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Probiotics for SIBO?

Posted by caregiver333 @caregiver333, Dec 13, 2024

My elderly (90yo) mother is kept up at night by stomach gas and belching. She had a positive lactulose breath test based on an early hydrogen rise at 90 min. She has been offered a rifaximin Rx but prefers to avoid antibiotics. Is there a probiotic regimen that might help?

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robal19 | @robal19 | Mar 10 10:53am
In reply to @robal19 "I've been having uti every 6 months for a few years. I also have parathyroid disease...." + (show)
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I've been having uti every 6 months for a few years. I also have parathyroid disease. I've been told nothing particular by doctors or their pa as to why Im getting these and told they are just frequently an older people's issue and "be sure to wipe front to back", lol!! As to the parathyroid issue I'm told as long as my levels of calcium in my blood stay within levels I don't need surgery. I had a wonderful pa who took my blood every 6 months (and I had a thyroid doctor/consultant that said the same), and my levels have stayed ok, but the pa/doctor retired. When I ask questions of my new doctor I almost get blank looks and an antibiotic, no blood test is ever suggested unless I request it. In other words, I have to know the right questions to ask otherwise and to keep changing doctors til I find one that knows how to be a real doctor to real people who depend on getting real professional help. Since Jan 2025 this time I've been feeling bad, no real appetite or taste and went to the doc Feb 5th and felt I had uti and flu or covid possibly. Was told and treated for uti with cipro. Was told I just had a cold. I got worse after taking cipro and went back to doc March 1. Was given amox and clav for 10 days which ends March 10. I feel better today but have lost 10 lbs since Feb 5 but getting a bit of appetite back but taste buds just a little. In asking doc if I can or should start eating probiotics or prebiotics after taking my amox clav yet have parathyroid disease I'm told to eat whatever's want. I'm wondering after checking my symtons for at least this last year if I could have sibo? I have an apt with a new doc next week who may "be the one" who knows how to help with some knowkegeble insight to what I need.

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I've downloaded the FodMap and appreciate everyone's comments. I am feeling depressed and useless since being on so many antibiotics and hopefully other then feeling bad I'm hoping now that I've finished this second round of antibiotics I'll feel better, get my taste buds and appetite (utilizing the FodMap) back and keep my weight in check.

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ggr | @ggr | Mar 10 10:57am
In reply to @gigi4 "I completed my protocol for SIBO. I haven't dealt with it anymore. Thank you!" + (show)
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I completed my protocol for SIBO. I haven't dealt with it anymore. Thank you!

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Great news!

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celia16 | @celia16 | Mar 10 9:26pm

I am cautiously optimistic about a strange thing I noticed today about a long standing problem. I was on this thread earlier, because I am scheduled for a SIBO test. I was bummed because I had to start on amoxicillin for a dental infection this past Friday. Well….since September 2023, I have had a constant metallic then turned bitter taste in my mouth. I have seen a neurologist, ENT, gastroenterologist, primary, etc. No one is certain what caused it. It was theorized it could be post covid syndrome, as I was diagnosed with that. Or, B12 deficiency, which I also had. No one had any suggestions for treatment, except to give it time………WELL, today is day 4 on the antibiotics and the bitter taste has subsided quite a bit. I am now wondering if I indeed had SIBO and it was causing the constant bitter taste.

I’m not sure what to do. Send the gastroenterologist a message about it? Tell the dentist who prescribed it for me? While I’m taking it, I might as well do the right diet….Please send positive thoughts about this. It was so hard to keep the faith that I might ever be free of that bitter taste. I pray it continues to resolve.

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robal19 | @robal19 | Mar 11 10:34am
In reply to @celia16 "I am cautiously optimistic about a strange thing I noticed today about a long standing problem...." + (show)
Profile picture for celia16 @celia16

I am cautiously optimistic about a strange thing I noticed today about a long standing problem. I was on this thread earlier, because I am scheduled for a SIBO test. I was bummed because I had to start on amoxicillin for a dental infection this past Friday. Well….since September 2023, I have had a constant metallic then turned bitter taste in my mouth. I have seen a neurologist, ENT, gastroenterologist, primary, etc. No one is certain what caused it. It was theorized it could be post covid syndrome, as I was diagnosed with that. Or, B12 deficiency, which I also had. No one had any suggestions for treatment, except to give it time………WELL, today is day 4 on the antibiotics and the bitter taste has subsided quite a bit. I am now wondering if I indeed had SIBO and it was causing the constant bitter taste.

I’m not sure what to do. Send the gastroenterologist a message about it? Tell the dentist who prescribed it for me? While I’m taking it, I might as well do the right diet….Please send positive thoughts about this. It was so hard to keep the faith that I might ever be free of that bitter taste. I pray it continues to resolve.

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I hope you get through this time and find help and someone that can treat the cause not just the symptoms. I think we have more than one doctor (these days patients mostly see PAs and have never met their doctors) and we don't have that one family doctor with their own private practice who has the experience to diagnosis symptoms that these days you have to go to several other doctors (PAs) to see. If you don't know the right questions to ask we go home wondering exactly what treatment we are being given or what the side effects are since there are pages of fine print and can't pronounce medical terms we are in a wait and see situation as to being hopeful the doc/PA knows what is really going on. I am on my last day of a 10-day amoxicillin clav prescription. Two weeks before that on Cipro for UTI and covid/flu symptoms but was told I had a cold! I feel better today but not "normal", still have no real strength, no appetite and when I do try to think of something I might eat as far as I've been told to not eat or can eat, I can't taste it. I've lost 10 lbs in one month and walk on eggshells trying not to rock the boat and the bad symptoms in my gut and body don't show up again. I'm depressed and sad a lot but know hopefully this too shall pass.

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robal19 | @robal19 | Mar 11 12:31pm
In reply to @caregiver333 "Do you eat a special diet while on the antibiotics or afterwards? I'm seeing conflicting advice..." + (show)
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Do you eat a special diet while on the antibiotics or afterwards? I'm seeing conflicting advice about that. I would think a low FODMAP diet would help kill off the bacteria in conjunction with the antibiotics but I'm also hearing the opposite.

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Exactly! Doc said take with meal but on paperwork says eat this, not that then contradicts itself also in paperwork. I even asked pharmacist and she said she never heard of restrictions on amoxicillin clav! To eat whatever and seemed annoyed. Googled amox and got different answers. I guess it's good I have no appetite and taste buds aren't working yet I need protein and other nutrients.

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celia16 | @celia16 | Mar 11 6:38pm

I’m gong to take this Amoxicillin for 7 days and see what happens. The SIBO test that was rescheduled for early April will have to be rescheduled again though….due to these antibiotics.

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celia16 | @celia16 | Mar 12 9:13am

How long have you all taken antibiotics when treating SIBO before?

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caregiver333 | @caregiver333 | Mar 12 9:53am

Haven't taken them yet but a friend took rifaximin for 2 weeks, waited two weeks after that (it stays in the system that long), had a recurrence of symptoms, took rifaximin for another 2 weeks, and was cured.

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ajnos03 | @ajnos | Mar 12 11:07am
In reply to @celia16 "I am cautiously optimistic about a strange thing I noticed today about a long standing problem...." + (show)
Profile picture for celia16 @celia16

I am cautiously optimistic about a strange thing I noticed today about a long standing problem. I was on this thread earlier, because I am scheduled for a SIBO test. I was bummed because I had to start on amoxicillin for a dental infection this past Friday. Well….since September 2023, I have had a constant metallic then turned bitter taste in my mouth. I have seen a neurologist, ENT, gastroenterologist, primary, etc. No one is certain what caused it. It was theorized it could be post covid syndrome, as I was diagnosed with that. Or, B12 deficiency, which I also had. No one had any suggestions for treatment, except to give it time………WELL, today is day 4 on the antibiotics and the bitter taste has subsided quite a bit. I am now wondering if I indeed had SIBO and it was causing the constant bitter taste.

I’m not sure what to do. Send the gastroenterologist a message about it? Tell the dentist who prescribed it for me? While I’m taking it, I might as well do the right diet….Please send positive thoughts about this. It was so hard to keep the faith that I might ever be free of that bitter taste. I pray it continues to resolve.

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Can I ask you what your symptoms are for sibo? I believe I have it but I also have silent reflux. I have been trying to get a test for sibo, but I've been unable to contact the right doctor to give it to me. Gastrointestinal doctors don't seem to know what it even is. It would be helpful to me if I knew what your symptoms are. Thank you in advance, Sonja

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2 replies
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swischard5 | @swischard5 | Mar 12 11:42am
In reply to @retiredbabe "A low fodmap diet is the most difficult diet ever. But you can purchase fodzyme from..." + (show)
Profile picture for retiredbabe @retiredbabe

A low fodmap diet is the most difficult diet ever. But you can purchase fodzyme from Monash university in Australia and put it on your food. Doesn't work on polyols but still not bad. I did this for six months along with Atrantil and megaspore biotics. Watch probiotics. Some are worse for SIBO. I have methane, the worst, and my score was 71. After six months of fodzyme and those supplements my score dropped to 54 only so I took the xifaxin. I'm on 2nd round. SIBO is very difficult to get rid of. Now I've added kirkman biofilm defense because SIBO warriors build protective shields. They are insane bacteria that fight to kill you.

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I have excessive hydrogen SIBO. I took one round of xifaxin and it helped a little but won't take anymore because I've had a lot of antibiotics in my life.
The atrantil has helped my bowel movements along with FC-Cidal and Dysbiocide by Biotic Research and I'm feeling better with my sensitive gut.
But I am still very bloated for the last 4 months. I'm working with a GI doctor and a naturopath. I'm 78 yrs old active woman - but how do I get rid of this bloating. My naturopath suggested I stop the atrantil but I don't think I can or I will be constipated.

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