SIBO diagnosis/healing the stomach

[Omahum]

I'm new here and could do with some help please. My doctor recently told me I probably have ibs after complaining about stomach problems for years - I've been prosscibed proton pump inhibitors several times but the problem seems to keep coming back. All my symptoms seem to fit with a SIBO diagnosis - frequent bloating, wind, diarrhoea, lack of energy. Eating sugary foods especially seems to kick them off. I think everything comes from damaging my stomach with ibuprofen a few years ago. Two questions really - does anyone in the UK know how to get a sibo diagnosis because the doctor wasn't interested and secondly how can I heal my stomach? There's so much advice on the internet and much of it is contradictory so I don't know who to trust.

[Hidden]

Some NHS Trusts do seem to offer SIBO tests, but without your Doctor’s support and a referal you won’t get it. I am sure you could get it done privately though. If sugar seems to kick it off, then go on a no sugar/low carb diet for a couple of weeks and see if that helps. I believe that probiotics have been tried for SIBO, but which one and whether you should is difficult to know without any medical advice/support. I think i would try the no sugar/low carb approach for a couple of weeks, it won’t do you any harm. It will probably drop your blood sugar a bit, and you may lose some weight too!

I had to go on a no sugar/ low carb diet for pre diabetes, and the results were amazing. Lost 10lbs, chloresterol down to 3.3 and blood sugar normal. So it could be all win, win!!

[Liz1234ty]

Hi omahum, i live in yorkshire and the york hospital tests for sibo but you will need to be referred by a gi consultant not gp. It took me so long to get a referral that i took the test privately. I was highly positive so am now on a course of antibiotic treatment followed by antimicrobials. A low sugar diet did not work for me but has helped others and is free so worth a try.

Ps- my gi consultant thinks my sibo began after ppi treatment as it lowered my stomach acid too much so be careful with ppi. It is worth getting the sibo test even if just to rule it out while you find the cause.

[Moijoy]

Hi Omahum,

If you can afford it I would get the breath test done privately, I did mine at home the kit was sent to me and just followed instructions, this is the nutritionist that I used katearnoldnutrition.co.uk and this is the company she uses to do the two tests gdx.net/product/bacterial-o...

I also had a Comprehensive Stool test.

I wish you well and hope you get sorted very soon.