How to manage SIBO symptoms?

Sorry that you are experiencing light headedness after eating, Eden. I was recently diagnosed with a very painful bout of diverticulitis. Was prescribed two very strong antibiotics along with initial liquid only diet. On the 5th day of antibiotics, I began having dry heaves and a very sharp, sudden drop in blood pressure which left me very dizzy and lightheaded. I knew the b.p. drop was due to an earlier diagnosis of orthostatic hypotension which occurs when some people go from sitting to standing or vice-versa. The divert. was diagnosed because of extreme abdominal pain but once on the mend no further muscle soreness. So my situation and diagnosis were different from yours. Sincerely hope you'll keep seeking help and answers.

Yes, I too am wondering about the lightheadedness being due to blood sugar and insulin levels. This was my first symptom when I became borderline diabetic. I would feel very lightheaded and a bit dizzy 2 hours after eating because my blood sugars had shot up, but then if I didn't eat for another hour or two, I would be getting low blood sugars and the shakes.

Right Ingegerd - this is certainly a more likely possibility, which is why I think @eden SHOULD continue to bring this up with her/his Dr., but not immediately attribute it to SIBO.

I'm a little late, but thanks fiesty!, this was a good article, although I'm always sad when I read these, b/c MDs who are knowledgeable and specialize in SIBO all seem to be on the East or West coasts... no one anywhere near me. 🙁

Thanks for sharing your experience - hopefully @eden will see these comments and suggest this possibility to her MD, if it hasn't already been addressed. Definitely should be checked into!

My husband suffers from constant diarrhea which was originally diagnosed following colonoscopy and biopsy as collagenous colitis. His doc put him on pepto bismol which worked for three years with regular flares. Eventually pepto stopped working. He went to another Gastro and had another colonoscopy and biopsy no longer showed collagenous colitis. This doc assumes it’s SIBO and prescribed the only antibiotic that works for this. Insurance does not cover this drug and cost is over $1000 for 14 days. This is just a trial and error approach. If he improves the assumption is it’s SIBO. If not they’ll try another round of antibiotics. Is there a reliable way to diagnose SIBO? From what I’m reading online this is a controversial diagnosis that some docs don’t believe in. Anyone have Experience with treatment for SIBO?

@cim37343, I moved your message to this active discussion group where members are talking about SIBO and treatment options. Click VIEW & REPLY to scroll through past messages. What is the antibiotic that your husband is taking? Is it helping yet?

@elle1233 - It is very confusing when you are dealing with different health issues. I was first told about SIBO 13 years ago- after that other GI and health issues developed, including beginning of “pre-diabetes”. I know the weak feeling 2 hrs after a meal- rarely now since I adjusted my diet. SIBO in itself can make me feel really ill.

My consultant diagnosed SIBO by the hydrogen breath test. The protocol here is to try different antibiotics on a rolling basis. The final one is very expensive, but still provided by the NHS. They didn’t work so I was put onto the FODMAP diet. It’s not easy to follow but it began to work after about a month. I still adhere to it as much as possible and have only occasional flare-ups after about two and a half years. Hope this helps.

I've had surgery for obstructions. In the last surgery they took out illeocecal valve, appendix and a piece of large and small intestines. I was then introduced to SIBO. Two flare ups in the last year
The only treatment that worked was XAFLAXIN and flagl together
Local GI doc prescripted colestapol which did nothing
I started out with damaged GI system from BAND and subsequent RNY bypass. Hope this helps