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Have you been diagnosed with IBS? Did you receive any direction from a doctor on what this means? And what is IBS exactly?
Of all of the crazy things in the common Canadian medical system… this has to be one of my biggest pet peeves. Why do doctors give the medical opinion of IBS before checking for SIBO first?
I am not a doctor. None of this is medical advice, and please don’t interpret it as such. This is based on my own research, my own healing journey, and my own experience with a SIBO diagnosis and treatment protocol. If anything, this is an invitation to begin your own research, and advocate for your own health.
SIBO is not an unheard of condition. Its not invented by hippies. Its legit. You can be tested for it and you don’t have to suffer for it. The connection between SIBO and IBS has been discussed in the medical community for some time. So why doesn’t our medical system do something about it? (If you want to get a little nerdy, here is a study discussing the connection from 10 years ago… yes… 10 years ago…)
Wondering what SIBO is? You’re not alone. Because people here are rarely tested for it, even with all of the symptoms.
What is SIBO? In short… its IBS. Chronic digestive issues that seem to be made worse by certain food triggers. Lots of bloating and misery.
There is one huge difference between IBS and SIBO. IBS needs to be managed. SIBO is curable.
And if your doctor has told you that you have IBS, there’s about a 70% chance that it could actually be SIBO and be completely curable.
Am I saying that there is a 70% chance that you don’t have to live with IBS? YES!!
What is SIBO?
SIBO is Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth. Bacteria gets into your small intestine and when it starts to ferment your food, it causes bloating, discomfort and digestive issues. Its not fun. It really cramps your style… and frequently gives you cramps.
Why Does SIBO Happen?
Often there is a trigger for it. Its very common in people with certain diseases (for example someone with damaged guts from celiac may find that they suffer from this condition), overuse of antibiotics, or post surgery. There could also be something structurally wrong in your digestive tract that is disturbing the natural ebb and flow. You will want to work with your medical practitioner in order to determine the root cause of your SIBO if you do test positive.
How Do I Know if I have SIBO?
Testing. You can order a kit to be tested and do it right at home. It’ll cost about $200 and then you KNOW if you can start working on a cure for your IBS. That is such a low cost to pay to see if there potential for curing this. IBS is misery, and if you don’t have to live with it? Then why? This is a link to one place where you can order a test kit.
What Is the Test Like?
The test is easy. You do a limited diet for 24 hours before doing the test. This provides a baseline. You’re provided with instructions, a solution to drink, and a bunch of tubes to blow into. You follow the instructions by blowing into a tube at regular intervals and writing down the time that you blew.
If you’re blowing into a tube wondering if you did it right. Yeah you did it right. Don’t blow into it again to be sure. You’ll botch the test.
The sample will measure how much Hydrogen or Methane is in your breath. This shows how much fermentation is happening in your small intestine. If it happens soon after ingestion, this is a good indicator that you have SIBO. (once again, my synopsis as a non medical practitioner and just the way I understood it)
What If I Can’t Afford the Test Kit?
How can you afford not to? I truly don’t mean to be insensitive, but IBS is debilitating. The amount that you lose in productivity, and in your quality of life, testing is something that will be of the utmost benefit to you. The gains you make in the long run are worth it.
If you want to experiment to see if SIBO is a possibility for free, you could try a low FODMAP diet and see if that helps. If a low FODMAP diet helps, then chances are, you will be positive for SIBO. If your symptoms continue on this diet, then it may be a different issue. The low FODMAP diet is not a treatment and is not meant to be something practiced long term. It can be good evidence that your IBS is SIBO and therefore treatable.
If you want to know more about the FODMAP diet scroll down and check out the Monash Site.
How is SIBO Treated?
SIBO is treated with antibiotics. This is used to clear out the bacteria and allow for healing. If you don’t have a supportive doctor willing to proscribe the specific antibiotic, then a naturopath may be able to support you through a natural antibiotic protocol.
It is worth noting that the recurrence rate for SIBO can be pretty high. So much of this has to do with finding out why you had SIBO to begin with. You will want the support of a medical practitioner (doctor or naturopath) to discover what this is.
How Can I Prevent Recurrence?
I have not had a recurrence. And I credit this with two things : slow and steady gut healing, finding the root cause of my SIBO.
I found that I had very severe gluten intolerance. A small amount of gluten would send me into complete gastro distress. Eliminating all gluten, and cross contamination exposure allowed me to heal my digestion and allowed multiple conditions to improve. This may not be your root cause, but it was mine. If you find yours, then I am sure it will be helpful to lasting relief from IBS symptoms.
I was very slow and methodical in my slow reintroduction to FODMAP foods, and I took digestive enzymes. I did this with the support and guidance of my naturopath. You don’t want to go rogue with your health. That can cause more harm than good.
After finishing my antibiotics I took digestive enzymes with meals, and slowly introduced FODMAPS back into my diet. I am talking months and months of slow as I felt like I was getting stronger. You can feel when your body is starting to work. Don’t rush it. Do it right the first time.
Further Reading
Mayo Clinic : Find out about SIBO, what it is, symptoms, how it is treated.
Monash : Discover the best resource for the FODMAP diet. Their app is fantastic for searching the most common foods
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