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Is it SIFO?
I just finished a course of ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole to empirically treat SIBO. Not my first rodeo with it, been treated at least half a dozen times. We are to the point where we do not do breath tests anymore, just go off of symptoms as I am very prone to it (SBS, no ileocecal valve, slow transit/history of constipation). I take Xifaxan 500 mg twice daily to prevent, but this is the 2nd time I have had a "flare" that has required different antibiotic treatment. I quit the ciprofloxacin halfway through due to side effects. I felt great improvement the 1st week after completing the course, but now symptoms are returning (bloating, gas, diarrhea, fullness right after a meal, fatigue). Has anyone gone through treatment for SIFO, either while getting treatment for SIBO or just on its own? I am highly suspicious and would like to hear success stories and/or tips.
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Hi,
I have similar problems and believe I'm going into SIBO for the 3rd time in approx 6 months. Can you tell me what are the first symptoms you experience as an indicator to SIBO?
Cheers
Usually I have a lot of bloating and sense of fullness within an hour of eating and unexplained diarrhea as my main symptoms.
Hi,
Thank you.
I seem to be getting a sticky thickening of sliver in the mouth with increased gas and a feeling I have drunk acid in the stomach. I never get diarrhea but have a constant battle with constipation. I'm never sure if it is an IBS flare or SIBO until it is too advanced. I keep a course of medication on hand for SIBO for a quicker responce rather than waiting weeks to get an appointment for my Dr. I'm still trying to figure out my the trigger for my SIBO, looks likely the amount of food and fluid could be or particular foods, not sure yet.
Do you find ciprofloxacin and metronidazole leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth up to a week after?
Cheers
I usually have that metallic taste in the mouth for 2 to 3 days after stopping metronidazole. Because I am continuing to have an odd taste in my mouth and seem to have a whitish film on my tongue weeks after being done with the antibiotic, I am going in to see my provider tomorrow to see if it is oral thrush. My SIBO seems to be due to a combination of no IC valve (removed surgically after l had a cecal volvulus), slow colonic transit/chronic constipation, and SBS. I suspect it will be a battle for the rest of my life.
I was diagnosed with SIBO (constant gas and constipation) a couple of years ago, told my level of it was "off the charts." So I was prescribed Xiafan (sp?) which cost me $2,000 and didn't do a thing to help.
As someone else put it here on this site: no wonder the medications for SIBO don't work (or last) for so many people; no one seems to know what even causes it*, so what they prescribe for it is only attempting to treat the symptoms rather than the cause.
*Last I heard anyway.
Not too sure about SIFO, but I struggled with SIBO for years. I tried xifaxan a few times which would help a bit, but not much. When I came down to eating only three foods (for years) I became worried and began trying to follow a SIBO diet and working with a nutritionist. It was a scary and rough time. At the time I was living on chicken, yams and boost...the foods had to be pureed too. My energy was always low due to not having enought nutrition. I was pale and very thin, but my belly would bloat. I found that sugar was the main culprit for me. I had to keep sugar at bay and anything that would quickly turn into sugar. I ate mainly the pureed chicken and well cooked pureed veggies, but tried small bits of other foods little by little (one every 3-4 days) while keeping a food journal (due to many reactions to foods because of SIBO). This helped as well as taking a probiotic. The key for me was to start anything new in tiny amounts. So, for the probiotic I had to open a capsule and let the tip of my pinky take a little of the powder for about 2 weeeks and on and on until I could take a whole capsule. It changed my life, but I also had to implement digestive enzymes to break up the food and ICV massages to help with transit time, etc. I researched on gut care as well and started some things for that (IGg, bone broth, l glutamine, etc.). I still have to keep regular or I do not feel well. I also steer clear from sugar and anything that could cause me constipation. I found that stress made the condition worse so I try to relax after meals. Anyway, I finally got to a point where I could eat many foods and not pureed. Thanks to God! I hope this helps.
Hi,
Like you I'm a lifer with this problem. My IBS was caused from a serious bout of Campylobacter which almost killed me and shut down my kidneys for 18 hours leaving me with Autonomic polyneuropathy (ANS) and damaged kidneys. ANS causes the slow digestion triggering SIBO from time to time. More often now and becoming a regular occurance. I'm not sure what I would call the taste other than nasty, but palatable out of necessity! The kidneys only ever rebounded to 43% function but are reasonably stable. My diet is crap as I'm juggling T2, IBS, SIBO, BP, high Cholesterol levels and CKD dietary requirements. I live a life of constant hunger, able to maintain this state as the effect of eating gets to be a worse problem to deal with. After living on mainly bread and water for 18 months I surprised I can still summons the energy to walk 10Km when required. Knowing I now have ANS the last resort of fecal transfer would appear to be a waste of time as the ANS controls the digestive system regardless of what we have done medically. ANS has no cure or treatment so that leaves the hope life isn't going to take too long to evaporate for me. Meantime I just deal with whatever happens each day I wake. All the specialists that thought they were going to make a difference for me have found they can't, so I'm left pretty much on my own to battle on with whatever meds I might require and manage my situation as best I can.
Cheers