritable bowel syndrome. | Doctors can make a positive clinical diagnosis with selected checks. IBS does not require every possible test. [3] |
| Bloating and possible SIBO | SIBO means small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: too many bacteria in the small bowel. Testing may be considered in selected patients at risk. | Bloating alone is not a reason for routine SIBO testing. Breath tests have a limited, situation-specific role. [2][3] |
| Persistent diarrhoea | Selected blood or stool tests may help assess conditions such as coeliac disease or bowel inflammation. | A symptom label is not a substitute for checking whether another condition needs investigation. [3] |
| New concerning changes | Bleeding, unexplained weight loss, lasting bowel changes or worsening symptoms need medical assessment. | The appropriate route may be prompt GP or specialist care. Do not wait for a routine gut-health consultation. [2][4] |
What does IBS mean?
IBS is a disorder of gut-brain interaction: the way the gut and brain send signals to each other forms part of the problem. It does not mean that the symptoms are imaginary. The British Society of Gastroenterology’s guideline describes food changes, medicines and talking therapies as part of IBS care. [1]
Is specialist care sometimes the next step?
Yes. Some findings need tests or review by a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specialises in the digestive system. The choice depends on the symptoms, the examination and past results. The AGA review advises more tests for concerning signs, a recent change for the worse or unusual findings on examination. [2]
Would more testing help?
More testing helps only when it can answer a useful clinical question. Dr Stavy reviews the information already available before considering more tests. She may advise no further tests if they would not help decide what to do next.
You do not need to buy a microbiome test or choose a test package before asking about a consultation. Bring any results you already have. At the visit, you can ask what more tests might add.
Functional Medicine Testing and DiagnosticsWhat can standard investigations contribute?
Standard tests can answer useful questions. In suspected IBS, selected blood tests can check for coeliac disease, an immune reaction to gluten, or signs of inflammation. Stool testing may help assess bowel inflammation when there is a reason to suspect it. The right checks depend on the person; this is not a test list to order for yourself. [3]
When might a breath test be useful?
A breath test measures gases in breath samples. Some tests assess how the body handles some sugars; others may help investigate SIBO in selected patients. Those are different clinical questions. The AGA review describes SIBO testing for a small group of people at risk, while Black’s review advises against routine breath testing in suspected IBS. [2][3]
What if previous tests were normal?
Discuss what the tests checked and what is still unclear. A normal result relates to what that test can check; it does not explain every possible symptom. In suspected IBS, clinicians use the history and selected checks to make a diagnosis. Repeating tests or adding more without a clear reason may add cost without helping the next decision. [3]
What should I ask before paying for a test?
Ask what the test is intended to find out, how a result could change your care and what its limits are. Ask about the full cost, including any appointment to interpret the result. Dr Stavy’s approved approach allows for standard investigation, referral or no additional testing, depending on the clinical question.
How should food changes fit into the plan?
Food changes should suit your symptoms and have a clear purpose. If you are thinking about a diet that cuts out foods for bloating, the AGA review recommends support from a dietitian who works with gut problems. Cutting out foods is not the first step for everyone with gut symptoms. [2]
A low-FODMAP diet limits certain fermentable carbohydrates: sugars that can be poorly absorbed and broken down by gut bacteria. The guidance includes it as one option. It cannot tell you the cause of every symptom. Ask a qualified professional if it is right for you and how they would check your progress. [2]
You can bring notes about meals, bowel habits and symptoms to help describe the pattern. Include changes you have already tried and anything you found hard to keep up. These notes can help you describe what happens. They do not prove that one food caused your symptoms.
What does a consultation cost?
Functional medicine consultations from £200. Laboratory tests are charged separately. Ask the practice to confirm the fee, format and availability for your appointment, including any follow-up costs.
London and online consultations are available. Ask if an online visit would suit your needs. An appointment request is followed by confirmation from the practice; it does not reserve a time.
See consultation feesFunctional medicine consultation
From£200
Laboratory tests are charged separately.
Request an appointmentPrefer to call? 020 8040 4744
What patients say about Dr Stavy
Read patient feedback in its original context on Google, then compare it with the service, clinician and fee information on this site. Individual reviews describe personal experiences and do not predict clinical outcomes.
What else would you like to know?
Can I book if I do not have a diagnosis?
Yes. You can ask about a consultation for persistent digestive concerns without having a diagnosis or choosing a test first. Dr Stavy reviews your history, existing results and current treatment before considering next steps. If you have symptoms that need urgent assessment, use the medical-help routes above rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Can Dr Stavy review results from another doctor?
Dr Stavy’s approach includes reviewing existing results and current treatment before considering more tests. Bring the reports you have, along with relevant letters and your main questions. A previous result forms part of the discussion; it does not automatically mean a test needs repeating or that every possible cause has been assessed.
Does bloating mean I have SIBO?
Bloating alone does not establish SIBO, which means small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Symptoms overlap with other digestive problems. The AGA review describes breath testing for selected patients at risk, while routine testing is not recommended in suspected IBS. A clinician should assess the symptom pattern and the reason for testing before you choose a test. [2][3]
Will I need a microbiome test or a specialist panel?
You do not need to choose or buy a test package before asking about a consultation. Dr Stavy reviews the history, prior results and current treatment first. Any proposed test should answer a defined question or have a reasonable chance of changing the next step. Referral, standard investigation or no additional testing may be appropriate.
Are laboratory tests included in the consultation fee?
No. Functional medicine consultations start from £200, and laboratory tests are charged separately. Ask the practice about the cost of any proposed investigation and any appointment needed to discuss the result. Confirm the fee and format for your own consultation when you enquire, so you understand the costs before deciding.
Can I have a gut-health consultation online?
Dr Stavy offers London and online consultations. Ask the practice whether an online appointment is suitable for your circumstances. You may need an in-person examination, a local investigation or another care route, depending on the problem. An online consultation is not an emergency service; use local urgent-care services if you need urgent help.
Should I cut out more foods before my appointment?
You do not need to arrive having tried a restrictive diet. Bring a description of your usual food pattern, symptoms and any exclusions you already follow. If a restrictive diet is considered, discuss its purpose and appropriate support. The AGA review recommends dietitian monitoring when dietary changes such as a low-FODMAP diet are needed. [2]
Research and source notes
- British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome Vasant and colleagues (2021). Gut. DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-324598.
- AGA Clinical Practice Update on Evaluation and Management of Belching, Abdominal Bloating, and Distention: Expert Review. Moshiree, Drossman and Shaukat (2023). Gastroenterology. DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.04.039.
- Review article: Diagnosis and investigation of irritable bowel syndrome Black (2021). Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. DOI: 10.1111/apt.16597.
- Clinical value of alarm features for colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis Frazzoni and colleagues (2022). Endoscopy. DOI: 10.1055/a-1961-4266.
Clinical research records accessed through Consensus on 6 September 2026. The AGA paper is an expert review; its advice statements do not carry formal evidence grades. The IBS guideline record was available as an abstract. This page does not reproduce detailed treatment protocols.
Clinical lead: Dr Stavroula Nikitopoulou. Original article published 30 April 2023. Updated: 6 September 2026.
Bring the questions you still have.
Ask about a consultation with Dr Stavy. Continue to discuss health concerns with your usual clinician.