SIBO?

[blue9482]

I have heard many people with suspected IBS actually have SIBO or also have SIBO which exacerbates symptoms.

Has anyone had a SIBO test? Could SIBO symptoms be mistaken for IBS?

Can you get SIBO tests on the NHS?

[Meleber]

I've had a test in a university hospital in the Netherlands some years ago but didn't have SIBO. I do have IBS C however and have a disturbed gut microbiome due to several courses of penicillin when I was young and a chronic dysfunctional gut. Especially the cecum, the first part of the colon, is where it's absolutely not working as it should. Think I will ask for another referral to a university hospital for a new clinical whole gut transit test because the first one gave a flawed result, due to me using bisacodyl during the test (this was approved after I contacted the responsible unit of the hospital). I don't want to/can't do the test at home because I know it will go wrong after one or two days of normal eating. Will discuss it with my GP.

Using prucalopride/resolor since a month an this is somewhat helpful, able to eat a whole meal again although still have to mind the ingredients of the meal. Need 5mg bisacodyl daily too and use rhamnus purshiana (cascara sagrada) for keeping the flow in my 'plumbing' 💩.

Now additionally also trying korean red ginseng because it could help in rebalancing the gut microbiome and can have an effect on the overall stress. Do notice some small positive effects after a week of taking red ginseng, but's still too early to say if it's a beneficial natural product for my symptoms. But because of the positive effects I experienced till now I will continue using it for a couple of weeks. By the end of this year I think I definitely can tell if it is helpful or not for my overall health.

[MistyDay]

I think they carry out a hydrogen breath test which you can get on the NHS but it is not very accurate. The main symptom of SIBO is chronic extreme gas and distention , chronic diarrhoea. It is treated with antibiotics. SIBO can leave the bowel long and loopy due to all the excess gas.

[Starfush in reply to MistyDay]

Try magnesium chloride works wonders

[Mutleyforever]

talking of magnesium, for constipation or slow transit magnesium citrate is better tho.. 👍

[Starfush in reply to Mutleyforever]

Magnesium oxide and chloride are best at replenishing your levels. Salts, sprays and common supplements. Citrate etc have the fast effects of magnesium , but quickly excreted from body and not stored, nearly as well. High bioavailability isn’t always best.

[xjrs]

Unfortunately there is no accurate SIBO test and the breath tests can give many false positives which is what happened to me.

One indicator might be if you've tried probiotics which have been scientifically studied for IBS such as Alflorex and a 3 month trial gradually makes your symptoms worse and worse since you are adding bacteria on top of bacteria. However, if symptoms improve with this, then it may not be SIBO and more likely to be IBS.

You might want to read my (xjrs) answers to this thread since you won't have SIBO unless you have one of the root causes and these need treating first otherwise it will reoccur:

healthunlocked.com/theibsne...

[Bracondale in reply to xjrs]

There'a lot of great information there xjrs. The only thing that I'd add is that good bile flow/gall bladder function is important too, as bile is antimicrobial against 'less desirable' bacteria and stimulates peristalsis which helps the gut contents move in the correct direction.

[Misscrisps]

I had a SIBO test three weeks ago, through the NHS. The nurse said it's often the last try at diagnosis. I have chronic diarrhea and constant wind and bloating. I tested positive very quickly (breath test every 20 mins for 3 hours but didn't need to continue after an hour and half). I was given Metronidazole, 400mg, 3 times a day for 14 days. (pretty awful nausea with them) Finished 2 days ago. Diarrhoea is definitely less but wind just as bad. I'm hoping it will settle as I was really hoping this was a turning point.

[Kimberly99]

I've been deep diving into this for the past 2 or 3 months because my stomach pain got so bad and unrelenting that I thought I would die. Indeed, IBS is really just a catch-all phrase that doctors use because they don't know the exact cause of it. It's often candida, SIBO, parasites, or all three. I decided I might have candida overgrowth because I also had itchy underarms, ears, and sometimes the corners of my mouth would itch and crack (all symptoms of yeast). I started the diet, which is just cutting all sugar and very low carbs. In two days my stomach stopped hurting. I knew about die off making you feel like you have the flu, and for sure, I got that, but taking a binder helped keep that down to a few days. Once that was over, I started feeling amazing. My stomach issues were gone! I felt incredible in mood, feeling very happy and relaxed like I hadn't in decades. My stomach stopped churning and gurgling for the first time in years. I could even eat broccoli and brussel sprouts without getting full of gas, like I had for years. It turns out the candida diet also helps with SIBO, so I figured two birds with one stone. I did the diet for 6 weeks, starting the first week with just the diet, then incorporating natural antifungals in the second week, then psyllium fiber the third week, with good results. And after the holidays, I'm going to do a parasite cleanse and then start a regimen to heal leaky gut because they all go hand-in-hand. There's loads of info on Youtube about all of this from real doctors. I also joined a Facebook group for this issue and what I've learned from members has been priceless. The info they've gotten from naturopaths (which I can't afford) gets passed on, as do their personal experiences. Being it's all natural and mostly the diet, you really have nothing to lose trying it.