Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

@mbusch12
3 weeks of antibiotics, then supplements? Am I understanding that when you stopped treatment and started adding food back in, the symptoms came back? If you don't mind me asking, were your symptoms as bad as before the treatment or did they get a little better? Or the same? Do you mind sharing what type of antibiotics? Did you have hydrogen, or methane dominant or the new one hydrogen sulfide? Thanks for sharing your experience.

I am sure there is some one reading this who can say as I can that I have had SIBO so many times that I don't need a breath test to identify it anymore. It is my thought that at least for myself, it will never "go away" so it is simply managing through come what may. My diet is extremely narrow and has been for years now but, there are times that I will eat "to my craving" (controlled) and I have found that there is something in those items that I crave that my body wanted, needed required - whatever it helped me develop some of the good bacteria as opposed to the over growth of bad.
My experience.

I have chronic SIBO; it’s never gone away since the original diagnosis many years ago. At first I was taking antibiotics every month, switching from Xifaxan and amoxicillin, and followed a very strict diet. I now focus more on managing my symptoms, taking Xifaxin only when I have a SIBO “flare.” And while still gluten and lactose free and low carb, my diet is a little less restrictive as I now have a better sense of what I know will trigger a flare. One of my Mayo doctors recently prescribed colesevelam hydrochloride which I take after dinner every evening and it’s helped considerably. I also take dicyclomine as needed for gut cramps and rectal spasms. Sadly, though, I know from past experience that what works now may not work next year so I keep reading and researching and participating in groups like this one.

I had SIBO a few years ago caused by antibiotics according to my doctor because they not only kill the bad bacteria but the good bacteria as well in your upper GI tract. I was put on a prebiotic followed by a probiotic to build back the gut microbiome. With the help of a nutritionist my doctor had on staff, she guided me with changes to be made in my diet. I omitted sugar as bacteria love to feed on sugar and used stevia instead for a sweetener, omitted dairy and switched to sheep and goat milk products like yogurt and cheeses as those are easier to digest, switched to nut milks instead of using any dairy products for adding to coffee or other drinks, eating or cooking and omitted gluten products as I tested positive for gluten intolerance (gluten destroyed my gut lining). There are plenty of gluten free breads, etc.
It takes commitment to these changes to get to feeling better again and it also takes commitment to continue with these dietary changes. But it worked for me tremendously!

Do you know why you are using weight? From what I understand, SIBO and IBS are symptoms for an underlying issue. In my case, BAM (bile acid malabsorption) was the issue after I had my gallbladder removed. You have to look at the whole picture. I started taking cholestyramine at the advice of my 'Nurse Practitioner' and then switched to acacia fiber. Eventually my body worked through this entire issue on its own; although I do believe probiotics helped. Acacia fiber is also a prebiotic which feeds the good bacteria. Now, I'm gaining weight. Slowly, very slowly but surely and at least I'm not losing. I eat healthy fats and take fish oil. I try to take the route of doing my body good with good nutrition as opposed to kill, kill, kill off bacteria. Hopefully this helps. Take care and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Or maybe not so speedy is better.

@creondave no

@eileene7
I was on the low fod map diet then transitioned in the IBS diet. Recently I had began to transition in other foods but it hasn’t worked. Foods that are still low fod map etc. I’m not able to pinpoint what triggered it.

@eileene7
I had also te tested and was negative after treatment.

@gigi4
I have a somewhat rare genetic disease, AFAP, which dramatically increases my risk of colon cancer (100%). I had a subtotal colectomy and in removing my colon, they also removed my ileocecal valve which is why my SIBO is chronic. I tried all sorts of diets and for the past 4-5 years have been on a SIBO diet I found on the Cedars Sinai website (lots of good info there!) with some minor modifications. I can tolerate lactose free dairy which helps with my protein intake and I also have a B-12 shot every month because of malabsorption issues. I like to bake and converting recipes to GF isn’t difficult (I use monk fruit as a sweetener). Still trying to master the art of good GF bread and in the meantime order Franz GF bread which is the best I’ve found.

@bapetersen
You have done really great work in finding what works for you! I certainly know that is not easy. I learned from an nutritionist that sourdough bread is ok to eat as it goes through fermentation, so that is one bread I eat since many restaurants have that option.
Best to you!