The following questions should serve as reminders for the next discussion with your doctor. 

1. Am I seriously ill?
2. Can illnesses such as chronically inflammatory intestinal illnesses and intestinal cancer be ruled out?
3. Are you a specialist for my illness?
4. What diagnostics now have to be done? What is necessary?
5. Can the necessary diagnostics (e.g. colonoscopy/gastroscopy) be carried out on me? Or do I have to be sent over to the hospital?
   Would a stay in a special clinic make any sense?
6. Would a gastric-colonoscopy make sense in my case or is it even necessary?
7. How can you alleviate my illness? Or is there a causal therapy?
8.  What can I do? Do I have to change my diet? Do I have to completely do without alcohol?
9. Am I still allowed to take other medications (e.g. for treatment of other ailments)?
10. Are there local self-help groups?
11. Can relaxation exercises help me? Where can I learn them?

If you feel depressed and you do not know how to talk to your doctor about this, the following questions can assist you and will help you to address your doctor about the right problems: 

1. When you think of your daily routine– where are you constricted to the most due to IBS?
2. Have you already given up leisure activities because of IBS? 
3. Have you already at least once had trouble with or at your job because of IBS? 
4. Has the illness had an effect on your relationship and your sexual life?
5. When and with whom can you speak openly to about your illness?
6. Are you satisfied with the results of past therapy?