Hi, yes, antibiotics at times are necessary. Due to having mitral valve prolapse, I was put on antibiotics for any oral surgery or other minor issues which didn't help.

I was diagnosed with a leaky gut as well which resulted in having SIBO, GERD, a fungal infection, gluten intolerace and later diagnosed with a mold infection. I'm doing very well on a regimen I've been on for about 2 yeas now. However, I didn't treat it on my own. I found a wonderful functional medicine doctor after 3 endoscopies and being put on prescriptions that eventually harmed my digestive tract cells which was added injury to my stomach. So I left my medical clinic and went the route of natural remedies, and I've been treated with non-prescription supplements, except for one treating the mold. I also made changes in my diet with the help of a nutritionist my doctor has on her staff and reduced my stress through meditation and breath work. Things I added to my diet include fermented foods such as Kefir, pickles from the refrigerated section of the market otherwise they are not fermented, sauerkraut, plus you need prebiotics and probiotics to help along with he fermented foods to build up the good bacteria, reducing sugar in my diet and eating low sugar fruit such as all the berries, using stevia as a sweetener for my coffee, eating gluten free (my doctor believes gluten is not good for any of us), eating organic as much as possible, wild caught fish and grass fed beef. All the dairy I buy comes from grass fed cows, no antibiotics, no hormones, etc. It can get expensive but my health and well being is worth it.

Also addressing stress is critical. What goes in our minds affects our bodies, specifically the digestive tract. Meditation and breath work is incredibly healthy to become aware of your body's responses to stress and how to not get caught up in being stressed but calming yourself. Breath work is critical to this process.

If you are treating this on your own and want to continue doing that, I would suggest a book I read that is excellent - "SUPER GUT" by Dr. William Davis. There are so many variables to getting your digestive tract healed and leaky gut can be healed. It takes consistency and adherence to what you need to be eating and omitting things to not eat, meditating daily even if it's for 5 minutes and utilizing breath work ( I use 2 apps - Headspace and Insight Timer), exercising - walking daily is very helpful if you haven't been exercising or do not have a sport you play.
Hope this is helpful. Happy to answer other questions you may have. It's an in-depth topic.