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SIBO…did it ever go away?
Hi everyone. Very long story short I recently came back from the Mayo pain rehabilitation program for chronic pain from IBS for the last few years. My question is: while going to many doctors for a diagnosis I did test positive for SIBO. The doctor didn’t think it was the cause of my symptoms however we wanted to treat it of course. I did two rounds of the antibiotic that they often give for SIBO. I was never retested and I never felt any different after the antibiotic. Is it possible that it never went away and could be contributing to my IBS symptoms? Thanks so much for your help! I know you’re not all doctors but would love opinions. Thanks.
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Hi,
If there has been no difference then it either hasn't been cleared or it isn't the cause of the problem. I had a bad dose of SIBO and the treatment worked leaving a marked difference to my IBS. There are alternative medications for SIBO. After clearing SIBO I have been given an antibiotic which I now take permanently to stop it reoccuring due to my extreme IBS. My SIBO produces methane.
Cheers
It might not have gone away; I was on the common treatment for SIBO and it didn't do a thing for me other than cost me $2,000.
Thank you so much!! That’s what I was thinking. IF the SIBO is still there maybe if I get rid of it it will help me feel better at least a little I would think.
Hi. How did you find out it didn’t go away? Did they retest you? Is it gone now? Thanks so much!
I know the cost is crazy!
I haven’t been diagnosed with SIBO, but I’m pretty sure I have it. I just ordered some oil of oregano from Amazon because I’ve read that it’s actually more effective than an antibiotic and much more safe, although you’re supposed to be under a doctor’s care to use it (you just have to be careful if you have kidney trouble and you want to follow the directions). I read a lot about it though and it sounds safe to me as long as it’s used properly. I would say if you were diagnosed with SIBO and you don’t feel any different after the antibiotic, it sounds like you still have it. Did they retest you? Also, antibiotics kill all the bacteria, not just the good ones, so I don’t know if you can tolerate probiotics or yogurt, but maybe that would help? Just some ideas. Good luck!
Hi,
Don't make the mistake thinking you can get rid of it anyother way than medicine. It is a bug/ infection that requires antibiotics to kill it. Anything else is playing with it or possibly causing more damage. I thought I could starve it out, no luck, just lessened the symptoms a touch. I'd have IBS any day over SIBO, in fact I do, come to think of it!
Just ignore the anecdotal "scientific" evidence often given with the best of intentions. Anything I ingested would blow up the abdomen to the point I could not sit or bend at the waist, just water made no difference it reacted to everything and the pain is excruciating to say the least. As I now have the propensity to fall back into a state of SIBO, due to my particular digestive problems, I keep a course of medication at the ready, any delay and it just gets worse.
Anybody who thinks they cured it by other means didn't have SIBO.
Cheers
I haven't been retested but the symptoms are still here and getting worse all the time. I haven't even tried to be re-tested since I don't think much of the only gastroenterology place near me & you have to wait 6 months for an appointment; it's that way all over our state with any doctors actually.
Hi @cheyne - everyone is different. What might be right for one person may not be effective treatment for someone else.
This is the standard Mayo Clinic diagnosis and treatment information for SIBO:
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/small-intestinal-bacterial-overgrowth/diagnosis-treatment/
Antibiotic treatment is the first-line therapy, as you mentioned. The article says, "For most people, the initial way to treat bacterial overgrowth is with antibiotics."
The next step is nutrition support, and it says, "Correcting nutritional deficiencies is a crucial part of treating SIBO, particularly in people with severe weight loss. Malnutrition can be treated, but the damage it causes can't always be reversed."
Please note that the Mayo Clinic Connect community guidelines say:
Be careful about giving out medical advice. Sharing your own experience is fine, but don't tell other members what they should do. Experiences and information shared by members on Mayo Clinic Connect are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the community. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health.
I agree about it being unwise to delay in seeking professional medical advice but around here (and in most places in the U.S.) we're forced into a delay in seeking medical advice and treatment: the minimum wait time to see a medical professional can be 3 months, the usual wait time is more often 6 months. So it's no wonder desperate people seek advice elsewhere.