SIBO and rifaxamin

[MyStar86]

Hi,

I just wondered if anyone has been prescribed rifaxamin for possible SIBO without having to do the test? Just my consultant is in London and I have a lot of other conditions as well which he is currently treating and it’s a long way for me to travel to London to just breathe in a tube and I wondered what experience others have had with rifaxamin? Did this help your symptoms, how long did you take it for? Did you have to do the test first?

Any advice would be helpful x

[Imaaan]

 I found this group to be helpful:

facebook.com/groups/4706283...

[MyStar86 in reply to Imaaan]

thank you but I don’t have Facebook x

[xjrs]

I think you've seen my previous reply on SIBO tests and rifaximin.

[MyStar86 in reply to xjrs]

yes I did thank you it was very helpful I am going to order Alflorex probiotic that you recommended I can’t take the other medication as I have the opposite toilet issues. Seems like there is so much with the gut that hasnt been researched so they have a few boxes people hwve to fit in but with the bowel it never is one size fits all as we all react differently xx

[MyStar86 in reply to xjrs]

I have been taking the Alflorex and it’s made my toilet issues worse did you find it made any impact on that as I’ve had constant nausea too I want to stick it out with the probiotics but it’s hard when I’ve gone downhill. Maybe it’s a die off of the bad bacteria just feel awful xx

[Lou9 in reply to MyStar86]

I tried Alflorex for 3 months and had to give up as it made my symptoms much worse. I was so hopeful it would help and I tried to persevere but eventually had to surrender! How long have you been taking them for?

[xjrs in reply to MyStar86]

Sorry to hear that. Precision Biotics who manufactures Alflorex have a good support line - you can call or email them, plus I also see that there is a live chat:

precisionbiotics.co.uk/cont...

I didn't have the problems that you experienced, but some people do. However, Precision Biotics would be able to advise you better i.e., whether what you are experiencing is normal and how long to expect it for. Good luck.

[MyStar86 in reply to xjrs]

thank you for letting me know that’s very helpful!! I’m going to have a break from it today as I’ve really been struggling and didn’t sleep at all last night however I would like to stick it out at least for a month but I will contact them as you said and see what they come back with as I am sensitive to everything so I’m not surprised. Thank you for being so kind gut issues are w nightmare more research needs to be done xx

[xjrs in reply to MyStar86]

Quite agree. Hope you feel a bit better soon.

[LFHell in reply to MyStar86]

What toilet issues do you? I wouldnt take it if it makes you feel worse, response to probiotics is individual as we all have different gut bacteria. Personally i liked alflorex and found it had no side effects at all for me and when i had gastritis, found it soothing, but didn't notice any changes at all when i didn't have gastritis. Sounds like your gut might be very upset? Vivomixx is a good one too but much stronger than Alflorex so maybe it would make you worse too, tho they do liquid drops which are lower dose. I found i could tolerate Vivomixx when i was on a restricted diet but it gave me bad bloating when i went back to a normal diet but that was the stronger sachets. I've been taking the drops without issues but haven't worked out if I am actually taking them right as there is a weird mechanism for getting the probiotics out of the cap into the bottle, so i may have been taking nothing all year

[MyStar86 in reply to LFHell]

Thank you but that post was two years ago and I’ve had 7 surgeries since then and now have an ileostomy so I don’t take any probiotics but thank you for taking the time to reply xx

[LFHell in reply to MyStar86]

oops sorry. I was looking at posts related to SIBO!

[MyStar86 in reply to LFHell]

No worries it’s good that you took the time to reply 😊 thank you but yes do check the post dates as a lot can change in 2 years xx

[Audio52]

my doctor told me my symptoms are not as bad as SIBO and that I probably had IBSD. He prescribed refaxmin. He has never met me and I only saw him via telehealth. He is a GI who understands both conditions. I just completed the course. It was difficult. Hot flashes-total body sweats nighttime and in the day. They woke me up all night. And I had some vivid dreams- not nightmares.

BUT I think it is working. I have about four poos btw 8 and noon. They are not diarrhea! Not urgent! And not pooping myself. My IbsD is from a bad norovirus in 2016. So the antibiotic must have killed off the rest of the bacteria. So far it was worth it. Another bonus, UHC PPO paid for most of it. Expensive. I hope this is helpful.

[Audio52]

one more thing- the course is 21 days.

[MyStar86 in reply to Audio52]

thanks Im just in hospital at the moment for other bowel issues had a therapeutic ERCP for billary sludge and stones post gallbladder removal. Plus Endoscopic Sphincterotomy for SOD and I’m in agony no one warned I would wake up in 100x more pain wow this is scary! The probiotic just didn’t agree with me so I’m not taking something that makes me worse I tried and it helped stopping it so I won’t be trying again. If these procedures don’t help I will be asking about SIBO and pain management as I’ve been in agony for far too long and now I’m bloody worse it’s awful 😭 wish I had gone home not staying in this evil hospital bed my poor back as well it’s just horrible I want to cry but that will hurt a lot more xx

[Meleber in reply to MyStar86]

Take care and get well soon.