1. < Digestive Health
Profile picture for jacque6977

How to manage SIBO symptoms?

Posted by jacque6977 @jacque6977, Feb 22, 2017

My wife, after years of suffering from debilitating nausea and fatigue, has finally been diagnosed with SIBO as confirmed by a hydrogen breath test. It is estimated the bacteria has had at least two years to grow and may be well established. She has started on Xifaxan, at $35 per pill, but it is estimated that elimination of the SIBO may take up to six months. Her day now starts with her waking up with nausea and when she has a cup of tea and toast in the morning she gets sick within fifteen minutes thereafter. Her sickness is accompanied by violent belching, and at times she regurgitates liquid vile. The only drug she has for nausea is Zofran which does nothing for her. Are there any other SIBO sufferers that are experiencing the same symptoms, and what are you taking to reduce the nausea?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Profile picture for eileene7
eileene7 | @eileene7 | Feb 16 11:46am
In reply to @azj "@eileene7 they believe that it was caused by a hernia but also believe that stress has..." + (show)
Profile picture for azj @azj

@eileene7 they believe that it was caused by a hernia but also believe that stress has gotten in the way of my healing. Mayo has an extraordinary team here in Scottsdale that checked every thing I am so grateful for their help and support.

Jump to this post

@azj thank you! I appreciate your help!

REPLY
Profile picture for hallward
hallward | @hallward | Feb 17 2:43pm

I’ve read that protein pump inhibitors aka Prilosec may be a factor in developing SIBO. I had taken generic Prilosec for years but stopped cold turkey when I read that. I also did a round of Xyfaxin that has not helped. Since I can’t find a doc in network that specializes in SIBO I mostly just follow a low FODMAP diet to manage symptoms but I too worry about long term damage. What a nightmare this has been.

REPLY
Profile picture for eileene7
eileene7 | @eileene7 | Feb 17 8:10pm
In reply to @gussie "One of the theories that Dr. Pimentel has is that SIBO is caused by having food..." + (show)
Profile picture for gussie @gussie

One of the theories that Dr. Pimentel has is that SIBO is caused by having food poisoning at some time before all the GI problems started. That could be true for me. I did have food poisoning while on a trip to Europe.

Jump to this post

@gussie Thank you for weighing in. I did a little research and learned my sibo may have been caused by food poisoning or pancreatic insufficiency or both. I listened to Dr Mark today and wanted to get some feedback. If anyone has a thought. I had 2 rounds of xifaxan, didn't change anything, maybe a little bit for 1/2 a day during treatment. From what I heard him say, xifaxan may not work for me, perhaps I should try a different antibiotic like flagyl or was the xifaxan missing the bismuth? I have hydrogen dominant sibo. Also learned about the biofilms, which the bismuth should take care of, or is there NAC that will make it to my small intestine that's on the market now? Does anyone know ??
What is the blood test called that tests antibodies of toxins from food poisoning? Thank you so much!!! Are there any other doctors that have done as much research and successful treatments of sibo? Anyone at Mayo? Or Yale? I hear Dr Jill Deutsche is very good.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for sm80
sm80 | @sm80 | Feb 18 4:44am
In reply to @eileene7 "@gussie Thank you for weighing in. I did a little research and learned my sibo may..." + (show)
Profile picture for eileene7 @eileene7

@gussie Thank you for weighing in. I did a little research and learned my sibo may have been caused by food poisoning or pancreatic insufficiency or both. I listened to Dr Mark today and wanted to get some feedback. If anyone has a thought. I had 2 rounds of xifaxan, didn't change anything, maybe a little bit for 1/2 a day during treatment. From what I heard him say, xifaxan may not work for me, perhaps I should try a different antibiotic like flagyl or was the xifaxan missing the bismuth? I have hydrogen dominant sibo. Also learned about the biofilms, which the bismuth should take care of, or is there NAC that will make it to my small intestine that's on the market now? Does anyone know ??
What is the blood test called that tests antibodies of toxins from food poisoning? Thank you so much!!! Are there any other doctors that have done as much research and successful treatments of sibo? Anyone at Mayo? Or Yale? I hear Dr Jill Deutsche is very good.

Jump to this post

@eileene7
The blood test that I have heard of is called IBS Smart, made by Gemelli Biotech.

REPLY
Profile picture for eileene7
eileene7 | @eileene7 | Feb 20 11:16am
In reply to @concernedmtnmom "My daughter suffered through 4 Clostridium difficile infections (bacterial overgrowth in large intestine), and Rifaximin (Xifaxan)..." + (show)
Profile picture for concerned mtn. mom @concernedmtnmom

My daughter suffered through 4 Clostridium difficile infections (bacterial overgrowth in large intestine), and Rifaximin (Xifaxan) was an effective treatment. Other antibiotics (Flagyl, Vancomycin) made her very very ill. Eventually we did a microbiome transplant and that cured her. Along the way we discovered a fructose intolerance that produces a lot of the symptoms you listed. That was discovered through a horribly uncomfortable breath test (drink a fructose solution, breathe into a tube to capture gasses). I wish you the best of luck caring for your wife. The Mayo Clinic is a wonderful place because of their "whole patient/grand rounds" approach. By the way, there is usually High Fructose Corn Syrup in bread. You have to read the labels. If you are interested in knowing more about fructose intolerance, reply to this and I'll share all I know. I am always happy to help others because so many kind strangers helped us.

Jump to this post

@concernedmtnmom
Im new to this group, its been many years since you made this comment. Are you still available for support? Id love to hear more about your discovery of fructose intolerance? Is the treatment for it, a low fructose diet or no fructose? Thank you so much. I'm avoiding the test for it. Wondering if there's another way to identify the intolerance? Thank you.

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Feb 20 1:27pm
In reply to @eileene7 "@concernedmtnmom Im new to this group, its been many years since you made this comment. Are..." + (show)
Profile picture for eileene7 @eileene7

@concernedmtnmom
Im new to this group, its been many years since you made this comment. Are you still available for support? Id love to hear more about your discovery of fructose intolerance? Is the treatment for it, a low fructose diet or no fructose? Thank you so much. I'm avoiding the test for it. Wondering if there's another way to identify the intolerance? Thank you.

Jump to this post

@eileene7 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

FWIW, I had a fructose and a sucrose intolerance test, and it was not too bad at all. The only trick is that I was in the exam room doing a test or in a waiting period that was part of the test for about 3 hours.

Wondering if you have SIBO as well as a question about fructose intolerance?

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for gboi
gboi | @gboi | Feb 21 11:34am
In reply to @eileene7 "@concernedmtnmom Im new to this group, its been many years since you made this comment. Are..." + (show)
Profile picture for eileene7 @eileene7

@concernedmtnmom
Im new to this group, its been many years since you made this comment. Are you still available for support? Id love to hear more about your discovery of fructose intolerance? Is the treatment for it, a low fructose diet or no fructose? Thank you so much. I'm avoiding the test for it. Wondering if there's another way to identify the intolerance? Thank you.

Jump to this post

@eileene7

Hi,
If you suspect fructose intolerance, you can try to eliminate fructose in your diet as a test (difficult because even table sugar, sucrose, contains fructose) and/or buy some fructase enyzme ('Fructaid' I've seen at Walmart) and take it with everything that you eat for 3-5 days.

REPLY
Profile picture for jacquejwal
jacquejwal | @jacquejwal | Feb 21 1:18pm

Has anyone seen Dr. Mark Pimental at Cedars Sinai in LA? He is renowned for pioneering research SIBO to IBS. This looks interesting from such a high tier medical facility when most GI docs ignore us.

REPLY
Profile picture for eileene7
eileene7 | @eileene7 | Feb 21 8:56pm
In reply to @lisalucier "@eileene7 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. FWIW, I had a fructose and a sucrose intolerance..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator @lisalucier

@eileene7 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

FWIW, I had a fructose and a sucrose intolerance test, and it was not too bad at all. The only trick is that I was in the exam room doing a test or in a waiting period that was part of the test for about 3 hours.

Wondering if you have SIBO as well as a question about fructose intolerance?

Jump to this post

@lisalucier
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I had a sibo test. It was positive. Dr wants to test for fructose intolerance too, before she treats me for sibo. I eat a low fodmop diet, but I could eliminate all fructose but only if its really necessary. Is fructose intolerance treatment no dietary fructose? Anyone doing that? Does it improve your symptoms? Thanks again for your experience.

REPLY
Profile picture for eileene7
eileene7 | @eileene7 | Feb 22 7:35am
In reply to @lisalucier "@eileene7 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. FWIW, I had a fructose and a sucrose intolerance..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator @lisalucier

@eileene7 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

FWIW, I had a fructose and a sucrose intolerance test, and it was not too bad at all. The only trick is that I was in the exam room doing a test or in a waiting period that was part of the test for about 3 hours.

Wondering if you have SIBO as well as a question about fructose intolerance?

Jump to this post

@lisalucier
Can I ask, did you test positive for either? And if so, what's the treatment? If you don't mind sharing, thank you!

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.