Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO)

May I ask what brand of bitters?

To diagnose SIBO, my doctor ordered a breath test which looks at these gases - methane and hydrogen - being produced in your gut. It's a home kit mailed to you but needs to be intrepreted by your doctor. I don't understand how SIBO can be detected via a colonoscopy or endoscopy. Google SIBO to find out what exactly it is and the symptoms one can experience (there are many) - I lost weight, felt fatigued and bloated and that my food was not being digested but just sitting in my upper stomach. Also, do some reading on testing for SIBO so you are armed with that information to share with your doctor. Let him/her know that you would very much like this test to at least rule in or rule out and how to treat if you do in fact have SIBO. What you want is to find out what is causing your symptoms, not just treat the symptoms, otherwise once you stop treating symptoms and feeling good, your symptoms will return if indeed you do have SIBO. That is what happened to me and on my third endoscopy I was told by the GI to never take the proton pump inhibitors (PPI) as they had made my digestive tract cells hypertrophic.
There is also a great book out called SUPER GUT by Dr. William Davis that helps you understand SIBO and dietary changes that need to be changed and/or added to your diet. His recommendations are very similar to what my doctor prescribed for me.
If your doctor refuses, I highly recommend you seek another one out who is willing to work with you on finding the reasons for your symptoms and treating that cause. My doctor is a functional medicine doctor as I gave up on my health providers. You can find one by city and state at ifm.org and look for one that specializes in digestive issues.
Wishing you the best in finding an answer and getting your health back.

To diagnose SIBO, my doctor ordered a breath test which looks at these gases - methane and hydrogen - being produced in your gut. It's a home kit mailed to you but needs to be intrepreted by your doctor. I don't understand how SIBO can be detected via a colonoscopy or endoscopy. Google SIBO to find out what exactly it is and the symptoms one can experience (there are many) - I lost weight, felt fatigued and bloated and that my food was not being digested but just sitting in my upper stomach. Also, do some reading on testing for SIBO so you are armed with that information to share with your doctor. Let him/her know that you would very much like this test to at least rule in or rule out and how to treat if you do in fact have SIBO. What you want is to find out what is causing your symptoms, not just treat the symptoms, otherwise once you stop treating symptoms and feeling good, your symptoms will return if indeed you do have SIBO. That is what happened to me and on my third endoscopy I was told by the GI to never take the proton pump inhibitors (PPI) as they had made my digestive tract cells hypertrophic.
There is also a great book out called SUPER GUT by Dr. William Davis that helps you understand SIBO and dietary changes that need to be changed and/or added to your diet. His recommendations are very similar to what my doctor prescribed for me.
If your doctor refuses, I highly recommend you seek another one out who is willing to work with you on finding the reasons for your symptoms and treating that cause. My doctor is a functional medicine doctor as I gave up on my health providers. You can find one by city and state at ifm.org and look for one that specializes in digestive issues.
Wishing you the best in finding an answer and getting your health back.

May I ask what brand of bitters?

Thank you for sharing this information. I have been diagnosed with IBS-D. Recently had a positive breath test for SIBO. Started Xifaxan a few days ago but I don't notice any difference in my symptoms. Some of the symptoms actually seem more pronounced. I had the SIBO breath test in the doctor's office. The breath testing machine made an alarm noise at the 3rd and forth 20 minute check. Both time the medical assistant said she had to calibrate the machine. 'I"m wondering if the test was even accurate. I also do not have any upper GI symptoms (heart-burn, belching, indigestion , nausea) which I thought was common with SIBO. I'm questioning if I even need this antibiotic but the doctor feels I do. Any thoughts on this?

After two regiments of Xifaxan my wife's latest breath test came back negative for SIBO. The problem is that she is still suffering from chronic nausea. She will eat a piece of toast and a cup of tea for breakfast and will be nauseated within fifteen minutes accompanied at times by violent belching and regurgitation. Her latest visit to the ER, and subsequent admission, once again found no abnormalities in her tests. The hospital could not duplicate her sever nausea on a hospital diet, but as soon as she got home the nausea reappeared. It is disappointing that the SIBO test was negative, because a positive reading would have at least given a diagnosis that could be treated. There have also been some suggestions that her symptoms might be psychosomatic. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who may have had such symptoms. Tuesday she has an appointment with the gastroenterology consulting physician who seen her in the hospital. This will be the fourth GI physician she has had in the last four years.

Did Xifaxan end up helping? I am currently on my third round of it. I found my symptoms got worse before getting better. I have IBS-D and nothing has helped my SIBO except Xifaxan. I am going to stay on it indefinitely most likely. Have you found anything else to help your symptoms?

Hi, just reading through old posts. These symptoms are the exact ones I have. Just curious if you ever found a cause with your wife's symptoms?

Did Xifaxan end up helping? I am currently on my third round of it. I found my symptoms got worse before getting better. I have IBS-D and nothing has helped my SIBO except Xifaxan. I am going to stay on it indefinitely most likely. Have you found anything else to help your symptoms?