Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO)

Posted by jacque6977 @jacque6977, Feb 22, 2017

My wife, after years of suffering from debilitating nausea and fatigue, has finally been diagnosed with SIBO as confirmed by a hydrogen breath test. It is estimated the bacteria has had at least two years to grow and may be well established. She has started on Xifaxan, at $35 per pill, but it is estimated that elimination of the SIBO may take up to six months. Her day now starts with her waking up with nausea and when she has a cup of tea and toast in the morning she gets sick within fifteen minutes thereafter. Her sickness is accompanied by violent belching, and at times she regurgitates liquid vile. The only drug she has for nausea is Zofran which does nothing for her. Are there any other SIBO sufferers that are experiencing the same symptoms, and what are you taking to reduce the nausea?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

ginpene | @ginpene05 | May 27, 2017

In reply to @nanny23 "Thanks so much for your reply. Have you heard of Iberogast? It's a natural treatment for..." + (show)

I'd love to hear about any non surgical treatment for SIBO. I've been hospitalized for it 4 times this year already. I hope to try a PT approach at a clinic called Clear Passage this summer. Thanks. Ginny

lighthouseceliac | @lighthouseceliac | May 27, 2017

In reply to @nanny23 "Thanks so much for your reply. Have you heard of Iberogast? It's a natural treatment for..." + (show)

When I was first diagnosed and very very ill, I got a lot of advice from the carbohydrate specific diet. See if they will allow the link:
http://scdlifestyle.com/about-the-scd-diet/

Nanny23 | @nanny23 | May 28, 2017

Thankyou so much. A great link will definitely try

saucy | @saucy | May 28, 2017

Interesting, but I found fruit to be the culprit for me !!

ginpene | @ginpene05 | May 28, 2017

In reply to @nanny23 "Thanks so much for your reply. Have you heard of Iberogast? It's a natural treatment for..." + (show)

Have not heard of Iberogast, but I saw adds for it on line. I am on a low residue diet because of the constant obstructions. Surgeons here won't operate unless the obstruction is complete, because they say that the surgery causes more adhesions. They also say that there is no medical data supporting the effect of fiber on obstructions, but it makes sense to me. Also the GI doc, NP and Dietians all say I need to avoid almost all fiber. Of course the last time I ended up in hospital I had been on less than 8gm. of fiber a day for 6 weeks, so..... Who knows? The physical therapy I plan to have is done in a clinic called Clear Passage. Other than sitting here waiting to start the awful pain and vomiting again, this is really my only option. If it helps I'll post. Good luck to everyone.

Nanny23 | @nanny23 | May 28, 2017

In reply to @nanny23 "Thanks so much for your reply. Have you heard of Iberogast? It's a natural treatment for..." + (show)

Found it on Amazon. Thinking of trying it

concerned mtn. mom | @concernedmtnmom | May 28, 2017

My daughter suffered through 4 Clostridium difficile infections (bacterial overgrowth in large intestine), and Rifaximin (Xifaxan) was an effective treatment. Other antibiotics (Flagyl, Vancomycin) made her very very ill. Eventually we did a microbiome transplant and that cured her. Along the way we discovered a fructose intolerance that produces a lot of the symptoms you listed. That was discovered through a horribly uncomfortable breath test (drink a fructose solution, breathe into a tube to capture gasses). I wish you the best of luck caring for your wife. The Mayo Clinic is a wonderful place because of their "whole patient/grand rounds" approach. By the way, there is usually High Fructose Corn Syrup in bread. You have to read the labels. If you are interested in knowing more about fructose intolerance, reply to this and I'll share all I know. I am always happy to help others because so many kind strangers helped us.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 29, 2017

Hi all,
You may also be interested in this discussion about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet http://mayocl.in/1ti7kKO

saucy | @saucy | May 29, 2017

In reply to @concernedmtnmom "My daughter suffered through 4 Clostridium difficile infections (bacterial overgrowth in large intestine), and Rifaximin (Xifaxan)..." + (show)

Thanks for bringing up fructose intolerance, I've mentioned this several times in the past. I had cut out all carbs except fruit and even had a negative test at Mayo, once I cut out fruit my life changed! I had been battling for 40 years and now cured!! Everyone raves about fruit being an important part of our diets but for about 30% of the population has problems digesting fruit and all related foods.. Your right about breads and just about every processed food has fructose and sugars. I only eat whole foods so I can control what I'm eating, it may be boring but at 65 I feel better then I have in 40 years! If interested please read my prior posts.

SweetMaize | @sweetmaize | Jun 1, 2017

In reply to @lizbee78 "I was diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic this past November with SIBO, small bowel damage, and..." + (show)

Hi @lizbee78, may I ask if you were diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota (and if so, with whom did you work)? I met with a GI doctor there once before, but he completely disregarded my breath test which revealed extremely levels of Hydrogen gas. Would love to get connected with a doctor there who understands SIBO and will work with me to eradicate it. Thanks so much!