1. < Digestive Health

Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO)

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?

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Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Feb 22, 2017

Hi @jacque6977, and welcome to Connect.

I'm tagging @melrosedecosmo, @zwar, @gfamy, @gregoryd, @melaniewa, @jwatch, @momochan, @janovr, @fa7100, @vwerner, @lateacher, @azdrew, @haighsue, @rae456, @decosmo, who have all discussed overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine (SIBO) here. I hope they will join this discussion thread and offer their insights.

You may also wish to read these discussions taking place on Connect; please feel free to tag members, and ask questions:
Small intestine bacterial overgrowth: http://mayocl.in/2llnPRS
I have acid reflux so bad it is coming up into my sinuses: http://mayocl.in/2lm32B4

I wonder if @navymom3, @arleon69, @tgirl, @kirsty281, have any thoughts about the nausea?

@jacque6977, have you asked the doctors for another medication that might help your wife with the nausea? Can you tell us a bit more about her diet and what changes she's had to make?

REPLY
lighthouseceliac | @lighthouseceliac | Feb 23, 2017

Get tested for Celiac disease or grain related
sensitivities.

REPLY
jacque6977 | @jacque6977 | Feb 23, 2017

All tests for Celiac disease, H Pylori, Endoscopy exams, tyroid studies and even the removal of her gall bladder have all been negative. As for grain, she has been too sick to eat anything beyond a piece of toast. My theory is that the bacteria has had over two years to grow and has probably migrated into the walls of her small intestine. This could be a six month regiment of drugs and probiotics, but my question is how to stem the chronic nausea during that six month period. A doctors appointment next Tuesday will see if he agrees with me and comes up with a cure for the nausea.

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7 replies
lighthouseceliac | @lighthouseceliac | Feb 23, 2017

Try Paleo bread. Grains of any kind are very hard on the digestive system. Try the AIP or Whole30 way of eating.
Nutrition is very important. It is impossible to heal without fresh nutrient packed foods. Try Kirkman brand probiotics. They are allergy free. They have many other products that might be helpful. Good thoughts going your way. Keep fighting and smile as many times as possible!!

REPLY
lighthouseceliac | @lighthouseceliac | Feb 23, 2017
In reply to @jacque6977 "All tests for Celiac disease, H Pylori, Endoscopy exams, tyroid studies and even the removal of..." + (show)
@jacque6977

All tests for Celiac disease, H Pylori, Endoscopy exams, tyroid studies and even the removal of her gall bladder have all been negative. As for grain, she has been too sick to eat anything beyond a piece of toast. My theory is that the bacteria has had over two years to grow and has probably migrated into the walls of her small intestine. This could be a six month regiment of drugs and probiotics, but my question is how to stem the chronic nausea during that six month period. A doctors appointment next Tuesday will see if he agrees with me and comes up with a cure for the nausea.

Jump to this post

Alka-Seltzer helps my nausea. Pepto too.

REPLY
1 reply
Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Feb 24, 2017
In reply to @jacque6977 "All tests for Celiac disease, H Pylori, Endoscopy exams, tyroid studies and even the removal of..." + (show)
@jacque6977

All tests for Celiac disease, H Pylori, Endoscopy exams, tyroid studies and even the removal of her gall bladder have all been negative. As for grain, she has been too sick to eat anything beyond a piece of toast. My theory is that the bacteria has had over two years to grow and has probably migrated into the walls of her small intestine. This could be a six month regiment of drugs and probiotics, but my question is how to stem the chronic nausea during that six month period. A doctors appointment next Tuesday will see if he agrees with me and comes up with a cure for the nausea.

Jump to this post

Hi @jacque6977,

I came across an article about SIBO, in one of the scientific journals which states that, "High levels of ammonia deplete alpha keto glutaric acid, which is needed to detox ammonia out of our central nervous system, which then allows ammonia to build up to toxic levels. High levels of ammonia can overload the liver and kidneys and may produce a wide range of other symptoms like headaches, fatigue, diarrhea, and nausea."

You may also wish to read this discussions on Connect:
I am a relatively healthy person with a problem "bloated belly" http://mayocl.in/2kT4kUV
I ordered ketostix after noticing ammonia body odor: http://mayocl.in/2l6h2Ln

Have you talked to your wife's doctor about checking her ketone levels? Do let us know how her appointment goes.

REPLY
jacque6977 | @jacque6977 | Feb 28, 2017

Today, even though very sick, my wife went to her gastro doctor to seek some relief from her daily nausea and fatigue I took along my breath test lab report that showed "Presence of Bacterial Overgrowth is Supported". The doctor, who has been trying for four years to find a cause, got upset when I referred to the lab report showing SIBO. He said that if I was going to use a outside lab for a diagnosis, he no longer wanted my wife as a patient, and beside that, he didn't believe SIBO was her problem even thought the lab report showed SIBO to be present. The medical profession had spent four yeas at a Medicare billed cost of over $250,000 trying to diagnosis her nausea and he couldn't accept the fact that in two weeks at a cost of $170 I was able to at least come up with a possible diagnosis. It should be mentioned that in December I requested the doctor perform a gastro emptying study. The study showed a 21 minute dump, and though it raised no red flags with the doctor, it did with me. This meant food was passing thru the stomach without the benefit of the stomach acid to aid the digestion and would now required the small intestine to do both its work and the work of the stomach. Following the Mayo Clinic web site, the next step would be to perform a hydrogen breath test. When I asked the doctor to do the test he said the practice did not do the test because they could not find a local lab. I went on line, found a lab, got the kit and my wife performed the test at home. Five days later I had the test results back.The problem is the doctor will not accept the suggestion as to what I think her problem might be, even though I had researched chronic nausea on at least twenty medical web sites. His final comments were that he was not able to diagnosis her nausea, he didn't believe it was SIBO despite the lab report, she should go to the Mayo Clinic and he no longer wanted her as a patient. He also refused to re prescribe any of her current drugs. So I now have a sick wife who has lost seven pounds in the last month with no relief in sight. I am now in the process of finding another gastro practice who will accept a reject from a competing practice. As an aside, two months ago, on one of my wife's frequent ER visits, as usual all of the ER test results were normal and the doctor said he saw she was sick but he couldn't admit her because she had no diagnosis. I happened to have the breath test printout with me and told him what I thought her problem might be. He said the results looked valid and he asked ME what I wanted him to do. I said prescribe Xifaxan, 550mg, 3/day for 14 days. He did and I was able to put her on a 14 day anti-bacteria, 14 day probiotic regiment for two cycles. Since the doctor has refused to refill the script, and progress toward treating the SIBO has come to a stop. So, since I was the one asking for a gastric emptying test, the one who obtained the breath test and the one who prescribed the medication, my WebMD degree has served me well. If I could only write the drug scripts I wouldn't have to experience the two hour wait in the doctor's office.

REPLY
8 replies
decosmo | @decosmo | Feb 28, 2017
In reply to @jacque6977 "Today, even though very sick, my wife went to her gastro doctor to seek some relief..." + (show)
@jacque6977

Today, even though very sick, my wife went to her gastro doctor to seek some relief from her daily nausea and fatigue I took along my breath test lab report that showed "Presence of Bacterial Overgrowth is Supported". The doctor, who has been trying for four years to find a cause, got upset when I referred to the lab report showing SIBO. He said that if I was going to use a outside lab for a diagnosis, he no longer wanted my wife as a patient, and beside that, he didn't believe SIBO was her problem even thought the lab report showed SIBO to be present. The medical profession had spent four yeas at a Medicare billed cost of over $250,000 trying to diagnosis her nausea and he couldn't accept the fact that in two weeks at a cost of $170 I was able to at least come up with a possible diagnosis. It should be mentioned that in December I requested the doctor perform a gastro emptying study. The study showed a 21 minute dump, and though it raised no red flags with the doctor, it did with me. This meant food was passing thru the stomach without the benefit of the stomach acid to aid the digestion and would now required the small intestine to do both its work and the work of the stomach. Following the Mayo Clinic web site, the next step would be to perform a hydrogen breath test. When I asked the doctor to do the test he said the practice did not do the test because they could not find a local lab. I went on line, found a lab, got the kit and my wife performed the test at home. Five days later I had the test results back.The problem is the doctor will not accept the suggestion as to what I think her problem might be, even though I had researched chronic nausea on at least twenty medical web sites. His final comments were that he was not able to diagnosis her nausea, he didn't believe it was SIBO despite the lab report, she should go to the Mayo Clinic and he no longer wanted her as a patient. He also refused to re prescribe any of her current drugs. So I now have a sick wife who has lost seven pounds in the last month with no relief in sight. I am now in the process of finding another gastro practice who will accept a reject from a competing practice. As an aside, two months ago, on one of my wife's frequent ER visits, as usual all of the ER test results were normal and the doctor said he saw she was sick but he couldn't admit her because she had no diagnosis. I happened to have the breath test printout with me and told him what I thought her problem might be. He said the results looked valid and he asked ME what I wanted him to do. I said prescribe Xifaxan, 550mg, 3/day for 14 days. He did and I was able to put her on a 14 day anti-bacteria, 14 day probiotic regiment for two cycles. Since the doctor has refused to refill the script, and progress toward treating the SIBO has come to a stop. So, since I was the one asking for a gastric emptying test, the one who obtained the breath test and the one who prescribed the medication, my WebMD degree has served me well. If I could only write the drug scripts I wouldn't have to experience the two hour wait in the doctor's office.

Jump to this post

How is your wife doing? Are you familiar with the fast tract diet? Dr. Norman Robillard, digestive institute. I have been diagnosed with SIBO, have motility gastro issues and also bronchiectasis and NTM. The last round of antibiotics given to me during a hospital stay along with previous antibiotics for my lung infections caused the SIBO and a fructose intolerance I am convinced since I did not have this issue before these antibiotic issues. I also have lost so weight I hate to look at myself in the mirror and afraid to weigh myself. Mayo Clinic conducted a whole bunch of tests, almost all that are available to tell me I don't have acid reflux although my Pulmonary doctor does not agree with them. I have found some relieve and have gained 1.5 lbs (which I will take because at least I am not losing it anymore) since I started the fast tract diet. Has your wife been checked for H Pylori? I have had this stomach infection twice and some of the symptoms are very similar to SIBO including the nausea. Best of luck and check out Dr. Norman Robillard's work.

REPLY
jacque6977 | @jacque6977 | Mar 1, 2017
In reply to @jacque6977 "Today, even though very sick, my wife went to her gastro doctor to seek some relief..." + (show)
@jacque6977

Today, even though very sick, my wife went to her gastro doctor to seek some relief from her daily nausea and fatigue I took along my breath test lab report that showed "Presence of Bacterial Overgrowth is Supported". The doctor, who has been trying for four years to find a cause, got upset when I referred to the lab report showing SIBO. He said that if I was going to use a outside lab for a diagnosis, he no longer wanted my wife as a patient, and beside that, he didn't believe SIBO was her problem even thought the lab report showed SIBO to be present. The medical profession had spent four yeas at a Medicare billed cost of over $250,000 trying to diagnosis her nausea and he couldn't accept the fact that in two weeks at a cost of $170 I was able to at least come up with a possible diagnosis. It should be mentioned that in December I requested the doctor perform a gastro emptying study. The study showed a 21 minute dump, and though it raised no red flags with the doctor, it did with me. This meant food was passing thru the stomach without the benefit of the stomach acid to aid the digestion and would now required the small intestine to do both its work and the work of the stomach. Following the Mayo Clinic web site, the next step would be to perform a hydrogen breath test. When I asked the doctor to do the test he said the practice did not do the test because they could not find a local lab. I went on line, found a lab, got the kit and my wife performed the test at home. Five days later I had the test results back.The problem is the doctor will not accept the suggestion as to what I think her problem might be, even though I had researched chronic nausea on at least twenty medical web sites. His final comments were that he was not able to diagnosis her nausea, he didn't believe it was SIBO despite the lab report, she should go to the Mayo Clinic and he no longer wanted her as a patient. He also refused to re prescribe any of her current drugs. So I now have a sick wife who has lost seven pounds in the last month with no relief in sight. I am now in the process of finding another gastro practice who will accept a reject from a competing practice. As an aside, two months ago, on one of my wife's frequent ER visits, as usual all of the ER test results were normal and the doctor said he saw she was sick but he couldn't admit her because she had no diagnosis. I happened to have the breath test printout with me and told him what I thought her problem might be. He said the results looked valid and he asked ME what I wanted him to do. I said prescribe Xifaxan, 550mg, 3/day for 14 days. He did and I was able to put her on a 14 day anti-bacteria, 14 day probiotic regiment for two cycles. Since the doctor has refused to refill the script, and progress toward treating the SIBO has come to a stop. So, since I was the one asking for a gastric emptying test, the one who obtained the breath test and the one who prescribed the medication, my WebMD degree has served me well. If I could only write the drug scripts I wouldn't have to experience the two hour wait in the doctor's office.

Jump to this post

A diet does my wife no good because she cannot eat anything without getting nausea within ten minutes after eating. Now the doctor does not belief it is SIBO that is her problem even thought I gave him the lab report. In fact he was upset that I on my own had a breath test conducted. She has taken two 14 day regiments of Xifaxan and I plan on taking another breath test to see if the drugs reduced the SIBO. One other problem she has is that she is on hydrocodon for back pain, and the drug is very had on the intestine.The GI doctor has given up on trying to find the cause of her chronic nausea, and has recommended she find another doctor.

REPLY
lighthouseceliac | @lighthouseceliac | Mar 1, 2017
In reply to @jacque6977 "Today, even though very sick, my wife went to her gastro doctor to seek some relief..." + (show)
@jacque6977

Today, even though very sick, my wife went to her gastro doctor to seek some relief from her daily nausea and fatigue I took along my breath test lab report that showed "Presence of Bacterial Overgrowth is Supported". The doctor, who has been trying for four years to find a cause, got upset when I referred to the lab report showing SIBO. He said that if I was going to use a outside lab for a diagnosis, he no longer wanted my wife as a patient, and beside that, he didn't believe SIBO was her problem even thought the lab report showed SIBO to be present. The medical profession had spent four yeas at a Medicare billed cost of over $250,000 trying to diagnosis her nausea and he couldn't accept the fact that in two weeks at a cost of $170 I was able to at least come up with a possible diagnosis. It should be mentioned that in December I requested the doctor perform a gastro emptying study. The study showed a 21 minute dump, and though it raised no red flags with the doctor, it did with me. This meant food was passing thru the stomach without the benefit of the stomach acid to aid the digestion and would now required the small intestine to do both its work and the work of the stomach. Following the Mayo Clinic web site, the next step would be to perform a hydrogen breath test. When I asked the doctor to do the test he said the practice did not do the test because they could not find a local lab. I went on line, found a lab, got the kit and my wife performed the test at home. Five days later I had the test results back.The problem is the doctor will not accept the suggestion as to what I think her problem might be, even though I had researched chronic nausea on at least twenty medical web sites. His final comments were that he was not able to diagnosis her nausea, he didn't believe it was SIBO despite the lab report, she should go to the Mayo Clinic and he no longer wanted her as a patient. He also refused to re prescribe any of her current drugs. So I now have a sick wife who has lost seven pounds in the last month with no relief in sight. I am now in the process of finding another gastro practice who will accept a reject from a competing practice. As an aside, two months ago, on one of my wife's frequent ER visits, as usual all of the ER test results were normal and the doctor said he saw she was sick but he couldn't admit her because she had no diagnosis. I happened to have the breath test printout with me and told him what I thought her problem might be. He said the results looked valid and he asked ME what I wanted him to do. I said prescribe Xifaxan, 550mg, 3/day for 14 days. He did and I was able to put her on a 14 day anti-bacteria, 14 day probiotic regiment for two cycles. Since the doctor has refused to refill the script, and progress toward treating the SIBO has come to a stop. So, since I was the one asking for a gastric emptying test, the one who obtained the breath test and the one who prescribed the medication, my WebMD degree has served me well. If I could only write the drug scripts I wouldn't have to experience the two hour wait in the doctor's office.

Jump to this post

You might have been advised and know so much more than I ever will. But some of this seems like side effects from her pain meds? Along with a new gastroenterologist I would continue with pain management including acupuncture meditation and yoga. When I was so sick with a ruined small intestine from Celiac I relied heavily on hypnotherapy audios. The web is full of them all free. I did hire a local therapist and did the sessions by Skype. Stress and anxiety from an illness is so devastating. So a multiple treatment approach along with a nutritionist seems logical. Give her my love and tell her that there is always hope. Good thoughts going your way.

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