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Have you successfully treated SIBO?
A common story- decades-long GI problems, consulted MD's, GI specialists, others, to no avail. Reactions from "nothing is wrong" to "no idea." Original symptoms major gas and constipation, but gas abated some years ago while insomnia, sinus congestion (causing hearing and equilibrium/balance problems), fatigue, mental fog, random muscle cramps/soreness ramped up.
Much online research. Bought books by Dr. Mark Pimentel of Cedars-Sinai, also Drs. Michael Ruscio, Alison Siebecker, and Elizabeth Lipski. Looked at many GI-dysfunction websites. Learned about IMO and SIBO. Bought Foodmarble tester, actually wore the first one out after 2 years' 6/day testing, replaced it about a year ago. Also learned that antibiotics, specifically riflaxamin and neomycin, have serious drawbacks- neomycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, sterilizes the entire GI tract, kills both good and bad bugs, a problem from which many never recover. Paid out-of-pocket for many lab tests, including GI-MAP twice. Tried many combinations of probiotics and neutraceuticals.
My Foodmarble tester initially found methane as well as hydrogen, so the diagnosis was IMO and SIBO. Read all the blogs by Bella Lindemann, owner of the Functional Gut Clinic in Australia, and managed to cure my IMO based on zero methane readings starting 1 year+ ago, but as Ms Lindemann reveals, if you have IMO you also have SIBO. Current test readings show only hydrogen. She is the most knowledgeable source on this problem, but no longer consults with individual clients, having hired several assistants to do that. In an email exchange with her, she recommended one of her people who is on board with the Foodmarble (since it is not universally accepted), but after several expensive teleconferences I realized that this assistant was not using any specific data or test results from me, she was merely copy/pasting generic suggestions and asking the same from-square-one questions each time, so I abandoned that initiative.
My reading has revealed that there are several causes of SIBO, but a colonoscopy showed no irregularities. By process of elimination, I have concluded that the cause in my case has to be stress. Once I thought about it, I realized that stress has been a lifelong issue- I used to grind my teeth and chew my cuticles until bleeding, but never consciously. The stress likely resulted from and was furthered by 40+ years of running my own business, but even though I'm many years retired (I'm 78), the stress is so ingrained that it persists even today- it cannot be "turned off." Relaxation techniques, including various beverages such as teas and bone broths, have not helped- in fact, these days the stress is probably due to having SIBO- a vicious circle.
I'm on a greatly restricted diet, monitored by my wife, who is a credentialed dietitian. An allergy test a while back revealed nothing helpful. Currently battling insomnia using melatonin and daytime naps as well as maintaining a degree of regularity with meloxicam. Cycling through various suppleements, currently Dysbiocide and FC-Cidal. No help with the sinus congestion, which I understand is due to reaction by my immune system, so my hearing is poor- cannot have a conversation unless people shout at me. Hearing aids actually make it worse.
Of course, treating symptoms is not a cure, and since everyone's gut flora are not the same, one person's relief will not necessarily work for another. But perhaps someone reading this tale of woe has been able to tame their SIBO and that solution may be helpful for me. Thanks for reading.
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Interesting you say that (about Lindemann's practice) - I've heard/read this before on other forums and, I did a "Free Intro" call with one of the Practitioners. I wasn't impressed as her knowledge seemed rather limited; especially given the narrative /advertisement on the site about what they treat and how. So I decided to pass; glad I dodged that "bullet" 🙂
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1 ReactionWho is the Naturopath you're using?
While I agree sharing is helpful, I have to say it occurs to me that, given that folks like us seem to have a wealth of information and have done multiple/various treatments already, it's not clear what we need is more info :).
I read your comment from August 23 and you mentioned stress being a factor; I can tell you 100% that is, for sure, a very significant factor and it was most likely one of the reasons I got SIBO to begin with. Typically, when you're highly stressed, your system shifts into the sympathetic state; among the fallout, your digestion slows down (or even shuts down) - impaired motility is a root cause of SIBO. Further, your cortisol rises dramatically which among other things, blunts serotonin, tryptophan it's precursor, and GABA - all calming neurotransmitters and notably, the gut is a major site for their production.
My own "stress response" was compromised from childhood trauma and then working in high-stress environments. Since retirement, I'm generally calmer (although I have my moments) and I've become painfully aware (as it seems you have) of the long-term effects on my body. I've taken steps to address it directly (supplements to reduce cortisol, meditation, gentle exercise). A couple of practitioners over the years (ND and Functional Nutritionist) put the same emphasis on this as they did the diet and supplements for SIBO. Some key natural supplements that help are 5-HTP (serotonin precursor), GABA, and theanine. They do work but alas, not like a benzo Rx does (instantly); it's more of a shift in your system over time but indeed much better for your body as you're directly supporting what it needs (whereas benzos are very addicting and don't address the root cause).
Another thing that I believe is sorely need to overcome SIBO (especially SIBO-C) - and something that I have not done myself, despite the suffering many years - is to treat it long-term with consistency. Someone else on this thread mentioned being on antibiotics/antimicrobials for at least 2 months, then addressing motility, etc. and she managed to get somewhere. Further...
As I mentioned in another reply of mine, addressing the microbiome at the appropriate time with the approprite substances (prebiotics and probiotics) is another key element that has become more prominient over the last several years. Check out the work of Dr Jason Hawrelak if you have not already: https://www.probioticadvisor.com/about-us/dr-jason-hawrelak/
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1 ReactionYou are right about stress causing low gut motility. In my case the stressor was a benzodiazepine. Those horrible drugs down regulate GABAa receptors and leave glutamate uninhibited. Unfortunately gut motility isn’t their only detrimental effect.
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2 ReactionsYes indeed. I've only been on Klonopin .25 (half of lowest dose) for very short periods (1 week max) at a time and I noticed significantly reduced motility (and constipation). Exactly - re downregulation of GABA. That's the problem with RX approach to many things.
Does anyone here have any personal experience with Dr. Hawrelak's clinic?
I have had SIBO and had rifaxamin treatment alone—once about a year ago and I was free of SIBO-D for a year. It came back when I was put on antibiotics for a UTI. Basically anytime I am I am on an antibiotic I get it and cannot get over the diarrhea. Recently I was put on another antibiotic and got SIBO again. I see the nurse practitioner of the bariatric surgery team at Vanderbilt University. I had a gastric bypass in 2018. This time she prescribed rifaxamin right away. Medicare turned it down. But Vanderbilt pharmacists made an appeal to Medicare and they paid for the whole amount. So far, so good. The rifaxamin seems to have worked for now.
How was your SIBO diagnosed?
It was diagnosed by long term problems with diarrhea, no special tests. The diarrhea is especially bad when I take antibiotics. It is currently under pretty good control since my recent treatment with rifaxamin. I feel very lucky to be in the care of Vanderbilt University where the pharmacist tookit upon himself to call Medicare and get the rifaxamin covered
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1 ReactionI took Rifaximin plus Allimed for 50 days and then Allimed, berberine, and NeemPlus for about 10 days. I got die off that made me pretty sick for about 4 days. I’m now taking MotilPro to increase gut motility. My doctor says it may take a while to get my bowels back to normal, because I had SIBO for so long. It feels like I am recovering. I have no more diarrhea and no more bloating. I can eat pretty much whatever I want but try to get adequate fiber plus prebiotics.