Gut Issues but Normal Test Results? Here's Why.
- Dr. Melissa Bucking, ND
- Apr 10
- 4 min read
You’re Not Crazy—You’re Just Not Being Heard
Struggling with gut issues but your test results keep coming back “normal”? You're not alone—and you're not imagining it.
I remember the frustration of feeling awful, only to be told by doctors that everything looked fine. It’s a strange and painful place to be—wishing something would show up on a test, just so you could finally have an answer.
Over the years, I’ve worked with countless patients who’ve experienced the same thing: bloating, discomfort, irregular digestion, fatigue—yet every blood test and scan says there’s “nothing wrong.”
The truth? Standard blood testing often doesn’t show what’s actually going on in your gut. They were not going to give us specific answers anyways. Let's break down why they don't give us answers, where we should look instead, and how to start feeling better—even when the labs don’t give us clear answers.
Why Bloodwork Often Misses Gut Health Problems
The digestive system is complex—and relatively self-contained. Most routine blood tests are designed to screen for systemic diseases, organ damage, or major imbalances.
But gut dysfunction doesn’t always show up there, especially if the issue is related to things like:
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Heartburn & GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
Constipation
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
Leaky gut or intestinal permeability
Microbiome imbalance
Functional motility issues
These are all problems related to the function of the gut and we simply don’t have good tests to assess this.
Unless you’re dealing with something acute—like severe inflammation or infection—your bloodwork can look completely normal while your gut is in distress.
The good news here, is that blood tests are pretty good at ruling out those specific problems, which means we can focus on improving your digestive function without having to worry about other problems.
What Tests Do Help With Gut Health Issues?
The answer here can be surprisingly simple. We don’t always need to do a test to understand what is going on.
This can feel frustrating. It can feel like your health care provider is just being “lazy.” But generally, it’s because we don’t want to put you through unnecessary tests if we don’t need them to help you feel better.
Conditions like IBS are real and debilitating even if the tests are normal.
When we do test, the tests tend to be more involved than simple blood work.
These are the most common labs you’d see when assessing the gut:
Stool testing – to assess infection and inflammation
Breath tests – especially for diagnosing SIBO or H. Pylori
Endoscopies or colonoscopies – useful for structural or inflammatory bowel diseases
Once these are done, if they need to be done, and you’re left again with a normal report – it’s time to move forward and get you feeling better.
So What Does Help? Listening to Your Body.
Here’s what I’ve learned: Your symptoms tell a story that tests can’t always capture.
When do your symptoms show up? What makes them worse? What brings even slight relief?
How you feel, when you feel it, and the patterns behind those experiences are powerful clues.
And the first step to decoding them? Someone needs to actually sit down and listen.
I don’t start with the fanciest tests. I start with your story—because that’s where the answers lie and the healing begins.
Dysfunction in the gut is going to impact how you show up in your life. You don't need a test to tell you that you are suffering. You need support and strategy to feel better and this does not need answers from a test.
Building the Foundations of a Healthy Gut
Most gut conditions fall into the broad category of functional gastrointestinal disorders. This simply means things are not working as they should.
We also have lots of specific evidence on how to support and improve all these conditions. They just require some strategy.
In my practice, I focus on this strategy and on making it simple and realistic. Nothing overly complicated. I want long-term results for you.
These are the areas we should be focusing on:
Nourishing and abundant diet (not restriction)
Regulating the nervous system and managing stress
Optimizing your sleep quality
Supporting healthy hormone health
Moving your body intentionally
These foundational steps are often overlooked—but they’re where real transformation happens. They are simple, powerful, and lasting.
Still Feeling Sick with Normal Test Results? You're Not Alone.
If you've been told that “everything looks fine” but you know in your gut (literally) that something’s off—you’re not imagining it. And you don’t need to keep pushing through on your own.
You deserve care that goes beyond lab results. You deserve someone who takes your experience seriously, listens to your story, and works with you to find a path forward—with or without a test result to guide the way.
If you're in Ontario and looking for that kind of support, I’d love to connect with you.
I offer virtual discovery calls so we can talk about what’s been going on and explore how we might help you start feeling better—gently, realistically, and in a way that fits your life.
👉 Book your free discovery call here
Let’s get you feeling better. For real. 💛
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