Probiotics for SIBO?

@cheyne
Thank you so much for this input, really helpful!

@caregiver333
Thank you, appreciate this information. If the 2 week course of antibiotics doesn't alleviate symptoms, may try the low FODMAP diet. Haven't heard of simethecone: can one buy it over the counter?

@betsywriter49 simethicone is available over the counter under various brand names, including Gas-X. Here is a listing of brands.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/simethicone-oral-route/description/drg-20068838

@betsywriter49 often a single two week course is not enough. After the first course, wait two weeks I think, that is how long the antibiotics continue to work, then repeat with a second be course if symptoms not resolved. If that doesn't work, at that point of would be a treatment failure I think

I was first diagnosed with SIBO 15 years ago and was at first heavily dependent on antibiotics, rotating between Xifaxin and amoxicillin every month. It was a miserable experience. I then consulted a nutritionist, who explained that find the right probiotic was a process that could take months - in my case, it took about 18 months and I never found one that worked for me. She then recommended the paleo diet and for 4 or 5 years I basically ate nothing but eggs, avocados, some spinach, and meat and fish - gluten and dairy free. Very restrictive but it relieved most of the SIBO symptoms. I’ve since expanded my diet and loosely follow the Cedars-Sinai diet. My SIBO is permanent - my ileocecal valve was removed along with about 95% of my colon, a proactive response to a genetic disease, AFAP that causes colon cancer. Three things I now depend on to control my symptoms: a daily ginger/turmeric/cayenne shot for inflammation; a piece of sourdough bread every morning; and homemade L. Reuteri yogurt. I’m still gluten and lactose free - interestingly neither the sourdough nor the homemade yogurt upset my digestion - and my diet is high protein, low carb. I don’t have a sweet tooth, thankfully, but do like an occasional cocktail. I still get SIBO flares every so often, but haven’t taken antibiotics in the past six months or more and my daily life seems more “normal” since my diagnosis. As someone posted, treating SIBO symptoms is highly personalized- what works for some will not work for others - and it took a lot of trial and error to get to the point where I am now, where thankfully I have more good days than bad.

@caregiver333
I was thinking along those same lines!

@susanf8
Thanks Susan, I have GasX and have tried it but didn't notice much result. Also taking fermented foods in small amounts, taking IBGard mint tabs and really scaling down my meals, trying to avoid methane producing foods, etc., but truly believe the issue is mostly caused by having no gall bladder. The bile goes directly into the small intestine and then bacterial overload occurs. Something they don't mention when they perform this most common of surgeries. I've never been the same since it's been gone. In everyone's defense, my gall bladder was filled with stones and starting to give me quite painful attacks. In the future, I trust that there will be a treatment for gallstones that saves the gallbladder. I've heard it exists but isn't used (?!), similar to treatment used for kidney stones. My take away to others is: keep your gallbladder if you can!

@betsywriter49 Too late for me. My gallbladder and I parted company in 1998. I haven't actually noticed any problems as a result. I'm sorry you are having them.

I had SIBO for a year. Tested 4 times to see negative result. I was on a very limited strict diet for the first 8 week.
KInda like a KETO diet. Very hard but I managed. On Refraxin for a month, my levels wer off the chart for
3 different gases. Finally after the 8 weeks I was able to had some more food but still limited on the carbs and fillers found in food read labels and get to know the bad fillers and odd names for sugars. Could have monk sugar that had nothing else added to the monk sugar itself. You can find it on Amazon. Then doc put me on antimicobials for 90m days. 27 Pills a day to regrow the microbiome. Was allowed alittle more food.
When finished I follow the FODMAP diet very well. It's very very hard but I was so sick!! and it helps if
you can follow through with it. But I have inflamation in my gut from the SIBO and now have IBS-D. It sucks
but doing the best I can taking Sunfiber and then will switch to 38Terra for a prebiotic and also probiotics I take. Following the FODMAP diet plus lactose free gluten free no eggs either. Getting better each day.
A POOP test is good. I also see a naturopathic doc who will do other test then the doctors. I find them very
helpful but expensive but it's your health and the mind and gut work together. So do what you have to do.
Janice

@gigi4
I am a PMR patient who was on steroids that inflamed my gut. Started acid reducers recommended by physician.
Months later they didn’t seem to help. Started severe symptoms of fatigue, nausea, gas, weight loss, and messy stool. Blood tests and stool tests showed nothing wrong. Ct scan identified moderate to severe stenosis of the peripheral celiac artery, which can cause Sibo.
Seeing a vascular doctor in August to see what can be done. I haven’t been getting nutrients from what I was eating so that explains the nausea, fatigue, and weight loss. Hopefully he has a fix for this problem and I have abandoned all acid reducers and trying to maintain a diet in accordance with sibo.
Sibo is a symptom of a bigger problem. Hope I can kick it!