Sibo treatment, long term success??

I had success the first time with antibiotics and then supplements through my chiropractor. I re tested and was negative. However, at the moment I’m working with my GI again because all my symptoms are back and I need to take another breathe test. I was only 6 months free of SIBO.

@mbusch12 How long did you take antibiotics / supplements?

I did the three week course of antibiotics. After that I was taking supplements of livaplex and vitamin b-12 that was helping me very much and low fod map that my Dr recommended. I was able to stop the supplements and did very well with just Florajen probiotic. When I had my last flare I re tested and it was negative. This time around I have been struggling with transitioning foods back in and have all the symptoms again of SIBO like I did originally. Unfortunately I have to be off the probiotic 30 days before I can do the breathe test again. I feel like a sitting duck for the next 30 days. It’s such a rotating process.

Are you on Creon by any chance? I am going to start experimenting (under my pancreas expert's guidance), adding probiotics and removing Creon after 30 days of antibiotics; the goal is to see if I can get off Creon.

@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