Gut Health Q&A with Gillian Killiner, Specialist Dietician

We are delighted to welcome Gillian Killiner, Specialist Dietician to our Membership Portal as she gives us the low down on everything we should be looking our for when it comes to our gut health. Gillian answers your questions and talks us through steps you can take if you are experiencing issues with your gut health. She also discusses warning signs of bad gut health, how our gut health can affect our mental health and how to access help if required. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and some generic questions 04:55 "I've had bowel problems for years, in the past few weeks I've also had some pain on the upper right of my stomach. The last few days I've noticed I have really bad breath, I haven't changed my oral hygiene habits. Is there any chance this is connected to my bowel issues?" 06:40 "I started getting haemorrhoids during pregnancy, I've never had them before. I still get them now that my child is four. I've lost all the baby weight and I'm otherwise back to my normal healthy self. I use over the counter creams but it's a reoccurring problem. Is there a reason for this and can I get rid of them permanently?" 08:00 "My mum has suffered all her life with Crohn's disease. Recently I've started getting really sore tummies, cramps and regular bouts of diarrhoea and I'm exhausted all the time. I'm 42 and have been completely healthy until now. Could this be Crohn's? Is it genetic?" 09:36 "I have just been diagnosed with Coeliac disease. They did a blood test and I had to wait weeks for the results but I've heard nothing else. I was told to cut out gluten but I have had no other information. What should I do next? I've already started cutting out gluten but it's a big learning curve." 12:36 "In my teens I was diagnosed with severe depression, which I've kept mostly under control with medication. I'm now in my 30s and I've been recently diagnosed with Coeliac. I've always had a bad gut but never got it checked out. Is there a chance coeliac has exasperated my depression." 14:57 "I am a women who really struggles with my weight. When I was a teen I averaged at about 8 stone and generally felt good about my shape and body. Then something changed in my twenties and I can’t seem to maintain a healthy weight. At my heaviest I was 14 stone (I’m 5ft4). I managed to get that down to 10 stone with diet and exercise but I’ve not been able to maintain or get any more off. I’m up and down all the time. It’s really knocked my confidence but I just don’t know where I’m going wrong." 18:07 "I’ve been losing my appetite slowly but surely over the last couple of years. I can easily have a slice of toast in the morning, nothing all day and maybe a light meal in the evening. I don’t feel at all hungry in between. I wouldn’t mind so much but it is sort of upsetting me when friends go out for meals together and I just don’t want to eat. Is there something sinister going?" 19:24 "What can I do about excessive flatulence? I have nothing else wrong with me I don’t think but for some reason I’m constantly gassy." 21:23 "What really is the best way to lose weight? I’m sick of all the diets!" 23:26 "I suffer from horrid bloating after every meal. I had a colonoscopy a while back and it was all clear but I’m still having issues with bloating and constipation. What would you recommend?" If you would like to book an appointment with Gillian, please text BOOKNOW to 66777. If you would like further information on our Membership Club and its benefits, please email membership@kingsbridgeprivatehospital.com