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Small Bowel Overgrowth

CarolinaKip

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CarolinaKip Community Regular
CarolinaKip
Posted

After going free of alot of things including soy, I'm still having pain when I eat and bloat. I went for a follow up and he had just come back from a big gastro conference and had a seminar about small bowel bacteria overgrowth. That often gastros will through out IBS when it could be SBO. So, it seems my symptoms are in line with this. Anyone out there go through this? If so how did you do on the med and how long did it take you to feel well. Last question, were you able to add back certain foods you were avoiding?

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burdee Enthusiast
burdee
Posted

After going free of alot of things including soy, I'm still having pain when I eat and bloat. I went for a follow up and he had just come back from a big gastro conference and had a seminar about small bowel bacteria overgrowth. That often gastros will through out IBS when it could be SBO. So, it seems my symptoms are in line with this. Anyone out there go through this? If so how did you do on the med and how long did it take you to feel well. Last question, were you able to add back certain foods you were avoiding?

SBO is only slightly less generic than "IBS", which only says what you already know (that you have pain in your gut). Small bowel overgrowth may be caused by pathogenic bacteria, large amounts of opportunistic bacteria, parasites and/or yeasts/fungi (like candida). So SBO is one of many causes of IBS symptoms (pain and bloating after eating). Other causes of IBS include gluten intolerance, other delayed reaction (IgG or IgA) food allergies and even intolerances (like lactose, artificial sweeteners, etc.).

Without a diagnostic stool test to determine exactly WHICH bacteria, parasite or fungus has overwhelmed your intestines, SBO is just a theory about what may cause your symptoms. I had 8 different gut bugs over the past 4 years. All were diagnosed by stool tests which also cultured the bugs' sensitivities or what would kill those bugs. A stool test which identifies the DNA of your gut bug (such as the test offered by Metametrix Labs) not only tells you and your doc what you have, but also what will kill your bug.

However SBO is just a theory until stool tests tell you otherwise. Your pain and bloating after eating could also be caused by low stomach acid production or insufficient good bacteria. A stool test can show your levels of good bacteria, which assist digestion in the intestines. A Heidelberg Capsule test can diagnose impaired stomach acid production. After abstaining from all my diagnosed allergens and treating 8 different gut bugs, I STILL had bloating after every meal until I was diagnosed with hypochlorida (low stomach acid production). Now that I take a supplement to improve my stomach acid production, I no longer have bloating, feeling too full after eating very little and indigestion after meals.

georgie Enthusiast
georgie
Posted

I am being treated for SIBO . After being gluten-free/DF for 4 years my symptoms were worse than ever. FODMAP was started a couple of months ago but there were still symptoms so yeast free was next. And probiotics and lactose free yoghurt added. One course of antibiotics and now another course of a different type to target the methane producing bugs. Also Betaine Hcl for low stomach acid, and now pancreas enzymes. Low sugar, no fruit, lowish carbs. I am starting to feel lots better. Lots of gluten-free processed food is just plain nasty.

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burdee Enthusiast
burdee
Posted

I am being treated for SIBO . After being gluten-free/DF for 4 years my symptoms were worse than ever. FODMAP was started a couple of months ago but there were still symptoms so yeast free was next. And probiotics and lactose free yoghurt added. One course of antibiotics and now another course of a different type to target the methane producing bugs. Also Betaine Hcl for low stomach acid, and now pancreas enzymes. Low sugar, no fruit, lowish carbs. I am starting to feel lots better. Lots of gluten-free processed food is just plain nasty.

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Betaine HCl should prevent you from getting new food born bacteria. Although it won't eliminate any gut bugs you already have, which may cause bloating, HCl can improve digestion enough to reduce bloating. After eliminating all my allergens, treating all my gut bugs, I still had bloating and gas after every meal UNTIL I started taking HCl capsules with every meal. However, I'd advise against taking HCl before getting a diagnostic test (Heidelberg Capsule) for stomach acid production. People with achlorida (almost no stomach acid) often have a very thin stomach lining. So taking HCl before they heal their stomach can actually cause more damage to the lining. (See "Why Stomach Acid is Good for You" by Jonathon Wright, MD)

cassP Contributor
cassP
Posted

After going free of alot of things including soy, I'm still having pain when I eat and bloat. I went for a follow up and he had just come back from a big gastro conference and had a seminar about small bowel bacteria overgrowth. That often gastros will through out IBS when it could be SBO. So, it seems my symptoms are in line with this. Anyone out there go through this? If so how did you do on the med and how long did it take you to feel well. Last question, were you able to add back certain foods you were avoiding?

ya, it is real tuff to figure out sometimes... i feel LOADS better after going gluten free... and EVEN MORE better after i eliminated HIGH FRUCTOSE foods.

but yet- there are times or days- where i am having issues down there- bloating/gassy/little pain/feels like a UTI, etc... BUT im still consuming dairy, & caffeine.

sometimes i think- OY- do i have SIBO?? or Candida??? or is it Muscle Spasms???

i also just got dx with Hypothyroid- and i think THAT can cause Muscle Spasms & gastro issues

also just learned from an osteopath that when you're back is messed up- it can send hyper signals to the intestines..

sorry if i confused u even more-

**My advice would be to look at Corn, Dairy, & Fructose Malabsorption.

good luck- and believe me, you are not alone - a lot of us are still "fine-tuning" :)

sahm-i-am Apprentice
sahm-i-am
Posted

I just completed a two week round of antibiotics (Xifaxan 550mg) for my SIBO, but I am still bloated. Have no clue, but just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. Oh, and I was tested for Dairy and Fructose Intolerances and they were negative. Upper GI scope showed Gastritis and Esonophilic Esophagitis. Go back to doc on Wednesday for follow up. Will let you know what he says, if anything useful.

burdee Enthusiast
burdee
Posted

I just completed a two week round of antibiotics (Xifaxan 550mg) for my SIBO, but I am still bloated. Have no clue, but just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. Oh, and I was tested for Dairy and Fructose Intolerances and they were negative. Upper GI scope showed Gastritis and Esonophilic Esophagitis. Go back to doc on Wednesday for follow up. Will let you know what he says, if anything useful.

Unless you took a stool test which diagnosed the exact bacteria, parasite or fungus, which caused your symptoms, your doc won't know which drug will kill your gut bug. You can have 'overgrowth' of parasites or fungus (like candida) as well as from bacteria. A good diagnostic test will not only identify the DNA of your gut bug, but also culture out its 'sensitivities' or which drugs or botanicals will kill your gut bug. Just throwing antibiotics at a possible infection (without a test to identify the culprit) won't necessarily kill the source of your symptoms.

Gastritis can be caused by many medications (including NSAIDs) which irritate the stomach. Also other food allergies could cause IBS symptoms.

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sahm-i-am Apprentice
sahm-i-am
Posted

Unless you took a stool test which diagnosed the exact bacteria, parasite or fungus, which caused your symptoms, your doc won't know which drug will kill your gut bug. You can have 'overgrowth' of parasites or fungus (like candida) as well as from bacteria. A good diagnostic test will not only identify the DNA of your gut bug, but also culture out its 'sensitivities' or which drugs or botanicals will kill your gut bug. Just throwing antibiotics at a possible infection (without a test to identify the culprit) won't necessarily kill the source of your symptoms.

Gastritis can be caused by many medications (including NSAIDs) which irritate the stomach. Also other food allergies could cause IBS symptoms.

I didn't do a stool test but he took biopsies during my upper GI. Wouldn't he be able to ID the DNA that way?

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