Please know that nausea is listed as the number one side effect of many of the antibiotics prescribed for sibo. I just read an article titled "Herbal Therapy Is Equivalent to Rifaximin for the Treatment of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth" published in the Natl Library of Medicine on line. It suggests herbal OTC compounds (they identify which ones they used in the study) may work as well or better for some people in eliminating SIBO. The herbal compounds used in this study are available online. I just ordered 2 of them and will report what results I get. I haven't taken the breath test because I just learned about it 2 days ago and also just read that it is now thought by many docs that SIBO goes undiagnosed in diverticulitis patients. Also, I am pretty sure my small intestine is compromised in some way and I am looking for healthful ways of strengthening/healing it for good.... In the past 8 months I have had my first 2 digestive "attacks". The first flare-up/attack lasted 4 months. It was diagnosed as "possible" diverticulitis - maybe with a fistula, even though 4 catscans, 4 blood and urine tests, cystoscopy, colonoscopy, 2 trips to the ER (severe pain, nausea, bloating), and visits to internist, gyno, urologist, and gastro docs found nothing but trace amounts of blood in urine every time. (None of the docs mentioned SIBO possibility.) I was put on cipro/flagyl for 2 weeks on, then 2 weeks off, then 2 weeks on. The entire time - severe pain (the nausea for me went away). I lost 15 lbs in 6 weeks because couldn't eat anything but clear broth - 1/2 cup at a time. Then I started researching the web. Got some powerful probiotics and started taking 50 billion cfus 4x/da, continued my liquid diet adding protein drink for calories - again 1/2 cup at a time. 4 weeks after I took myself off cipro/flagyl, and with the probiotics and herbal anti-inflammatories (zyflamend, turmeric, oregano oil), I was started to eat solid food though still small quantities (max 1 cup/meal). Thru this and even now I continue to drink a minimum 8 glasses of water/clear broth every day. Now here's the real surprise to me - with the 2nd attack - after just hours of the strange intermittent pain and nausea starting, I returned to liquid diet immediately (still with probiotics and anti-inflammatories), started taking daily stool softener (sloooow painful bowel movements had been a part of the first attack) and cleared my system of all solids. It took 5 days. There was a 4 hours WW3 in my belly on the 2nd nite of the 5, along with nausea, vomiting, severe bloating and so much pain) - but very short compared to the 4 months of agony I had experienced the first time. It's day 5 - no pain! No antibiotics! No ER trips (although I almost gave in during the 4 hour session). No anxiety! I will do one more day of clear liquids adding protein drink. When I'm sure this has passed, I will start slow high-protein calorie loading (lost 3 pounds), walking 3 miles a day and restorative yoga 2x/week. I have resolved that if I get another "flare up", I will do the home breath test asap. Hoping that the herbal therapy will clear out any residual bad gut stuff and there will be no more flare ups. Good luck to all with SIBO. May you find lasting effective treatments.

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