What is SIBO?
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) refers to a condition in which abnormally large numbers of bacteria are present in the small intestine, and the bacteria found in the small intestine are more like the bacteria found in the colon.
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Symptoms of SIBO include:
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Gas
Bloating
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain or cramping
Constipation (much less common than diarrhea)
Diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease
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Burping and Acid Reflux/GORD
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Joint pain
Food intolerances such as gluten, casein, lactose, fructose and more
Chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic
fatigue syndrome, diabetes, neuromuscular disorders and autoimmune diseases.
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Iron & B12 deficiency as well as
other vitamins and minerals
Fat malabsorption
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Fermentation of disaccharides by bacteria causing hydrogen, methane and hydrogen sulphate gasses
What causes SIBO?
Did You Know?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects 15 percent of the U.S. population and is the second leading cause of missed work (behind only the common cold)
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So where does SIBO fit in?
One study by Dr Pimentel and team, showed SIBO was present in up to 84% of IBS patients and has been reported in 25% of Crohn's Disease patients.
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*waiting on UK statistics for SIBO
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Do You Suffer From
These Symptoms?
Post infectious: a case of gastroenteritis can often be the “heralding event” for the development of SIBO
Gastrointestinal infection and upset
Antibiotic use
Acid blockers
Fungus overgrowth
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Surgical intervention and operations to the abdomen. Eg. Appendectomy
The contraceptive pill
A dysfunctional ileocecal valve
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Overconsumption of simple carbohydrates
Stress causing changes to the acidity levels in the stomach and motility of the small intestines, which causes pooling and stagnation of food, which causes bacterial overgrowth
Hypothyroidism
Diabetes
Initial colonization of bad bacteria due to caesarian birth and/or lack of breast feeding
How do you treat SIBO?
HOW DID I KNOW?
I knew something was wrong
when I no longer had control of my symptoms... for 15 years I controlled my IBS-D with diligent probiotic and prescription use.... but now, I was dealing with symptoms far worse, for 90% of the month, and I was constantly stressed. I tried everything from going Gluten-Free to acupuncture but still no relief!
There are many different approaches and methods available when it comes to treating SIBO. The difficult part is finding the right treatment plan, for you. I knew that due to my overuse of antibiotics, that I wanted a more natural approach. This was enforced when I read about the benefits the food can bring for those with suppressed immune systems.
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As I described in My Story, I was directed by my dermatologist to seek out a functional medicine doctor to try and treat my problems with skin, digestive and sinus inflammation. I am forever grateful that I was a loud-mouth about my problems to poor Dr. Mullan, because if it were not for his advice, I would have continued to over-feed the bacteria in my gut and avoided seeking out help due to laziness and assuredness that the problems would magically disappear.
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NOTE: I am not a doctor and so it is important to remember that this is how I discovered my SIBO problem and how I proceeded to treat it. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan. You need to decide what works best for YOU! You also need to be WILLING & ABLE to make a completely new dietary lifestyle change.
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If you want more information on the treatment plan I chose, then keep on reading to find out more about Dr. Nirala Jacobi's Bi-Phasic Diet treatment plan!