Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is both incredibly common and incredibly poorly managed – with chronic symptoms shrouded in shame and stigma. 

Many have tried restrictive diets, over-the-counter medications and probiotics, food sensitivity tests and more… with little improvement. Meanwhile, the symptoms continue: abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea, urgency, anxiety, fear of eating, withdrawal from social life. 

If you’re alongside the 10-15% of Americans who suffer with IBS – you don’t have to live like this, and you shouldn't have to figure this all out on your own. We see you, and offer a better path… starting with diagnosis. 

Diagnosis: check 2 out of 3 boxes 

One of the most frequent myths we hear from patients is that IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion. Translation: if a colonoscopy and imaging don’t reveal anything, then your condition is likely IBS. This costs you time…in delayed treatment, prolonged suffering, missed work for invasive (and expensive) procedures that actually don’t align with the current standard-of-care. 

Our country’s healthcare system has not caught up with what we’ve learned about digestive health. A positive diagnosis of IBS – in absence of other alarm symptoms, we start treating you and confirm the diagnosis through your response – is even recommended by the American College of Gastroenterology. However it’s not widely practiced. 

Diagnosing IBS can often be achieved in one intake visit. The criteria is clear and straightforward. An IBS diagnosis is likely if you have recurrent abdominal pain at least 1 day per week, associated with at least 2 of the following criteria: 

• Bowel movements 
• Changes in bowel movement frequency
• Changes in stool form

Your Firefly care team will refer you to Oshi Health, whose specialized digestive care team wastes no time in building a care plan and working toward getting your symptoms under control. 

A guided journey to health 

When Firefly members work with Oshi Health, they get access to an entire team of specialists that includes dietitians and behavioral health providers, led by gastroenterologists. 

This integrated care team works together to determine your unique root causes and how to keep your symptoms at bay. They’ll help you understand your own food, stress and anxiety triggers. Your care team is supporting you all the way, with telehealth appointments and messaging a click away. This type of integrated care is perfectly suited to virtual care. It’s convenient and easily accessible and – with the right care and interventions – can get you to symptom control faster. 

90% of folks working with Oshi Health are able to achieve sustainable symptom control in 10 weeks or less. One year later, we hear from former patients that the care they received has changed their life.  

The Firefly + Oshi difference 

Virtual primary care provides two unique advantages. First, our care team creates safe space to discuss your health concerns. Second, our collective data reveals the true impact of health issues. Through both lenses, our clinical team sees digestive health as one of the most common complaints. 

In our mutual mission to redesign care – during #IBSAwarenessMonth and all year round – we tackle the stereotypes and embarrassment associated with digestive health so that people feel confident in seeking help and solutions.

Together, we can make a difference for you.