Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO)

Over-the-counter Gaviscon (recommended to me by a gastroenterologist years ago) may help. Digestive teas are worth a try. One of my favorites combines chamomile, fennel, licorice root and peppermint. Very soothing.

I was taking Gaviscon for a while but it didn't seem to help. Maybe I'll try it again since my symptoms are much worse now. I do drink chamomile tea but have not tried the one with fennel, licorice root, and peppermint. I've read that peppermint can cause abdominal problems but I don't think mine could get worse so I will give a try. Thanks for your reply.

I haven't been diagnosed with SIBO but have all the symptoms. I'm going to be seeing my fourth GI at Mayo. I'm hoping to get a diagnosis of something. Everything I drink, even Boost causes terrible belching, bloating, distention, diarrhea or constipation and some nausea. My GI prescribed Xifaxan but my insurance would not cover it even with a very high co-pay. They said that since my diagnosis was not IBSD that I could not get it. My GI at the time would not even attempt an appeal on my behalf and told me that there was nothing else that she could do for me. Someone mentioned a SIBO test that was done at home. I was wondering if I could get the name of the site used. Also, does anyone know of anything that works for belching? This community has been so helpful. People here understand what you are dealing with. Trying to explain your condition to healthy people who can't understand what you are going through leaves you feeling isolated. Thanks to everyone who shares on the Mayo community.

One other thought. Google "Iberogast". Its a plant-based non prescription product used to alleviate the symptoms of IBS and dyspepsia. Its been used in Europe for many years and in Canada since 2006. (Also dr. recommended.). I have never tried it but I see at it on the drugstore shelf. Read about it and see what you think. Its pretty safe.

@sue225 - I have used Iberogast for a long time now. It was recommended by GI at Mayo. I use it when eating meat- hard to digest food.

One other thought. Google "Iberogast". Its a plant-based non prescription product used to alleviate the symptoms of IBS and dyspepsia. Its been used in Europe for many years and in Canada since 2006. (Also dr. recommended.). I have never tried it but I see at it on the drugstore shelf. Read about it and see what you think. Its pretty safe.

I haven't officially been diagnosed with anything. And all tests so far come back that there is nothing wrong with me, yet I have a page worth of digestive issues. I was told by one who does everything naturally that she thought I have candida overgrowth. What I do know is that since doing natural remedies it has gotten better, not 100% normal, but better. Aloe helped to begin some healing, i take a good probiotic, i start each day with warm lemon water, i have a strict diet of fruit in the morning and then lots of veggies and some protein the rest of the day. Am not entirely sure the fruit is ok. I use coconut oil to cook with, put it on my veggies, and use it to make salad dressing. I have a good organic peppermint tea that is working wonders to relieve gas and bloat. I was told I cook snack on raw nuts, mostly almonds, but they cause issues so I stay away from them. A lot of these things are different for different people. Right now I can't have cheese, dairy, or most grains. What I do know for me at least, I can get no answers from doctors and I cannot take their medications as they are too hard on my system. I recommend finding a natural practitioner but even then, research what they recommend .

Today, even though very sick, my wife went to her gastro doctor to seek some relief from her daily nausea and fatigue I took along my breath test lab report that showed "Presence of Bacterial Overgrowth is Supported". The doctor, who has been trying for four years to find a cause, got upset when I referred to the lab report showing SIBO. He said that if I was going to use a outside lab for a diagnosis, he no longer wanted my wife as a patient, and beside that, he didn't believe SIBO was her problem even thought the lab report showed SIBO to be present. The medical profession had spent four yeas at a Medicare billed cost of over $250,000 trying to diagnosis her nausea and he couldn't accept the fact that in two weeks at a cost of $170 I was able to at least come up with a possible diagnosis. It should be mentioned that in December I requested the doctor perform a gastro emptying study. The study showed a 21 minute dump, and though it raised no red flags with the doctor, it did with me. This meant food was passing thru the stomach without the benefit of the stomach acid to aid the digestion and would now required the small intestine to do both its work and the work of the stomach. Following the Mayo Clinic web site, the next step would be to perform a hydrogen breath test. When I asked the doctor to do the test he said the practice did not do the test because they could not find a local lab. I went on line, found a lab, got the kit and my wife performed the test at home. Five days later I had the test results back.The problem is the doctor will not accept the suggestion as to what I think her problem might be, even though I had researched chronic nausea on at least twenty medical web sites. His final comments were that he was not able to diagnosis her nausea, he didn't believe it was SIBO despite the lab report, she should go to the Mayo Clinic and he no longer wanted her as a patient. He also refused to re prescribe any of her current drugs. So I now have a sick wife who has lost seven pounds in the last month with no relief in sight. I am now in the process of finding another gastro practice who will accept a reject from a competing practice. As an aside, two months ago, on one of my wife's frequent ER visits, as usual all of the ER test results were normal and the doctor said he saw she was sick but he couldn't admit her because she had no diagnosis. I happened to have the breath test printout with me and told him what I thought her problem might be. He said the results looked valid and he asked ME what I wanted him to do. I said prescribe Xifaxan, 550mg, 3/day for 14 days. He did and I was able to put her on a 14 day anti-bacteria, 14 day probiotic regiment for two cycles. Since the doctor has refused to refill the script, and progress toward treating the SIBO has come to a stop. So, since I was the one asking for a gastric emptying test, the one who obtained the breath test and the one who prescribed the medication, my WebMD degree has served me well. If I could only write the drug scripts I wouldn't have to experience the two hour wait in the doctor's office.

I haven't been diagnosed with SIBO but have all the symptoms. I'm going to be seeing my fourth GI at Mayo. I'm hoping to get a diagnosis of something. Everything I drink, even Boost causes terrible belching, bloating, distention, diarrhea or constipation and some nausea. My GI prescribed Xifaxan but my insurance would not cover it even with a very high co-pay. They said that since my diagnosis was not IBSD that I could not get it. My GI at the time would not even attempt an appeal on my behalf and told me that there was nothing else that she could do for me. Someone mentioned a SIBO test that was done at home. I was wondering if I could get the name of the site used. Also, does anyone know of anything that works for belching? This community has been so helpful. People here understand what you are dealing with. Trying to explain your condition to healthy people who can't understand what you are going through leaves you feeling isolated. Thanks to everyone who shares on the Mayo community.