Small instestines bacteria overgrowth

Hi,
I have been under Gastrology specialists for some years now and they have taken it seriously and doing everything they can for me in the last 3 years.
I continually felt I had consumed acid with a constant acid / burning feeling in the lower abdomin area and taste in the mouth, occasionally it acid would find it's way back up into my mouth stripping a layer of skin off my lips. I would blow up like a ballon with a simple cup of tea. I guess I kind off know what it might be like to be 9 months pregnant! I originally got to a point where the belly skin was so stretched to the max and hard with no more give to give. Most uncomfortable not being able to sit folded but rather semi lay down. Everything I consumed just flared up stronger and the only thing I found that could help was wholemeal bread and margarine spearingly to try and soak up the stomach juices. I'm told it is not good to have the bread but as it sort of works for me I continue with it. Currently living on bread and water to try and exstinguish this current flare up. Just a mug of home made veg soup sets it off or a spot of anxiety stirs it up. I suspect I won't be successful but I have to try first.
Before I knew I had SIBO I just figured it was an IBS flare up and I used to restrict my food to fresh chicken or fish only and that used to help over 2 months of it. These days I can't eat the volume of food I used to be able, and it wasn't even a normal size meal. The volume of food is what can trip me up with the slow digestion, the excess flows on into the lower intestine where it shouldn't be, and ferments causing the SIBO.
A typical intake of food for my day would be 4 slices of wholemeal bread with two thin pieces of shaved ham, margarine as thin as I can spread it, two sandwiches, 6 cups of tea no sugar and slim milk, sparingly, if I think about it 2 eggs and I don't as often as I should think about them. Sort of out of sight out of mind for me. Or I can trade off 2 slices of bread for half a small palm of grilled or dry roasted chicken. I find anymore than that and I'm in trouble, just one extra cup of tea or another sandwich and I'm exploding again, with a full gut and unable to digest it quick enough waking in the morning feeling full and still bloated. Now I skip food when ever I feel like it as it is more comfortable. I have been known to survive on just cups of tea for many weeks trying to get comfortable. Longest I have survived was 3 months before I could start slowly reintroducing bland foods again. I have to say you can shed a lot of weight this way. I became fearful I would be blown away in the next wind gust! One thing I have to watch out for not eating is it can induce anorexia and I have to force myself to start eating again. My best answer to the gut problems is still to stop eating, it is when I feel the most comfortable but it is not sustainable in the long term. I can't see I will ever get back to regular eating habits now with ANS controlling the digestive system 24/7. It is totally messing me about, I'm just in survival mode, eating just to preserve life as best I can.
Cheers

I have had IBS-D for over 40 years. I have been gluten free for 13 years and it's helped but I still get days when I can't leave the house. Was tested for SIBO years ago and it came out that I made methane gas. Which is odd since methane gas is supposed to make you constipated. I have used the Fodmap diet to guide me. I stay away from gluten and dairy products but still have problems. I do feel better if I don't eat a lot at one meal.

So sorry. I admire your courage.

I have never had a test. I just saw this was listed on my medical records in the paperwork for my referral to UCLA. Doctors have never discussed it with me. They have said I have a sensitive gut but that is all.

I just read it on my chart. It was never mentioned by anyone.

Hi,
Thank you.
I never thought it was anything more than dumb stupidity not having enough brain cells to rub together and end it all!
Cheers

Hi,
I don't know which is easiest C or D, lurching from one to the other is usually a short live moment pleasure until the stark realisation the cycle starts again. For me SIBO is the side affect of other more sinister health issues that can't be treated or cured. As yet I haven't found a way of getting used to it or managing it.
Cheers

Hi,
I only found out I had ANS by reading my ED discharge papers. Then I rushed to read my Gastorlogists notes and saw it confirmed this was what he is dealing with. That sent me into reasearch mode and the proverbial hit the fan. No way around it , no way out, stuck with it for the forseeable. All the pieces fell into place and the sysmptoms started making sence. Looking back at my health history and previously events that made no sence suddenly there was an understanding of why this has been happening to me. A huge relief, I was not imagining it and not going mad, now I sort of understand why when another symptom says hello. The big problem is 50% of my symptoms are random events which nobody can be sure the neuropathy is the cause. we all just suppose it is for lack of another reason.
Interestingly I tackled my Gastrologist about it last time we met and I could see the relief come over his face. I guess no one really likes to be the one to tell a person it's all doom and gloom ahead with a successful bout of death possibly thrown in for good measure.
Cheers

I certainly understand. I have a condition called CVID or Common Variable Immunodepression. In otherwords my body doesn't make antibodies to fight viruses or bacteria so I give myself infusions of blood plasma to get other peoples antibodies in IgG gammaglobulin. Because of having primary immunodeficiency people like me have all sorts of weird things. Mine really effects my gut where we have bacteria.

Hi,
I don't think too many people understand just what the nerve systems do for us. Simply put they are the wiring between a keyboard and the motherboard. Without it or corrupted all manner of screwball things can happen, totally out of our control. When It gets bad it often becomes a permanent feature of our system. I struggled to remember how to speak last week. Fortunately for me a very short term computer glitch! But none the less it refocuses my attention to what a task I have to deal with.
I knew a friend who had to have monthly infusions to try to get the nerves working each month. He had no sensation in his limbs and was restricted from a lot of activities because of it, driving in particular where he could not determine how much pressure was required to accelerate or brake. At the time I paid it no heed, but in hindsight I realise just what hell it must have been for him.
Everybody thinks I crazy to want death but frankly when it gets bad that is the only solution if it doesn't happen through ANS. Thankfully I understand that keeping myself as busy as I can diverts the mind not allowing it time to contemplate the shortcomings of my disease.
This is not a disease for the faint hearted but surely it is one for my enemies! If I had any.
Cheers