I left you again. I’m sorry. Problem is, I haven’t been feeling so hot. It seems like just when I get one ailment under control, another pops up in it’s place. I am not here to throw a pity party, I’m mostly here to make excuses for why I have neglected my blog and it’s readers.
There are no recipes here and no pictures. It’s probably a pretty dry read and if you want to skip it, that’s a-okay with me. I plan to have a recipe for you tomorrow and you can check back for it then.
This entry is a bit of a primer on my main health issues and how I ended up here. SIBO (I think) is what caused the symptoms that made me decide to try an elimination diet and what led to me becoming the gluten freebie you now know and love. Once I cut out the gluten, the SIBO seemingly went away for quite a while and I was feeling pretty durn good and pretty durn proud of myself for being able to eschew the ingredient that lurks within almost all of my favorite foods. Now, it seems, SIBO has found me. Even without gluten as it’s guide. I’m feeling those symptoms that drove me to the doctor the first time. I will try not to be too graphic but I get asked about this stuff a lot. If you are acutely sensitive to discussions of an intestinal nature, maybe skip this section. I know I use the internet as a resource to find others who are experiencing symptoms like me and I want to add my voice to the growing discussion about SIBO and how to deal with it and I also want to help educate people who might recognize these symptoms in themselves or might just be curious about what people with SIBO experience.
Here are some of the symptoms that have returned to let me know that my intestines are once again overpopulated by sugar-hungry bacteria.
1. Noises. These bacteria like to party and it makes my stomach sound like there are lions in there having a nice long chat about the rain in Spain or something.
2. Gas. I will leave it at that so those of you who know me in real life can continue to look me in the eye.
3. A swinging pendulum of bathroom issues. I think that sums it up nicely.
4. Cravings like you would not believe for carbs of all kinds, rice, g-free pasta, chips, fruit. I want it all, all the time.
5. Tightness or pain in my stomach
6. Feeling like I swallowed a few gallons of wet cement and they hardened in my digestive tract
7. Fatness. The first time I had SIBO I gained about 25 lbs in about a month. It was scary. This time around, I haven’t gained that much weight that quickly but I bloat very easily and pants that fit me with room to spare one day will be impossible to zip the next.
8. A hard to describe feeling of being unwell. Just not feeling like myself.
9. Feeling tired and easily worn out
The first time I went through these symptoms I took a hydrogen breath test (then four subsequent tests to determine if my bacteria levels were back to normal.) The test consists of not eating after eight PM the day before then drinking a cup of sugar solution in the doctors office. For four hours you sit in the doctors office, breathing into a tube every twenty minutes. The test measures how much hydrogen is produced by the bacteria in your system processing the sugar solution. The first time I took the test, it was clear to the doctor that I had SIBO. He put me on my first round of very expensive antibiotics then tested me again, My levels were even higher. We tried a combo of two different types of antibiotics and my levels tested higher still. Finally, after months of tears and frustration I had a blood test done on my own time and my own dime (no help from insurance) to determine if I might have food intolerances that might be causing these bacteria to continue to multiply. The test results provided me with some lists, one of food to avoid completely for 6 months, one of food to avoid completely for three months and one of food to rotate and only eat once every three days.
With this information I went on a very strict rotation diet for 6 months. I did not eat any wheat, onions, garlic, almonds and apricots and I limited dozens of other foods. Sounds random, I know but I was desperate at this point. After a few weeks on the diet, the weight began to melt off and symptoms began to dissipate. I went back to the doctor for a breath test and this time, even though I didn’t take any antibiotics, my SIBO test was negative, the bacteria levels in my small intestine had returned to normal. My doctor was pretty surprised, he didn’t think cutting out gluten would make any difference but it was obvious that it had.
In my research I have learned that gluten intolerance can really do a number on one’s body in ways you might not imagine. I am pretty sure my iron-deficiency anemia is caused by malabsorbtion due to gluten intolerance and it seems like there is a pretty clear correlation between cutting out gluten and getting rid of SIBO. All that said, I have been gluten free for about a year now and the SIBO and anemia still seem to be making trouble for me. This week I am scheduled to have a four-hour I.V. iron infusion that will hopefully boost my blood iron levels and re-train my body into producing and holding onto iron. The SIBO symptoms come and go. I have not been 100% gluten free for this year and it’s possible that eating gluten even in tiny and infrequent amounts has damaged my digestive tract or caused my digestion to become unregulated, allowing bacteria levels to build back up.
It seems the most common method of treating recurring or chronic SIBO is a very strict diet. My doctor wanted me to go on an entirely liquid diet for 3 months but my insurance would not cover the diet (it consisted of cans of aspartame-rich, sugar-free liquid. Yummy.) Through internet research I have discovered that many SIBO sufferers go on an entirely sugar free diet. This is scarier than it might sound at first blush. No fruit. No grains. No carbohydrates of any kind. SIBO bacteria live off of sugar. That is all they eat. If you want to starve them out, they can’t have even a speck of sugar and this is a very tall order. I am not ready to try this diet yet and I don’t know if I ever will be. Food is my life. It is my passion, my career, my happiness. I think about food when I wake up in the morning and daydream about it all day. The idea of building a life where I the thing I enjoy most is severely restricted to the point of near elimination is more that I can handle at this point in my life. If my symptoms get worse or become more frequent, I may change my mind but for now, I am just stuck here. I am hoping that the iron infusion might offer some relief for some of my symptoms and I will keep you posted on how I do. My real hope is that I feel well enough most of the time to post recipes and stories regularly without feeling the need to even mention my illnesses or how I feel.
Thanks for bearing with me. Now back to your regularly scheduled program.
Wow, I love this post; thank you for sharing in intimate detail your experiences with SIBO. Thanks for adding to the growing discussion, as you put it. I totally found this blog in my regular blog trowls for SIBO, but I will no doubt be back to see how you are holding up. Its interesting; I am also someone who has trouble with weight in relation to SIBO. I know that you know that this is kind of rare; since SIBO is basically a malabsorption issue, most people waste away with it. But I've always had trouble with extra weight, and whenever the SIBO is coming on strong, I gain more. I recently started treatment for low thyroid and the weight issue is getting easier. Have you had your thyroid checked because SIBO can definitely be caused by a low thyroid: http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/92/11/4180I've met a few others who deal with weight gain along with the rest of the symptoms, and a lot of others with low thyroid function.Sugar-free is hard. It is for life, but it isn't completely without well-timed breaks. And it can really manage symptoms. But I am known to break down and eat a cupcake now and then and just suffer.
Good luck with the iron infusion. I haven't heard of that as a treatment for SIBO. However, since gut bacteria like to leech iron from their host and use it to form biofilms to keep out antibiotics, it makes perfect sense that you would struggle with anemia. I seem to be ok with serum iron but am currently supplementing to get my low ferritin (20!) up. I am experimenting with Lactoferrin, which supposedly helps keep the iron from foreign bodies. You may want to look into it; I haven't tested since starting to use it so I can't say if it is helping or not.
Thanks for your comment! Your blog is one that really inspired me to be more open on my own. Your blog is so helpful and I really appreciate all you do to educate and inform people.I have had my thyroid checked a few times and my numbers are all normal. I don't expect the iron infusion to help with the SIBO, I am just hoping it helps me keep my iron so I can have more energy and feel better all around.I have reduced my sugar and carbs a lot and lately I've been feeling pretty good (aside from a hellish cold.)It's so easy to slip into bad habits when you feel good but I am trying to get my system under control (ha!) and like everything, it gets easier with time.Thank you for all the helpful info, I will keep my eye on your blog and twitter!
Thank you I love your post. I have been researching for 4 years now to help my mother-in-law. Although she is 85 and there are other issues the last 4 years with her stomach have been rough. She has now been diagnosed with SIBO I finally got someone to listen to me. She is just starting the antibiotic and feels wonderful. I know the next step is probiotics but I am still not sure how to attach the diet end. Is thee a simple list of foods that should a no no? Below is her history ina nut shell. I need help to help her I am so unsure about the diet.My Mother in law was diagnosed with IBS 4 years ago. I have made it my mission to help this woman. After 4 years of researching IBS, a friend that was diagnosed with SIBO and a very nice Doctor I hope she is on the rode to recovery. She is the sweetest woman. Four years ago she had a Hernia operation that ended up infected and literally exploded while she was at home. Since then she has never been the same. There were times I didn't think she would make it. Her gastrologist was treating her for IBS so I researched and I showed her how the diet should work. At least then we had the diarrhea under control and she could leave the house for short period of times.A friend told me about SIBO last summer. When I brought it up to my mother-in-laws doctor he really didn't know too much about it. I told him I read that it is treated with antibiotics and probiotics. So he put her on Tetracycline. Within a day it was like a miracle. This continued for 8 months and she was down to 1 pill a day. Next came the hydrogen test it came back negative. I asked her doctor why is the Tetracycline working he had no answers. I am not convinced she doesn't have SIBO so I ask if he could refer us to this Doctor I wanted her to see he agreed and she agree's to see this new doctor. He sat with us for an hour I had all my facts and the history of what we have tried and what works and what doesn't he documented everything. He suggests doing the hydrogen test again. We take the test again and High levels of SIBO (SURPRISE NOT). I went to all her appointments for the past 4 years and I told them I don't get it if the Tetracycline is helping doesn't that mean there is some kind of infection??? No answers!!She starts the Rifaximin this week and then the probiotic he also recommended this book he said it is the best one out there "IBS Free at last" by Patsy Catsos. If I didn't stick with this I don't know if she would be here right now. She lost 50lbs in a year, she is 85 and no one should have to live that way. So I tell her all the time I am going to write a book about her called "Saving Yia Yia. That is grandmother in Greek.I just hope this helps someone some day because I know if she didn't have me there pushing her and the doctors she might now be here today. From a botched Hernia operation to a misdiagnosis the Doctors are not GOD but the elderly treat them that way and they settle for what ever they tell them…
I have been a nurse for 17 years and seen countless people suffer from needless gut dysfunction. Literally, we are what we eat. Think about everything you have ever put into your mouth and understand it’s effects. Uh, huh. It would not take long to figure out that this is the first place to make a change. I recommend the natural way. Most food, water, and textiles are pasteurized, radiated, and genetically altered so as to kill the bad bacterias that cause illness. This means ALL of the bacteria. Should we bury the food instead of eating it? It’s dead. But, we need the good ones. We need a healthy ratio of good to bad gut bacteria or parasites, yeasts, and anaerobic bacteria take over and a whole plethora of symptoms begin.
You ask, what is the best source for this good bacteria? and I reply, food. This is where the diet restriction issue begins. And herein starts the struggle to rehabilitate yourself. It’s really easier to state what you should eat as opposed to laying out all of the restrictions.
clean pure water, without fluoride and chlorine
Organic: non genetically engineered, no hormones (rBST), no antibiotics
raw and whole food: no processed
no pasteurization, radiation
It’s really about getting back to basics. You’d have to live in a bubble or another dimension to stick to only what is on that list. But, you can do better. Getting your hands on raw milk products is especially beneficial and makes all the difference. I am fortunate as I live in Washington and raw milk products are available to the consumer. Eat whole grains, fiber. My favorites are spelt, quinou, oats, ammaranth, wild and brown rices. Mushrooms, olive, grapeseed, and coconut oils. Any kind of fresh or dried bean I can find. All nuts. Fresh whole fruits and vegetables UNCOOKED. Sea Salt. NO PROCESSED FOODS OF ANY KIND. Easy diet to follow, right? Your thinking that’s everything we don’t eat. Now, you understand the cause of the problem and the solution. Oh yeah, don’t forget about the skin. Nothing but organic there, too. That’s why I supplement and cleanse. I supplement with spirulina, chlorella, and Isagenix products. I endure coffee enemas and fasting cleanse days. Someone mentioned thyroid. I completely agree in investigating in this direction. Thyroid, iron, iodine, and vitamin d3 levels should be checked right off the bat. This will only give you a head start. Everything is still treated naturally, though.
My personal testimony is that I no longer suffer from the list of gut dysfuction symptoms: indigestion, heartburn, bloating, gut aches, constipation, hemorrhoids, weight gain, and stinky flatulence. This list is far from complete. A healthy gut will transform your ENTIRE health!
I hope you found some encouragement and something of value that might assist you on your journey in assisting you Mother in law.
Genuinely,
Adale ONeal
HiYou can try a FODMAP free diet to starve them out or at least be symptom free. This cuts out poorly absorbed sugars only, rather than all carbs. So no wheat, onion, garlic, as already mentioned, but there's a few more. You can have some fruits, loads of veg, and pretty much all the gluten free grains. It's basically a stricter form of the fructose malabsorption diet. Good luck. I.P.
I was diagnosed with SIBO after several years of just awful intestinal cramping — would last for several hours, then "run away train" bathroom activities. I had this so bad that I developed saddle numbness — very scary — as the intense and frequent bathroom episodes put pressure on my back, irritating my spinal cord and leading to the numbness issues. By the time I went in for a colonoscopy, I could describe my symptoms and the onset of episodes in minute detail — so much that the doctor started to laugh at one point because it was almost textbook for SIBO — a condition I had never heard of. (I originally thought the pain was related to endometriosis, which I had suffered with for many years.) For me, the real killers are diet soda, bread, pasta, corn, chocolate and sugar. Sometimes salads can cause stomach problems, but it might be the dressing. When it was at its worst, I would eat anything and within a half hour to 45 minutes would have terrible stomach pain. I was afraid to go anywhere without a bathroom nearby.
Hey u should go on ibsgroup.org or inspire.com and make a post about SIBO and gluten-free diet, antibiotics, probiotics, etc. what’s worked for you. I think you could help alot of ppl. I have SIBO and have been searching the internet for a year and this is the 1st time i’ve seen this. It really helped. I know alot of ppl wish answers like these were readily availble to them. Plz post your success with keeping SIBO symptoms away wherever you can. Thanks.
I have been having lupus symptoms for about a year now. My dr is convinced that something is causing these symptoms of inflammation, exhaustion, joint pain, general feeling of mailaise, hair loss, mal absorbtion. Tests revealed that i have SIBO. She has given me the alternative of antibiotics or an herbal treatment to fix it plus the diet you speak of. Hopefully this will cure the “lupus” symptoms!!! I am also getting tested for gluten intolerance to see if that was the culprit that started this whole mess….. Thanks for your post – it was most informative.
I hope you find relief. Sibo can be quite a beast, it seems like I can never really get rid of it for good but cutting out gluten made a massive difference and now my flare up seem to be shorter and farther apart. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!
I’ve been recently diagnosed with SIBO and found your blog. I also appreciate you candidness with your symptoms. I’ve been dealing with this for a year and a half and am starting antibiotics tomorrow. I’m hoping they lead to the answer I’ve been hoping for. Most of all I’m just glad to hear it’s not all in my head and there is a reason I’ve been in all this pain and discomfort for this long. Keep blogging!
Thank you Susannah! I truly hope you get lasting relief!
Thank you for your candid description of your experience! Has anyone had success with any of the natural remedies like grapefruit seed and enteric peppermint? After an upper endoscopy, colonoscopy and several rounds of PPI’s and H2 blockers (all with negative results) my GI put me on a probiotic. After a week or so my symptoms (stomach ache, gas, occasional constipation and incessant burping) almost completely disappeared. After about a month my symptoms have returned, even though I’m still on the probiotic. The doctor mentioned the antibiotics as the next step if the probiotic didn’t work, but some of the info I’m reading suggests the herbal route first. I’d love to hear what success others have had with the natural route before going back to the GI. Once the probiotic kicked in my appetite returned and so did my cravings for all the stuff I shouldn’t eat! I have been trying to blame that on emotional eating, but after reading your post I’m not so sure. My symptoms aren’t debilitating, but annoying. Thanks for anything you have to offer!
Hello!
I just got diagnosed with SIBO, and I decided to try the antibiotic route first..
I took Xifaxin for about 4 days before I called my doctor and said it was not working. I was told to stop, and asked to start taking another antibiotic but decided to try some natural stuff first.
I started taking enteric peppermint two – three times a day. Generally I followed this by a pro-biotic either in pill or liquid form. The pro-biotic I have had the most success from is called Restora, and it can be ordered from http://www.myrestora.com
Here’s my results..
I’m only on day 5, and since I started, I have not had any diarrhea. Before treatment, I was needing to go 5 + times a day, now down to 1 – 2 times. I feel amazing, and I’ve been really keeping my attitude positive. I actually started yoga too, and I feel a combination of having the right attitude and accepting what I have has really made a difference these last 5 days. However, it is only 5 days… But I haven’t felt this great in the last 2 years.
SO I would think that Xifaxin successfully knocked out the bad bugs I didn’t want, even if I had diarrhea during treatment, but the combination of pro-biotics, decrease in sugar and gluten (although I still eat some of both) has made a tremendous difference. I have a follow up appointment with the GI doc next week, and I’m hoping my results continue like this.
Hope this helps, and keep positive. It’s tough to live with, but it can be overcome.
As a follow-up, I continued the peppermint oil for some time, but found much more success with an herbal supplement called Golden Seal
I’m a few months passed diagnosis, and I have had to change my diet a little. I still eat pasta and bread on occasion, but much less than I used to. Dairy was never an issue with me because I never ate it in the first place.
I now continue pro biotics, and maybe it has just taken a few months, but I’m almost 100% medication free, and I feel great. I have days where it all of a sudden attacks, and I have to deal with it, but it goes away, and I’ll have 2-3 weeks of feeling great. And the periods of “feeling great’ just keep getting longer.
Golden Seal can be found at many whole-food type stores, and comes in different strengths. Because it does have antibiotic properties to it, I decided to go on cycles, and took it 10 days straight 3 times a day,,,, then restarted and took it for 3 days 3 times a day,, now when I take it (and it’s been awhile) I use a half dosage about twice a day,, maybe for 2 days at most, and it clears everything up. I’m very happy I found this stuff. But most importantly, probiotics have been life savers for me.
Any questions or comments, feel free to contact me and I will answer as soon as possible. Thanks!
and one more thing.. I’ll keep this post alive to log my progress (which I hope this continues..) but so far.. I’m doing great!! much better than I EVER was before diagnosis
Update
I had a capsule endoscopy, and it was found that I had really bad stomach ulcers, and no visual issues in my intestinal tract at all. These ulcers could maybe be the cause of my symptoms (mostly IBS-D, later diagnosed with SIBO). I was told to take antacids for 2 months, and have almost completed the cycle. Here’s my results:
No Diarrhea for almost 2 months straight (with the exception of about 4 times)!
When my stomach feels off, I eat a little less, drink some VSL #3 DS (a very expensive, yet extremely good probiotic, the only one out there that I know of with clinical testing). This works really well. Instead of taking a packet of this a day, which I did at the start, I now am down to about 2 – 3 a week, sometimes only 1 a week. This however has allowed me to make $100 (cost of probiotic) last a long ways, and keep me feeling great. I know its pricey, but this money is worth my personal health.
I’m lucky to have this much success, but determined to do what I need to to get over this. Maybe I never will be “cured”, but I at least am getting much better at getting it under control.
Lastly, I cut sugars out. All those iced teas at the store?? look at the back, some up to 40 g of sugar! Coke? o man, watch out if you got SIBO, that has more sugar than one needs for a week! Cutting out sugar, and drinking mostly water has been the biggest challenge, and made me feel a lot better too. I’m active, rock climb a ton, run a lot, and thought I “needed” the energy, but find I am feeling better without all this excess sugar, especially as far as my gut goes.
Keep up the good fight everyone! As always, comment on my posts, ask questions, and I will get back as soon as I can.
Andy
Well, my doctor didn’t say I had sibo but he gave me the antibiotics because we have tried everything else GI related plus my GP did a lot of tests and of course everything came back positive except for my GERD test. To top it off I also have a hernia. My worse symptom, by far, is the stomach distention and stomach pain which led to the weight gain. I also have severe constipation which I have had forever, GERD, the hot flashes, extreme fatigue and everything else people have mentioned. I also feel like I carry alot of water too. I have been going through this for 1 1/2 in it has been hell! Anyway, I just finished by Cipro(because it was cheap and I don’t have insurance) and it helped with the stomach distention, so in my mind I have sibo. I think though I need a stronger antibiotic and for a longer time. Regardless, I am going back to my doctor to do the breath tests and some blood work because my hair is falling out. Last time that happened I was a little low on B12. I am still frustrated though because I have always been a food addict. No matter what crap went on during the day, I knew I could always have food to turn to. Now, I don’t and I am wiggin out. So yes, right now it is the GERD food I avoid but from what I have been reading that would include all sugar as well. In essence, since the antibiotics helped it is actually not the end of this journey but barely the beginning.
Thanks for your post and hopefully something will happen for all of us!
I read your post with great interest. As a practitioner of the blood type diet/genotype diet and an individualized diet ( called a SWAMI) I use breath hydrogen as part of the data I collect in order to design individualized diets. In patients that follow the prescribed diet bacterial overgrowth takes about 3 months to get under control, making the person more healthy not less healthy. I find that most diets take food away rather then adding in food to create health. I encourage you to do a bit of research in this area, Dr. D’Adamo has been working on diet since 1996 and although you will find that much of the literature points to weight loss, if you dig deeper you will also find that the health of the GI tract is essential to all the processes of our bodies, including weight loss.
Your doctor would be wise to encourage you to build up your GI tract with blood type specific probiotics, increasing the healthy colonies to crowd out the bad ones.
Andrea Cayea, RN, MIFHI
My son age 10 has SIBO. He is complaining of nausea and severe tummy discomfort on and off. He also has many food allergies: corn, peanuts, peas, squash, wheat, dairy and watermelon. He is seen by a GI MD who has treated him with antibiotics. He has been doing well for a year but now is having a relapse. Tummy very distended, back sore, complains of a headache. How can I help him. The antibiotics are very rough on him. Please write back.
Thank you. Lisa
Lisa, I am so sorry for what you and your son are going through. I am not a doctor and I can’t give medical advice. Sometimes people need additional round of antibiotics. Check with your doctor, they will know what to do better than I will.
Lisa. This problem is textbook of what I am going through. Was diagnosed with IBS 30 years ago. Am now removing gluten from my diet,taking a probiotic to kill off yeasts. Have been doing this for app.3 weeks and feel much better. I have been the Metamucil and antibiotic route to no avail. Been to countless gastroenterologists over the past few decades. Upon doing my OWN research I’ve discovered that my problem is possibly related to the Ileocecal valve. This valve is located in the intestines between the large intestine (colon), and the small intestine. This valve,when called upon, moves partially digested food from the small intestine to the large intestine for further digestion until eliminated. The ileocecal valve, much like a check (one way) valve, can fail in the open position. When this happens, the food that was in the large intestine(colon) now backs up into the small intestine thereby causing infections, so instead of having nutrients in your small intestine, you now have a backflow of feces. Doctors will prescribe antibiotics because yes, there is an infection, but they are not treating the root cause. To treat this, all you have to do is massage the intestines, you can google “ileocecal intestinal massage” for more help”. Also I have read about people going gluten free with positive results. I believe the results are positive because the gluten is what CAUSES the ileocecal valve to stick. Also taking a probiotic,as I have stated will kill off yeasts that get in the way and cause the same valve problem. This is worth a try for anyone who has been diagnosed with IBS. Also research the ileocecal valve for further understanding. Good luck everyone….John
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I had sypmtoms just like yours and went on detox diet which eliminated meat, dairy, grains, sugar, most condiments etc and I started to feel better. I then realised it was veyr similar to what the Blood Type Diet for my blood type (A) would be, and having heard some good things about it, I decided to give it a go. My stomach has been “growl free” for months now, I no longer have embarrassing amounts of gas even though I eat gas causing foods like legumes on a regualr basis, and my BM’s are now incredibly normal and regular. Check out the website which is incredibly supportive and helpful: http://www.dadamo.com/
Good luck!
After nearly 20 years of chronic stomach pain and constipation I was recently diagnosed with both celiac and SIBO. I have gone from nearly 300 pounds down to 100 pounds. My weight has been an issue most of my life. I will start the antibiotic therapy treatment today. I have already started the gluten free diet this has been a challenge as I already have had to give up dairy, eggs, beef, chicken, and lamb due to food allergies.
I travel for my career as a motivational speaker all over the USA and finding places to eat can be a challenge on the road. I am constantly looking for the best health food stores when I arrive in a town to get the foods that I can eat. The SIBO diet will eliminate even more of my foods that I can eat. I am trusting that by eliminating these foods not only will I be healthier, more energetic, no more stomach pain as well as joint pain and other health issues.
Life is good and I trust that this will make it even better.
Terri
Thank u for post. Do people with SIBO also experience nausea along with that feeling of concrete in your intestines?
Symptoms vary from person to person. I would recommend that you ask your doctor for a breath test.
It was comforting reading everyone’s post to know Im not alone. Ive had IBS for what seems like forever. I was just diagnosed with sibo and I have Gerd as well. I am starting Cipro tomorrow and hope I will see some results. Im only 95 pounds and Im so worried to take carbs away as I cant lose anymore weight. Any advice for that? I too have jeans that will fit one day and the next my stomach is so bloated I cant even think of putting the same pair on. I look 7 months pregnant. I dont think people in general realize how much these disorders affect your quality of life and it sucks! Thank you for sharing all your posts.
This problem is textbook for what I am going through. Was diagnosed with IBS 30 yrs.ago. Am now removing gluten from my diet,and taking a probiotic to kill off yeasts. Have been doing this for app. 3 weeks and feel much better. I have been the Metamucil and antibiotic route to no avail. Been to countless gastroenterologists over the past few decades. Upon doing my OWN research, I’ve discovered that my problem is possibly related to the Ileocecal valve. This valve is located in the intestines between the large intestine (colon), and the small intestine. This valve, when called upon, moves partially digested food from the small intestine to the large intestine for further digestion until eliminated. The Ileocecal valve, much like a check valve, (one way valve), can fail in the open position. When this happens, the food that was in the large intestine (colon) now backs up into the small intestine thereby causing infections, so instead of having nutrients in your small intestine, you now have a backflow of feces. Doctors will prescribe antibiotics because yes, there is an infection, but they are not treating the root cause. To treat this, all you have to do is massage the intestines, you can google “Ileocecal intestinal massage” for help. Also I have read about people going gluten free with positive results. I believe the results are positive because the gluten is what CAUSES the ileocecal valve to stick. Also taking a probiotic , as I have stated will kill off yeasts that get in the way and cause the same valve problem. This is worth a try for anyone who has been diagnosed with IBS. Also research the Ileocecal Valve for further understanding. Good luck everyone….John
Hi John,
Thanks for your input! I will look further into this. Its tough living with SIBO, but encouraging knowing that people like us are out there posting things to help each other out.
Andy
Even though you commented some time ago, I wanted to mention that I also have a Ileoceceal valve problem. After eliminating gluten, oats, eggs, corn, casein, sugar, yeast, and most grains, the root cause of my valve getting stuck was starches. Mainly potato starch. I also had intestinal parasites. My acupuncturist gave me herbs to use for a month.
I essentially have the follow the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (about 2 years now), but to a lesser extent. Starch is the ultimate cause for the discomfort I feel. I probably have SIBO, but will need to be tested to find out for sure.
Hi, I’ve had SIBO since I was 20 years old. Currently I am 63, and have just been diagnosed with this recently. I’ll see how I do after the antibiotic course.
I have an Immune Deficiency (CVID) which also went undiagnosed until 2005.
Because of the my constant diarrhea, I thought I had celiac disease and kept a gluten-free diet for twenty years. It helped quite a bit. But not because of the elimination of gluten. But because rice is soothing to the intestine and tends to cause constipation in normal people.
Of the primary immune deficiencies the most common is IgA deficiency. Lacking this
immunoglobulin causes diarrhea from SIBO. IgA is the immunoglobulin in the gut that keeps bacteria at bay.
You should have your doctor check your IgA, IgG and IgM blood levels. these are simple inexpensive blood tests. And may lead to a diagnosis of your diarrhea problems. I hope this may be helpful to someone.
I have documented as much as I could learn about SIBO and my own journey overcoming it on this website http://www.siboibs.org. Hope this site helps.
I completely understand what the fellow sufferers feel and have posted on this site. I also understand how frustrating it is to not be able to enjoy the foods and feasts!
But there is a way out through steady baby steps.
I have also just been diagnosed with SIBO and have just finished a round of Rifaxin and Neomycin. Have been doing a lot of reading and research. I am mostly worried about the antibiotics not ridding completely the bacteria and know that I will need to go on a strict diet. I don’t cook much and work alot of hours, so this is the difficult part. I can’t beleive that there aren’t more healthy (food) options available for all of us out there with SIBO issues. From what i understand it can be as much as 30-50% of population! I am looking for some natural alternatives and will try the Golden Seal. Hope everyone continues to share what has helped.
Hi!
1st regarding the website suggested by P – is it just me or I am not able to access the website?
2nd – I am happy to finally find other people that also experience weight gain as a result of SIBO, I felt like I was alone with this symptoms… I notice that anytime I have a little bit of something that lead to a reaction, I end up gaining 2 to 3 lbs… and it is not just gas or water as it persists after the bloating is gone….
hi there iam from the uk and had a gastric bypass op 3,years ago,i was well for the first 4months after the op and lost 8stone,but then 4months from the op i felt really ill ,know energy ,going to the toilet upto 10 times in the morning ,my stomach was swollen and i had bad stomach cramps ,they was so bad that every time i ate i was doubled over with pain…..i manage to find a doctor,that understod what i was going through,he put me under a prof,at a top london hospital,who told me that iam suffering from sibo and that there is no cure,all they can do is treat it was probiotics,which i took and it made my symptoms worse,and a course of antibiotics which i found to work for a while,also i had to follow a fodmap diet,which somtimes worksbut not all the time,iv put on 3stone as well which is strange as iv had a gastric bypass op,i just wish that there was more information on this condition,which i could pass around to my friends,an family as they dont seem to understand as they have never heard of it,iv got no energy ,joint pain an swelling,plus iam low on vitamins ,i take vitamin pills an adcal3 ,but iam still not getting any better,i found this site while i was reseaching, which was refreshing as i dont have,anone to talk to about this so any info would be great regards sue
I have burped profusely for 9 years and until this winter was given ant acids. Nothing worked. I was diagnosed with ISBO with only the burping as symptoms. Took the breath test, positive, and given Xiafaxin. Before I could get into see the Dr. I started with porbiotics and peppermint oil, no results. The brping went away for 2 glorious weeks and then returned, took the Xiafaxin for 2 more weeks, got worse. Now I will try for the SIBO diet of restricted carbs, no sugar and less fiber. Hope it will work. My natrual diet was fish, lots of fiber, tons of beans, veggies and a glass or two of wine a night. Hope for the best! Helen
My 27 year old son has had gut/digestion issues almost his whole life. That being said, he has otherwise been very healthy, of normal weight and active
his whole life. He has managed the periods of digestion ups and downs on his own with fortitude and preserverance. In the last 6 months however, he had gotten progressively worse (maybe due to two rounds of antibiotic for pneumonia). Diarreha, urgency, stomach pain, nausea and even periods of vomiting. We have done every test but SIBO hydrogen breath test. He had lost 20 pounds in three months. Although I think both his GP and his GI both suspect SIBO his GI seems to think the hydrogen breathe test is just not very reliable so hasn’t recommended it. Anyway, both my son and I felt that going on an antibiotic to treat SIBO just seems like more of the same
(antibiotic kills the good as well as the bad) so he began a major course of probiotics, daily vitiamin and enteric peppermint. As importantly, we believe, he began the low FODMAP diet. This diet is basically gluten free,
lactose free and fructose (fructan?) free. His symptoms have improved dramatically. Just wanted write this in the hopes that it would be helpful to others who suffer with the frustration and lonliness of chronic gastric issues.
My heart goes out to you and maybe this can help you too.
Hi all, I think I too have SIBO from reading about it but as yet haven’t been diagnosed. I got ill this year and so between the ibruprofen I was taking for my illness and serious lack of exercise, I believe this set the SIBO off.
My only symptoms are serious growling, rumbling, popping you name it of my stomach and small intestines, tightness caused by the gas in stomach and serious cravings for carbs. Once I start eating carbs I can’t stop. I have tried the candida diet a few times which eliminates all grains and sugar but have fell off. I had cut out bread for about four months then last week practically ate a whole loaf of wholemeal bread. I forgot how good it tasted but now I’m paying big time. My belly has been going absolutely ballistic all week. Its really horrible all that noise so much so it disturbs my sleep.
Anyway, I have been looking into the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and have ordered the book. I’m gonna give it a go to see how it goes as it makes sense to me. From experience eating certain foods that are particularly high in fibre cause my belly and bowels to go ballistic because I think they’re having a tough time breaking them down.
My doctor gave me some anti acids when I told her my symptoms (surprise surprise) but I think its more acids I need not less.
I too have been diagnosed with SIBO. I’m on my second round of Xiafaxin. My main symptom is stomach GURGLING and gas. I’m also lactose and fructose intolerant. I think the SIBO go hand and hand with the food sensitivities. I’m hyperthyroid(Graves disease) and gastritis. I work in a quiet office cubicle and it’s so embarrassing having your stomach constantly making noises(not from hunger). I’m unable to eat any carbohydrates, sugars, and apple cider vinegar doesn’t work either. Probiotics(PB-8) seem to bother me at times as well. I hope to find a cure for SIBO so that I can be productive at work and life in general. I’m miserable and this is no way to live.
Hello
Today I was just diagnosed With SIBO. I had tears of joy when I learned what my diagnosis was. After reading about it all day, I’m not so sure I feel the same….. I thought an antibiotic would simply cure it. After reading many posts, it’s my understanding that it isn’t that simple. I’ve been suffering for three long miserable years. My GI dr kept telling me it was IBS. My symptoms are as follows:gas, nausea, belching, major constipation, overall tummy discomfort. My intestines felt hard. I can actually feel the hard gas in my intestines when I push on my tummy , feels like cement in there. When I try to go to the bathroom it feels like I’m pushing peanut butter out of my butt. Terrible and yucky description I know, but it’s the best way to describe it. And btw, that’s if I’m lucky enough to go. Im completely exhausted, just learned my iron and vitamin d are very low, along with my thyroid I understand that sibo exaccerbates and is responsible for these deficiencies I can only hope and pray that this antibiotic works for me. Cannot take another day feeling so bad. I’ve been in a deep depression, as my life has been completely consumed by not feeling well. I am definitely going gluten free, my son has celiac so I’m quite knowledgeable in what foods to avoid Has anyone been cured solely with antibiotics??? Would love to know.
Sorry to hear about all your discomfort.
I got diagnosed with SIBO in May 2011 after 14 months + of only diarrhea. I didn’t know what happened to me, and I saw multiple doctors before I really had one sit me down and listen to my story.
My doc says it is not possible to suddenly develop SIBO, however, it was pretty sudden for me. I had IBS-D (Diarrhea) most my life, however most of it was due to a stubbornness in my diet. But I always had tricks to make me feel better. LIke drinking white tea, eating rice, little things like this that ALWAYS worked. So I knew I had a problem, but I dealt with it in ways that I found worked for me.
Well when SIBO hit, nothing worked. Absolutly nothing. I went on a round of Xiafaxin, feeling the same way as you when you left the doc’s office, I was sooooo excited and relieved. However, 2 days later, I didn’t think it was possible, but my symptoms got drastically worse. So I quit treatment after only 2 days (and I paid $700 out of pocket for this drug).
8 months later, I am now doing great! This is good news, but it has come with a lot of time, patience, and reading. What I encourage you to do is to maybe try and find out why you are getting SIBO? I had a CT scan done of my bowel to see if I had any parts of my small bowel that were constricting, or anything that would cause motility issues. I had colonoscopy done to see if there was anything that could be seen that was wrong, as well as tissue samples taken for celiacs disease, and chrones disease. I also had a capsule endoscopy. None of the tests above found anything wrong, except gastritis (fancy term for acid reflux)
Finally, I was tested for H-Pylori (short for Helicobacter pylori bacteria). H-pylori can colinate in the stomach, cause heart burn, and eventually lead to SIBO. It is also treatable w/ antiobiotics. Well this test turned out negative as well!!
I decided to nonetheless go on an antacid pill. Saw pretty great improvement in symptoms. Then I combined this with Immodium, that helped too. But what really did it, as stated numerous times above, was cutting out gluten, and severely reducing sugar.
I now go 3-4 weeks symptoms free, but I knew that I wasn’t quite “healed”. So I made an appointment with my doc, and started Xiafaxin again today. While taking it, I am going to stay gluten free, mostly sugar free, and I’m drinking chicken stock (homemade only! Store bought stuff is junk, and stock it toooo easy to make) It’s going to be a tough 10 days, but hey, I already feel a difference today than yesterday. So I will visit back in 10 days, and let you know how treatment went.
Sorry I wrote so much!
Andy
Hi
Thanks for writing back. I think my symptoms are back to visit. Woke up this am with bloating and gas, sooo frustrating
KJ
Hello!
Well 10 days later, what happened??
I went through a roller coaster of symptoms. My stool changed colors, from dark greens to yellow for a few days, all of which can indicate several things, in my case, I was hoping it was bacteria dying off and expelling itself from my body.
I slipped up a few times during my diet, sometimes eating a little sugar, and even wheat once or twice. However, during my diet and antibiotics, I felt a feeling of comfort in my gut I haven’t felt in the last two years. I felt extremely relaxed, only had 1, maybe a 2nd bowel movement in a day, never had pain associated with them, I had little gas, and felt like I was really conquering this thing.
On my last day of antibiotics, my friends had a christmas party, so I decided to see how sweets and alcohol would do. Next day,, ouch. Back cramps, but mostly gas.. stool was ‘okay’. One day later, stool is only getting better from all this, and yet I still have this feeling of being really relaxed in my gut, which is fantastic.
I’,m going in for a Lactulose Breath Test this week (hopefully tomorrow), to find out if my hydrogen and methane levels are normalized, if not, I’m going to continue 5 more days of antibiotics.
During treatment, I took a very expensive probiotic VSL#3 DS (the DS is for Double Strength) 2 hours after my first antibiotic in the morning. This stuff costs $100+ for 20 sachets of probiotic. I knew it was ironic to take this while in the midst of antibiotics, because I was only killing it off when I took the antibiotic again, however probiotics can kill of excess yeast growth, which could have been why my stool was yellow for a few days.
I have my fingers crossed right now for this next breath test. Even if I am not “cured”, I at least am feeling better off now than I did 10 days ago.
Hope all that helps, Feel free to contact me via email if anyone is interested in talking more about this. andy.brown@utah.edu . Or if you are comfortable, feel free to contact me through this blog.
Thanks!
Andy
I’m so glad to have found this web site – but discouraged also. The hydrogen breath test has shown that I have SIBO – so thought the solution was antibiotics. Have taken 1200 mg Rifaximin for 2 wks and nothing has changed – maybe worse. I’ve never had any problems – but had an operation to remove a redundant colon – very bad constipation. Now I’m thinking that maybe I’ve had Sibo all along?? People have mentioned bad gas -but no one has mentioned how foul an odor it is – pure methane! Does anyone have this too? I also have the chills all the time – will have to check out the malabsorption of nutrients. I’m going to look into the diet. Someone said that their dr told them it can never be cured….is this correct???
Andy,
Yes, the gas smells like methane. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet needs to be followed very carefully for 3-4 years. Some people need to follow it for life. Through trial and error, I have found that I need to follow this diet pretty carefully (starches are the worst for me). With my clients (I’m also health coach), I help them east into the diet in stages in order to adapt. There are a lot of right ways to go about it. Just make sure you have support. Feel free to contact me if you want to reach out.
~Kelly
I would love to know what you eat on this diet. I was browsing at the bookstore and found that basically you can’t eat anything. Am I wrong in thinking that ?? I would love to try it out but would love a little guidance. I’m desperate. I’m to the point where I hate food. I only eat to avoid getting hypoglycemic.
Would love to hear back from you
KJ
I have read that people with SIBO can digest honey. It goes through the small intestine very rapidly. Not sure though. Had all symptoms almost all gone and then…had one drink of gin. Burping like crazy again but know that I can get back my health with no carbs except quinoia and no sugars. Lots of good stuff can be eaten. Soup is the best. Anti-bioitcs never kept anything away for long.
You are right about honey. Most liquors break down into sugar, so even gin can cause symptoms. I have the same adverse reactions unless I drink top shelf tequila with soda and lime juice. It is such a racket sometimes, but I totally agree about knowing how to get back to health when the right things are in place!
I went through candidosis and kiked it out with :
- milk kefir : (most fabulos prObiotic I know) real one home made with kefir grains (it holds about 25 probiotioc bacteria and yeasts).
- Low glycemic index diet (the lower the better, but you still need to give your body all what it needs for the immune system and the rest).
- Bio food almost always and combination of prEbiotic and anti-yeast vegies.
- Mood regulation (long term bad mood can short circuit the immune system up to 75%)
- Enought sleep
- Open clean air exercices.
- etc.
In fact the main point (I think it’s the same for Sibo and for most health conditions), is to boost and adjust your immune system, starving yourself in the hope to starve the bacterias/yeasts doesn’t work.
By the way “This week I am scheduled to have a four-hour I.V. iron infusion that will hopefully boost my blood iron levels and re-train my body into producing and holding onto iron” …………….. modern medicine makes its customers dependent ….
Injecting iron is quite violent, and if it work it will probably just teach your body that it’s easier to get iron from injection than from food, quite logical isn’t it? By the way copper and iron work together for hemoglobin, so if you get only one it does not work (by the way physicians generally do not study nutrition). An excellent source of iron and copper is spirulina (a green/blue alga you can buy in health food shops)
All the best, M.
I went to a bit of SIBO reading, quite in general it sounds crazy to treat people with antibiotics for that, because :
(1) you don’t know if the disconfort culprit are bacterias or yeasts and if you swallow broad spectrum antibiotics it will just make the yeasts stronger (they are immune against standard antibiotics).
(2) everybody got bad yeasts in their gastro track, take antibiotics for a long time and you’ll get candia albicans or something worse, it’s programmed. Physician never told me about that at the start, but after a 2 weeks course they told me yes we know, it happens in 10% of the cases (after just 2 weeks !!!). And did not propose a prevention …. sounds ridiculous!!! It is, and it’s hardly surprising when the research is mainly financed by the huge dollars flux of the global market that makes money with sick people, not with health promotion! The final result is that we have sub-optimal medication reflecting a compromise between maximum profit (searching for the ideal patient, working hard and always in need of expensive medications) and the very soft regulations and morale.
(3) antibiotics always interfere with the immune system.
… Hope it helps
I am glad that I stumbled across your website today in my search for others who have SIBO. I’m sorry that you have it, however! I am on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and you can have honey and a fair number of fruits (which have fructose and glucose – monosaccharide sugars). I won’t kid you – its been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done…and I’ve been STRICTLY gluten free since 2009 (I have Celiac Disease) and on the Candida Diet for most of 2011. SCD has been much harder. BUT I AM FINALLY STARTING TO FEEL BETTER!
Anyways, feel free to check out my website. I write about my experience on the SCD and how it’s going for me; and I’m brutally honest.
If you need someone to talk to, just post a comment on my website and I’ll write you back! I don’t often check my emails, however.
Best wishes for 2012!
Gutsy Girl
Thanks for this post. I just got back from the doctor today and discovered that I have SIBO. I have been gluten free since 2004 (or almost) and now I am gluten, dairy and egg free (for now at least, although I am trying to see if I may tolerate egg yolks or sour cream for example). I am surprised that only one person mentioned the SCD diet. I have been reading about the GAPS diet and started implementing some of it (I still eat some complex carbs but not much). I think you should look into it as many people say that this has helped them tremendously! You can find more info here: http://gapsdiet.com/ or here: http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/
Feel better!