Sibo Caused By Celiac?

[rayray]

I started the gluten free diet in november of 2006 and remained on it until about may 2007. I didn't see any improvement in my symptoms of severe constant bloating, gas, and abnormal bowel movements. So I went off the diet. I then went to Shands hosptial in Gainesville, Florida where I was referred by my doctor. They performed several tests on me including blood tests, gastric emptying tests, upper endoscopy with biopsy, Colonoscopy with biopsy and the breath test for Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) All tests were negative EXCEPT the small intestinal bacteria breath test which was positive. I was perscribed antibiotics for 10 days(keep in mind that I am currently now eating gluten again) They did not help either. I am being perscribed more antibiotice. My question is this: Is it possible that the reason I did not improve on the Gluten free diet is because of the SIBO and I really DO have celiac disease? Or is the SIBO just caused by IBS and I will continue to have these problems for life? I would like to have some input on whether I should try the Gluten free diet again now that I am on antibiotics and see If i improve. The biopsy for celiac was negative but I know they can sometime be innacurate and when I had the biopsy, I had only been eating gluten for a week. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

thanks!

renee

[~alex~]

After I was diagnosed with celiac and went gluten-free, I felt somewhat better but even after a few months I was still sick everyday. When I was having a follow up endoscopy at about 4 months they also put a tube through my nose and down into the intestine to get a sample to test for bacterial overgrowth.

I tested positive and was put on antibiotics, for 3 weeks I think it was, and was feeling significantly better by the end of the meds. My doctor said that celiac disease sets up perfect conditions for bacterial overgrowth because all of that undigested, unabsorbed food provides lots of nutrients for the bacteria.

So maybe you just needed a longer course of antibiotics. Are you taking probiotics? My doctor proscribed those along with the antibiotics and I continue to take them to try and prevent the overgrowth from reoccurring.

Maybe removing gluten, a longer course of antibiotics, and a strong probiotic will help you get better. It is possible that the problems caused by the SIBO masked any improvement that was occurring due to going gluten-free previously.

Good luck

[CarlaB]

My doctor put me on Cipro. It helped with the bacterial dysbiosis, but it came right back as soon as I stopped the meds. Now I'm taking Oregano Oil, Plant Tannins, Uva Ursi, Ultra Flora, Theralac, and VSL#3. It's a slower process, but it took a long time for my GI tract to get into this mess. I am feeling a lot better than I was a month ago.

I also restrict my carbs and eat high protein. I eat no sugar, yeast or alcohol.

The abx will kill off the bad bugs, but they don't build back a good gut.

[burdee]

My doctor put me on Cipro. It helped with the bacterial dysbiosis, but it came right back as soon as I stopped the meds. Now I'm taking Oregano Oil, Plant Tannins, Uva Ursi, Ultra Flora, Theralac, and VSL#3. It's a slower process, but it took a long time for my GI tract to get into this mess. I am feeling a lot better than I was a month ago.

I also restrict my carbs and eat high protein. I eat no sugar, yeast or alcohol.

The abx will kill off the bad bugs, but they don't build back a good gut.

'Bacterial dysbiosis' means that we have abnormally high levels of 'bad bacteria' which prevent the good bacteria from digesting food normally. Docs should treat that dysbiosis with antibiotics (drug or herbal) and THEN prescribe high dose probiotics to repopulate your intestines with 'good bacteria'. Every antibiotic will kill off both good AND bad bacteria. If you don't take high dose probiotics after taking any antibiotics, not only can new 'bad bacteria' come in and take over your intestines, but you never reestablish normal levels of good bacteria which help you digest food, produce vitamin K and some B vitamins. .

I had a Klebsiella (bad bacteria) infection, which my doc treated with caprylic acid (derived from coconut oil). Then I took high dose probiotics for a few weeks. I suffered even MORE gas and bloating while on those probiotics, because they provided new good bacteria which meant they were changing the way my gut was handling food. Eventually all the gas and bloating disappeared and I had normal digestion and regularity. Later I got another bad bacteria and had to repeat the process. Eventually we discovered that I had low stomach acid which meant my stomach didn't kill off most bad bacteria from food. So I easily got new bad bacteria which overwhelmed my good bacteria. Now after taking betaine hydrochloride in digestive enzymes and another treatment of high dose probiotics, I have pretty normal digestion and regularity, provided I don't get contaminated by gluten or my other 4 allergies. SIGH

BURDEE

[CarlaB]

'Bacterial dysbiosis' means that we have abnormally high levels of 'bad bacteria' which prevent the good bacteria from digesting food normally. Docs should treat that dysbiosis with antibiotics (drug or herbal) and THEN prescribe high dose probiotics to repopulate your intestines with 'good bacteria'.

I had a Klebsiella (bad bacteria) infection

Right.

I have Klebsiella and Citrobacter. The Uva Ursi, Plant Tannins, and Oregano Oil are to kill off the bad bacteria. You can Google them ... I don't think any of them kill off much of the good bacteria.

The Theralac, Ultra Flora and VLS#3 are strong probiotics to build up the good bacteria.

You can take the probiotics at the same time as the abx as long as it's two hours apart. I generally take the probiotics at night before bed so they have time to establish themselves. Of course, the abx will kill some of them and you should continue once off the abx ... but in my case, I'm on other abx for Lyme Disease long term, so I take high dose probiotics all the time.