Many people living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis assume that if symptoms improve, their disease is under control. But with inflammatory bowel disease, inflammation can sometimes continue silently, even when you feel okay.

In this episode of Gastro Girl, Jacqueline Gaulin speaks with IBD expert Dr. Jessica Allegretti about what IBD may be affecting inside the body and why symptom relief is not always the same as healing.

They discuss the difference between feeling better and achieving remission, why ongoing monitoring matters, how flares can develop, and how proactive care may help protect long-term health.

This conversation is designed to help patients better understand what may be happening inside their bodies and feel more informed when talking with their healthcare team.

This education initiative is sponsored by Merck.

After a Barrett's esophagus diagnosis, many patients ask: What happens next—and do I need treatment?

In this episode, foregut surgeon Dr. Caitlin Houghton of Keck Medicine of USC explains how Barrett's esophagus is treated in the United States and how doctors work to reduce the risk of progression to esophageal cancer.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How doctors decide when treatment is needed
• The role of reflux control, medications, and lifestyle changes
• When endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) may be recommended
• When surgery may be considered
• Why ongoing surveillance is important for long-term care

If you or someone you love has Barrett's esophagus, chronic GERD, or long-term acid reflux, this episode provides practical, evidence-based guidance to help you better understand your options.

This episode is part of a 4-part patient education series sponsored by Castle Biosciences and produced by Gastro Girl in collaboration with leading U.S. clinicians dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Preparing for a colonoscopy may not be anyone's favorite part of colorectal cancer screening, but proper colonoscopy prep is one of the most important factors in detecting precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer early.

In this episode, Jacqueline Gaulin sits down with leading gastroenterologist Dr. Fola May to answer common questions about bowel preparation for colonoscopy. Why is colonoscopy prep necessary? What happens if the bowel isn't cleaned properly? Have preparation options improved over the years? And what can patients do to make the process easier?

As a co-author of the latest U.S. Multi-Society Task Force recommendations on bowel preparation for colonoscopy, Dr. May explains how colonoscopy prep has evolved to become more effective and patient-friendly. She discusses lower-volume bowel prep options, updated dietary recommendations, and practical strategies to help patients achieve a high-quality prep and avoid repeat procedures.

In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ Why bowel preparation is essential for an effective colonoscopy
✅ How poor prep can impact polyp and cancer detection
✅ Newer low-volume colonoscopy prep options
✅ Updated diet recommendations before a colonoscopy
✅ Tips for improving your colonoscopy prep experience
✅ How proper prep helps improve colorectal cancer screening outcomes

Whether you're preparing for your first colonoscopy or looking for the latest guidance on bowel preparation, this episode provides expert insights to help you feel more confident and informed.

This episode is brought to you in collaboration with the American College of Gastroenterology Patient Care Committee.

If you've tried medications, diet changes, fiber supplements, or other therapies for IBS-C and still aren't feeling better, you're not alone.

Many people with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) feel frustrated when symptoms persist despite treatment. But when treatments don't work, it may be time to take a closer look at what's really going on.

In this episode of the Gastro Girl Podcast, Jacqueline Gaulin sits down with Dr. William D. Chey, world-renowned gastroenterologist at the University of Michigan and President of the American College of Gastroenterology, to discuss what patients should do when IBS-C treatments fail.

Dr. Chey explains why some patients continue to struggle, what conditions may be overlooked, and how to work with your healthcare provider to develop a more effective plan.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ Why IBS-C treatments may not always work as expected

✅ When it's time to rethink your diagnosis

✅ The role of pelvic floor dysfunction and other overlooked conditions

✅ Questions to ask your healthcare provider

✅ How to take the next step toward better symptom control

✅ Why you don't have to settle for ongoing symptoms

Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with IBS-C for years, this episode offers practical insights to help you move forward with confidence.

Learn more at GastroGirl.com.

This episode is sponsored by Ardelyx.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently updated its colorectal cancer screening recommendations, adding new stool-based and blood-based screening options.

What's changed in the new American Cancer Society screening recommendations
• New stool DNA and stool RNA screening tests
• The role of blood-based cancer screening tests
• Why colonoscopy remains the gold standard
• Why a follow-up colonoscopy is still needed after a positive screening test
• Screening recommendations for adults ages 45–75
• The rise in colorectal cancer among younger adults and what patients should know

The most important takeaway? Colorectal cancer is highly preventable, and the best screening test is the one that gets completed.

This episode is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice from your healthcare provider.

What exactly is Barrett's esophagus—and how do doctors determine who may be at higher risk?

In Part 2 of this 4-part patient education series, leading gastroenterologist and advanced endoscopist Raman Muthusamy explains how Barrett's esophagus develops from chronic GERD and how it's diagnosed and evaluated in clinical practice in the United States.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✔️ What Barrett's esophagus is
✔️ How chronic acid reflux can affect the esophagus
✔️ How Barrett's is diagnosed during endoscopy
✔️ How doctors assess risk for progression to cancer
✔️ Why early detection matters
✔️ How GI specialists guide treatment and follow-up care

If you or someone you love experiences long-standing heartburn, reflux, or GERD symptoms, this episode provides trusted, expert-backed information to help you better understand Barrett's esophagus and what comes next.

This episode is part of a 4-part patient education series sponsored by Castle Biosciences and produced in collaboration with leading U.S. clinicians dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Why does one IBS-C treatment work for someone else—but not for you?

In this episode of the Gastro Girl podcast, leading gastroenterologist Darren M. Brenner. MD, FACG, of Northwestern Medicine, explains why treating IBS-C (irritable bowel syndrome with constipation) is not one-size-fits-all.

Using a real-world patient scenario, Dr. Brenner breaks down what may actually be happening inside the body—from gut motility and visceral sensitivity to the brain-gut connection—and why different therapies target different symptoms and pathways.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why some IBS-C treatments don't work—or stop working over time

• How over-the-counter and prescription therapies differ

• What newer treatment approaches are designed to do

• Why bloating, pain, and constipation may require different strategies

• The role of diet, pelvic floor therapy, and gut-brain interventions

• How patients can work with their healthcare team to find the right treatment plan

If you've ever felt frustrated, stuck, or unsure about your IBS-C treatment journey, this episode offers practical insights to help you better understand your options and feel more empowered in your care.

This episode is part of an educational program made possible by support from Ardelyx.

What if your bowel habits aren't as healthy as you think?

In this episode of Gastro Girl, we're joined by Dr. Trisha Pasricha, author of You've Been Pooping All Wrong: How to Make Your Bowel Movements a Joy. She breaks down what most people get wrong about bowel movements—and shares simple, science-backed strategies to improve comfort, regularity, and overall digestive health.

From daily habits to the brain-gut connection, we explore what truly supports healthy digestion—and when it's time to seek medical advice.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What actually defines a "normal" bowel movement

• Why frequency alone doesn't tell the full story

• How lifestyle factors influence digestion

• Practical tips for more comfortable, consistent bowel movements

• Red flags you shouldn't ignore

Whether you're dealing with constipation, irregularity, or just want to better understand your gut, this episode offers clear, evidence-based insights you can trust.