SIBO testing and treatment NHS

[ltimmsie1]

Has anyone been successfully tested and treated for SIBO on the NHS? Since the summer I have been working with a nutritionist to help me with my gut and hormone issues. They have advised several dietary changes and supplementation including using microbials, digestive enzymes and probiotics. None of these have helped and in the case of digestive enzymes and probiotics have made my bloating, nausea and stomach pain worse.

I already follow a low sugar diet but for 6 months I have removed gluten and reduced carbohydrates. I have also tried a strict low FODMAP diet then slow reintroduction of foods but nothing is working to improve my gut issues.

I understand that having Hashimotos impacts gut motility and I am about to commence a T3 trial. I strongly suspect I have SIBO and have booked an appointment with my GP to discuss. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Unfortunately in my experience the NHS is prticularly bad in dealing with functional gut issues which is why nutritionists do so well from sufferers. There might be the odd rare Gastroenterologist who has an interest but otherwise likely you'll have to stick with private treatment.

You can buy a breath test to test for SIBO.

Your very low FT3 may well be the cause of your gut issues, so would be a good idea to try and get some T3 added to your Levo.

[ltimmsie1 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Yes I'm hoping that the T3 trial will help with my gut issues so I guess I should wait until the trial is completed before going down the private gastroenterologist route. Wish I had a money tree..... 😃

[Star13]

Your issue will be that a Gp cannot prescribe the gold standard antibiotic which is used to treat SIBO even IF they do bother to get the correct breath tests done, which I doubt.

You will have to get to a private Gastro who will ask your GP to prescribe the antibiotics once they have properly diagnosed the SIBO.

A question, you say you have tried the natural biologics, which ones and did you do them on their own or along with probiotics and enzymes? I ask because the studies that have been done don’t advise using them while using either antibiotics or biologics as there is no evidence they work and could even stop either from working.

If you intend to wait to sort out your SIBO until you have done your T3 trial, I can suggest taking Ginger root tablets, which again were suggested for break through symptoms in the main trial.

I use Piping Rock Ginger Root 1500mg. It comes from New York but arrives in about 5 days and is very cheap and effective.

Source: Piping Rock

search.app/eThqx8pLTnsSHLj68

[ltimmsie1]

I used Biocare microclear for several weeks alongside Biocare Polyzmes. I stopped taking the enzymes after a month because of severe stomach pain and bloating. I continued to use the microbial support though because I felt that they were easing my stomach discomfort. At the beginning of November I was advised to try VSL#3 probiotics but had to stop using them after a week because of severe stomach pain and bloating. I then tried a strict low FODMAP diet for a couple of weeks and introduced a lower strength probiotic with lactobacillus and bifadobacterium. I've had to stop using it as of today for the same issues with bloating and stomach pain.

I love ginger and regularly have natural ginger boiled sweets. I will definitely check out Piping Rock.

[Bertwills]

I have had a positive SIBO test but luckily it was only a low level result. I do have Candida infestation though. I have found oregano oil very useful at killing stomach bad bacteria & Candida. You can’t use it for more than 2 weeks as it wipes out good bacteria too so have to cycle on & off.

Caprylic acid is also recommended . Have you thought about Candida? It causes stomach fermentation & bloating. There are specific pro & prebiotics to resist it, You mention having ginger boiled sweets, aren’t they very high sugar?

I use digestive enzymes from Time Health & find them very helpful.

[ltimmsie1]

The nutritionist I've been working with has mentioned candida overgrowth. I regularly eat natural Greek yoghurt, have apple cider vinegar and cook with coconut oil. It's something to raise with my GP when I speak to them about my gut issues. The ginger boiled sweets are tiny (about the size of a 5p) and have less sugar than the crystallised ginger. I put natural ginger in juices and savoury foods too but I've ordered the ginger supplements that were recommended to me as an alternative.