How to manage SIBO symptoms?

Interesting>
I had an ND doc recommend 960 pills for me to take in one month-- 7 different types!
I walked away after dumping $500 like you.
Working with a dietician and considering the "elemental diet".

interesting the docs say that it is giving false positives. I am an engineer. This test must use some sort of gas sensor to test for levels of hydrogen and methane. My test came back with a nice smooth curve showing the rise in gases over the 3 hrs of my test. It was a continuous rise without big jumps. This indicates to ME, at least, that the sample vial I generated from each breath draw(every 20 min) gave consistent results. They calibrate their test system with pure gases before they measure. This technology is old and proven and I BELIEVE the test results.
My take: the docs who shoot this down either: 1) don't want to accept the concept of SIBO, 2) don't have access or want to bother with the test, or 3) are simply ignorant of its efficacy.

Ten minutes before each meal I take Dr. Shade’s Bitters available on Amazon. It’s a liquid digestive blend and I take 2 pumps of the dropper it comes with. It was prescribed by my doctor and it’s purpose is to start the digestive juices that decrease with age. That helps with meal digestion to prevent food from staying in the small intestine where bacteria can feed in it creating SIBO and gets the bacteria back down to the lower intestine where it belongs.
I understand you’re frustration with the medical community, experiencing the same. I had 3 endoscopies before I went in search of a functional medicine doctor. It took 3 tries before I landed with one of the best. If you’re interested, the website ifm.org has doctors listed by city and state. Each doc has a bio and their specialties.
Best to you, I sympathize and empathize for you.

My doctor is an MD who turned to functional medicine as a better way to help her patients. She isn’t opposed to prescription medication and in some cases will prescribe a med if that is the best way to treat.
No, I haven’t heard of the elemental diet. This diet certainly appears to give you the nutrients needed, especially in severe cases of indigestion. I do not understand how that is going to be helpful in the long run without a very strict reintroduction of specific foods to eat and what foods to avoid. Unless of course that is part of the treatment.

If you are going to take pills and spend lots of money, get Xifaxan. It's the only thing that works for my Sibo. You can look up my name and read my story on why I have to take it every day.

"Unless . .. that is part of the treatment."

You anticipated their protocol quite well gigi. They have a very rigorous program but it all starts with 2 or 3 weeks of consuming liquid / powdered drinks.

You're very lucky to have found a doc-- period. I just this morning got a call from Mayo in my attempt to get Dr Bledsoe appt. in Rochester. NOPE. They will not assign a doctor with any specific name to your appointment. You get who you get assigned-- period. I said thanks, but NO thanks. Walked away. So, still looking, forgetting any allopath. Integrated Doc . . . the search is on.

By the way, your doc is not anywhere Minnesota??

@schreib69, I can understand your desire to request a specific physician. Mayo Clinic's takes a team approach to care. Mayo Clinic's SIBO care team includes doctors trained in digestive diseases (gastroenterologists), nurses, advanced practitioners and chest (thoracic) surgeons who work together to provide exactly the care you need.

Having all of this subspecialized expertise in a single place, focused on you, means that you're not just getting one opinion — care is discussed among the team, appointments are scheduled in coordination and highly specialized experts are all working together to determine what's best for you.

Unfortunately, no. My doc is in California. I asked about functional medicine doctors in other states as I have a friend whose sister is not well and she referred me to the ifm website.
Best of luck to you!

Thanks for the great info on this SIBO, etc. I have been suffering since Feb of this year after taking Amoxicillin. I than got CDIFF, but prior to that one of my naturopaths did stool test said have commensal bacterial overgrowth. I have been pretty sick just trying to treat the CDIFF and have been at mayo hospital few times. They did endo and colon, and said no SIBO, but I think it is SIBO. Is there a way to approach the doctor's to ask to test for more? I read about the gastric juices, etc to see what is going on. I am dizzy all the time, and lost over 20 pounds in 2 months. Mayo has the best specialists, but I know doctor's never want you to go in with your own information to test for, etc. Just wondering what other tests might be helpful to find out about the weight loss, the dizziness, etc. related to what the gut is doing. Would rather know if it is SIBO or this Hypochlorhydria that was mentioned. Not sure who orders these types of tests, etc.? I just want to feel better.

To diagnose SIBO, my doctor ordered a breath test which looks at these gases - methane and hydrogen - being produced in your gut. It's a home kit mailed to you but needs to be intrepreted by your doctor. I don't understand how SIBO can be detected via a colonoscopy or endoscopy. Google SIBO to find out what exactly it is and the symptoms one can experience (there are many) - I lost weight, felt fatigued and bloated and that my food was not being digested but just sitting in my upper stomach. Also, do some reading on testing for SIBO so you are armed with that information to share with your doctor. Let him/her know that you would very much like this test to at least rule in or rule out and how to treat if you do in fact have SIBO. What you want is to find out what is causing your symptoms, not just treat the symptoms, otherwise once you stop treating symptoms and feeling good, your symptoms will return if indeed you do have SIBO. That is what happened to me and on my third endoscopy I was told by the GI to never take the proton pump inhibitors (PPI) as they had made my digestive tract cells hypertrophic.
There is also a great book out called SUPER GUT by Dr. William Davis that helps you understand SIBO and dietary changes that need to be changed and/or added to your diet. His recommendations are very similar to what my doctor prescribed for me.
If your doctor refuses, I highly recommend you seek another one out who is willing to work with you on finding the reasons for your symptoms and treating that cause. My doctor is a functional medicine doctor as I gave up on my health providers. You can find one by city and state at ifm.org and look for one that specializes in digestive issues.
Wishing you the best in finding an answer and getting your health back.