Ibs now called SIBO

[Condo1239]

Ibs is now called SIBO. Small I testi w bacterial overgrowth. Treated with zifaxan for two weeks and stomach issues disappeared. A miracle.

[Ellie123123]

I would love to try this antibiotic but unfortunately I’m in the uk and the doctors and gastroenterologists I’ve seen won’t recognise SIBO. I’m thinking about a trip to New York simply to find a doctor who will treat me with suitable antibiotics. I’m that desperate!

[Condo1239 in reply to Ellie123123]

I understand completely. The study was published in the New Englandd Journal of medicine There are a million articles.in internet. What if you printed it out and gave to doctor to read? I had to ask my own gastro for the drug because he didn’t think I’d it just four months ago. And he had brochures about it in his waiting room!

[Ellie123123 in reply to Condo1239]

Thanks, I’ll look into that. It’s very frustrating to think that these antibiotics could cure the problem that blights my life.

[Condo1239 in reply to Ellie123123]

I know. I’ve had stomach issues since I’m 18 when I got sick from a hamburger. I’ve had repeated visits to doctor. I take Prilosec and Zantac still. And all those years I knew it was bacteria and yet they make you feel like it’s something you can fix with diet or probiotics or meditation. I hope you can get it. Good luck.

[Fergie53 in reply to Condo1239]

This is very interesting, I’m in U.K also and all they offer is the usual tests, colonoscopy etc and the only medication for diarrhoea is Imodium (Loperamide) I think I possibly have SIBO, I might try and discuss with my doctor!

[Lilmo1 in reply to Fergie53]

I also was told by one of our GPs it was IBS i had but I'm so thankful the hospital doctor sent me for the nuclear medicine test after i had a colonoscopy carried out and biopsies taken which showed nothing. It was that screening which apparently isn't given to many. It showed i have BAM, Bile Acid Malabsorbsion which is controlled with daily taking bile binders. I had diahorrea for well over a year it was daily and relentless so it's now controlled and such a relief thanks be to God

[Hidden in reply to Ellie123123]

Hope you found the right meds for the problem. Have been reading other information on viral fungal and bacteria bugs

which might be helped by taking coconut oil The oil is made from the kernel, not the coconut meat and has scientific uses in Australia (Adelaide Hospital)being used for certain types of cancer. I have been taking it for over a year an it has helped my autoimmune system. An article -

justnaturallyhealhy.com

Explains coconut oil is a detox treatment and can eliminate harmful bacteria virus and parasites.

The oil contains medium chain fatty acids. The oil is high in lauric acid and caprylic acid which are virus, fungi and bacteria attackers. It can prevent food poisoning.

...……….………………………………………………………………………………..

healthy.net

gives 6 infections coconut oil and its anti inflammatory ability to help pain. Coconut oil can help diabetes to aid glucose levels and may help dieters. I use a supermarket brand taking 3 teaspoons a day on a biscuit and cheese.

The authors usually recommend virgin oil oil rather than

the ordianary jars, but have found it useful with lower visits to GP for pneumonia and chest infections. It can help strep and staph throat killing the bacteria and viruses.

In no way would suggest that coconut can replace antibiotics but

colds now are without copious infective purulence.

[Hidden in reply to Ellie123123]

Hi Ellie understand your frustration with your health. You can buy some drugs on the internet I can let you have the website which operates in the UK. As mentioned to Condo other causes of a bowel infection can be a streptococcal throat which used to be treated with antibiotics. Now advice is not to use antibiotics but to let the infection use your immune system to fend off the infection. There's the glitch. If you have an undiagnosed thyroid or diabetes or celiac disease and you have not seen a gastro for celiac or had thyroid tests including antibody tests, and thyroid hormone levels then if you have an infection your auto immune system cannot fight back the infection on its own.

Think as you are feeling so rotten go to another doctor and ask for tests for food intolerance such as dairy egg and gluten. tests for B12 levels and iron, and vitamin D levels. Iron deficiency can lead to poor resistance to infection. I would also ask for thyroid and diabetes tests. You may not have any of these problems but the first step is to rule them out. If you have an auto immune disease then you may well ask for antibiotic help as most doctors will recognise that you need extra help.

[Hidden in reply to Ellie123123]

Hi Ellie if your current GI has poo pooed your idea of a Sibo test you could always go back to your nurse, and tell of your problems. She will arrange for you to have a stool test, which will test for sibo and candida. You can then either go back to your GP if the test results are positive -that means you have the sibo and he may prescribe an anti fungal /antibiotic for you. You are entitled to a second opinion with another consultant but you should not have to wait for months for a Sibo test.

[Hidden]

Hi Condo - think this type of bacterial infection is part of an umbrella heading for IBS.

IBS can be caused by thyroid, diabetes, multiallergens and stress to name some causes. Sibo sufferers may well have candida as well. Have read a lot of articles from US and nystatin is an old drug which was used a long time ago. As a matter of interest, did you get any information on what the bacteria were that were causing the problem? Drugs have been stopped here, unless you get a hospital referral. Infections of the bowel sometimes are ignored causing sepsis in the UK. On a long journey towards better health I have found some odd information that may help prevent ward off certain bacteria such as staphylococcus and streptococcus. Extra virgin olive oil, and coconut oil can help viruses and some bacteria, and prevent a stomach pylori infection. A strep throat can go to your intestines and create the symptoms of pain and bloating. Cutting out sugar and yeast has helped the fungal infection. Fungal infections feed off sugar. Glad you are better!

[Condo1239 in reply to Hidden]

It’s not candida. Had that years ago and was treated. My doc saw it when he did an endoscopy. White patches all over. The article for sibo said patients with diarrhea all had the same bacteria in their study. I do t know what it was but the drug worked in a day. No more bloating at night and normal for the first time in years.

[Hidden in reply to Condo1239]

You obviously have better diagnostics in the US - it takes months and month to get a referral - then you can be sent away and told there is nothing the matter - it's a virus.

However as SIBO is a type of fungus infection, may be diet with removal of sugar and yeast, might help prevent another re -occurrence. You did not show signs of the cramping and spasm which can be found in many IBS sufferers which can be stress related and be helped by medication to only target the muscle spasm leaving you able to drive a car and with no drowsiness. You are lucky but some people have other

problems such as diverticulitis, benign or non benign polyps, or celiac disease only to be diagnosed by the specialist. Have chatted with a member who has DAO deficiency

which has affected most of his life. He was told it might be genetic but have found out new research says 70 percent of sufferers have a deficiency in copper and zinc, which can be found in foods such as chocolate and dairy. My experience has proved that multigrain, egg dairy, and banana are the main food intolerances which when removed has helped. Thanks for information. Candida is often overlooked, but Sibo errggh! What is it? - may be the attitude in the UK.

[Frillylili]

Did you only take the zifaxam? Or did you have other medicines you took with it?

[Condo1239 in reply to Frillylili]

Just xifaxan but I took my normal Prilosec and Zantac as always.

[Condo1239 in reply to Frillylili]

Only xifaxan.

[Maureen1958 in reply to Condo1239]

How are you now after the xifaxan? Has your IBS/SIBO come back at all?

[calista]

Hi.

That is interesting.

I finally met with a gastro and he has prescribed this drug.

Im hoping for a good result after all these years of ibs.

[Condo1239 in reply to calista]

Good luck. My main side effect was sleepiness at night. Also I’d have some heartburn. That lasted about two weeks or less after and then I was fine. Hope it goes well

[Condo1239 in reply to calista]

How’s it going?

[calista in reply to Condo1239]

Hi.

Just over a week on med now . Seems to be helping I think . Side effects a bit less so am going to finish the course.

I wasn't diagnosed with sibo but gastro put me on meds .

Only thing is...on reading up on med it only works for a while ?

Not much point in that !

[calista]

Thank you.

Starting on Wednesday so will report.

Normal antibiotics cause havoc with me me so am a bit nervous !

[Condo1239 in reply to calista]

This one was easy. Also the fact that I felt good after one pill was such a relief.

[calista in reply to Condo1239]

Great.

It's given me hope !

Thanks .

[Roselynn89]

I just found an awesome site called sibosurvivor . They talk all about antibiotic, natural antibiotic herbs, diet, etc. They talk about ziflaxin/xiflaxin and how many people who take it will regrow the bacteria in their small intestine because they haven’t changed the way they eat or their lifestyle...thus the regrowth. It was a really informative site and I found it while researching meds. Now I think I will continue in the herbal, natural path of trying to resolve my IBS.

[Teddie123]

Hello Condo

I am interested to hear what your symptoms for SIBO were as well as your IBS and how you were diagnosed.

Best wishes

Teddie

[martart]

they are not necessarily the same thing . You can have one without the other, although SIBO can be a result of living with iBS

[Condo1239]

In the US ibs is no longer a diagnosis. It’s replaced by Sibo

[Kilgh in reply to Condo1239]

That is incorrect. SIBO is not IBS at all. Only a percentage of IBS sufferers have SIBO as do up to 40% of healthy people. If you had a pathological bacterial overgrowth that was cured with medication then you never had IBS. IBS patients might have a higher incidence of bacterial overgrowth likely due to slowed gut motility and/or medications (like PPIs). There is no medical consensus that IBS is only caused by bacterial overgrowth. Also there is no real consensus as to what level even "constitutes" an overgrowth as gut microbia is very individual. So, while I am pleased you had a curable gut dysfunction and think it is worth a test to check to rule out SIBO, you are factually incorrect in your declaration that all IBS is SIBO in disguise. Or that the American medical society believes this either.

[JackSparrow25]

I actually tried xifixan but was nauseous, tired, and bad headache after the first few doses. I'll likely try it again soon and see if I can make it through a round. I suffer daily loose floating stool and weight loss. What were your main symptoms prior and how long have you been symptom free?