Gut Health & Stool Testing in Westminster, CO
Bloating, constipation, reflux and gut pain are not normal. They are the digestive system telling you something is off, and a comprehensive stool test is how we find out what.
The Gut Reaches Further Than the Gut
Digestive complaints are among the most common reasons patients come to us, but the gut shows up in cases that do not look digestive at all: eczema and psoriasis, fatigue that sleep does not fix, autoimmune flares, mood swings, stubborn weight. Your gut plays a large role in your immune system, skin, energy and mood, and a compromised digestive tract has far-reaching effects.
That is why we say the skin is a window to the gut, and why a stool test is often the first panel we run even when the complaint is somewhere else.
Reasons we run this panel
- Bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea
- Reflux and stomach pain
- IBS symptoms
- Food sensitivities that keep multiplying
- Eczema, acne, psoriasis
- Chronic fatigue or brain fog
- Autoimmune flare-ups
- Always sick, slow to recover
What the GI Effects Panel Looks At
We partnered with Genova Diagnostics on this panel to get the most comprehensive look at the GI tract we can offer. It is one kit, collected at home, no fasting required.
Digestion & absorption
Markers such as pancreatic elastase show whether you are actually breaking food down and absorbing it, which is where low stomach acid and poor fat digestion show up.
Bacteria & balance
Beneficial bacteria, overgrowth of the wrong ones, and the inflammation markers that follow when the balance is off.
Pathogens & parasites
The parasitology add-on is built in. Infections and parasites are a common hidden driver of symptoms people have carried for years.
Results typically return within three business weeks. Additional add-on markers are not available through the store purchase; if you want extras, contact us and we will order them through the clinic.
What a stool test is not
It is not a colonoscopy, and it does not screen for colon cancer or structural disease. If you have bleeding, unexplained weight loss or a family history that calls for a scope, keep that appointment with your medical provider. This panel is about function: how you digest, what is living in the gut, and what is inflaming it.
How Gut Testing Works
- ConsultationHistory, symptoms, diet, medications. Certain medications can interfere with results, so tell us about all of them.
- Kit shippedCollect at home following the package instructions. No fasting.
- Prepaid returnMail the sample to the lab in the packaging provided.
- Results appointmentYour doctor connects the digestion, bacteria and pathogen findings to your symptoms.
- Gut restoration planSupport digestion, address what is growing, remove food triggers, rebuild. Follow-ups track the change.
Patients on Gut Care
"Wellness Way has been a wonderful addition to my life this past year! I initially became a patient to work on my digestive system and soon realized how many great services they offer."
— Patient review
"I've seen amazing improvements in my digestion and hormones. I'm so thankful to have a place that can actually interpret my labs and explain what's going on."
— Rhi M., patient
A pattern we see often: a patient comes in for skin, we run the stool test and a food panel together, and the report shows poor fat digestion, low stomach acid and high inflammation markers. Fixing digestion first is what lets the food changes and the skin work stick.
Pricing
$445 for the kit and report. $845 including the results and interpretation appointment. Existing patients use the $400 read appointment. No draw fee: it is a home collection.
Who provides this care: Dr. Shannon Bundy, DC and Dr. Ivan Palou, DC at The Wellness Way Westminster. Testing is available in the clinic or remotely across Colorado and nationwide. New patient exam: $99 for a limited time (regularly $175).
Questions People Ask Us
Is the stool test embarrassing or hard to do?
It is a small at-home collection with clear instructions and a sealed return kit. Most patients say it was easier than they expected.
Do I need to stop probiotics or medications first?
Keep taking prescribed medications and tell us about them. The package instructions explain what to pause before collecting; read them before you start.
Should I test food sensitivities at the same time?
Often yes. Poor digestion and food reactions feed each other, and seeing both explains why symptoms started. See the food allergy and sensitivity testing page.
How long until results?
Typically three business weeks after the lab receives the sample.
Can children do this test?
Yes. Gut testing is common for kids with eczema, allergies or digestive complaints; ask at the consultation.
Related Pages
Find Out What Your Gut Is Doing
Order the GI Effects kit, or book a $99 exam so your doctor can decide whether gut, food or both should be tested first.
The Wellness Way Westminster · 12050 N Pecos St Ste 208, Westminster, CO 80023 · (720) 379-7255