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← Return to Permanent SIBO due to removal of ileocecal valve
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Permanent SIBO due to removal of ileocecal valve
Digestive Health | Last Active: Apr 2 6:54am | Replies (191)Comment receiving replies
I know this is an old post but I found it with searching. I am hoping this person will respond.
I am currently in the hospital with this. My sibo gets so severe when I stop taking xifaxan. I get such overgrowth from e.coli that I have severe diarreha which leads to dehydration. That requires iv fluids.
I have discovered xifaxan completely fixes this but it has been a hit and miss operation finding the correct dose.
3x daily 550mg every 8 hours works. But it is a very expensive medication.
I found taking 1/2 of a 550mg 2x daily sort of works. But I still have some diarrhea. Increasing that to 3x daily does better.
I have crohns. I had my ic valve removed years ago. Sibo is my worst problem which I only discovered was the problem a few years ago.
I have tried Flagyl which also works but it does not work near as well as xifaxan. Flagyl is cheap.
Anyways. It is very hard to find information on this. I would greatly appreciate knowing how much xifaxan you are taking?
Replies to "I know this is an old post but I found it with searching. I am hoping..."
From what I understand SIBO is a bacterial overgrowth … did you pass any test to make sure it’s SIBO.
Google says the faster way to treat it is antibiotics ?
If you are interested in using diet instead of antibiotics I will share my routine with you. Some people find that eventually their bacteria become resistant to Xifaxan. I am not familiar with the diet requirements when you live with Chrons disease but i have found that since my ileocecal valve was removed during a complicated appendectomy that I have had to alter my diet to prevent SIBO relapse. For me that means I eat no flour products, only a low FODMAP salad, meats, nuts, and very limited fruit. I take ginger after meals to help with gut motility. I am fructose, gluten, and lactose intolerant so have a very limited diet. I have found using the Monash University FODMAP app a great help in keeping my sugar load down as well as Norm Robillard's Fast Trac Diet app to limit my exposure to carbs that gut bacteria feed on. The lower the glycemic index a particular food is the longer it takes to digest and the more time the bacteria have to eat and multiply. Going for a walk after eating helps with gut motility too. It has taken over 8 yrs to figure out what works for me. I found a probiotic with Bifdobacterium has helped with loose stool, it did not help for the first couple of years after my operation but works great now. There is a list of additives that can also cause digestive upset for people with sensitive guts. If you are interested I can find it and send it on to you. Hope some of my history helps.
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Hello and I'm sorry you are having this problem. It really affects the quality of life and I'm grateful for Xifaxan but you are right, it is mega expensive. I am taking 550mg 2x daily. During the start of Covid I decided to see how I do on 2 pills daily instead of 3 due to cost. I do "ok" but better on 3 pills a day but I stay with 2 pills. I am on Medicare and we are retired. My portion of the cost takes 3/4 of my social security check for a several months until I meet that crazy high deductible. It is a tier 5 drug. Pretty untouchable for most people and there's no patient assistance unless you have a total 30,000 or less in assets. We aren't wealthy but we don't fit in that poverty category either. I tried flagyl too but it makes me very sick and it can't be taken long term. This is sad to say but I want to live long enough to see Xifaxan go from brand to generic! It's criminal that a drug should cost so much.