u/SweetLittleKytty

After 2 years of thinking the bloating was due to hormonal imbalances and disorders, the digestive symptoms became increasingly worse and after some research, I concluded that it's methane SIBO/IMO (the unexplained weigh gain was the one who convinced me), which, looking back, it was caused by extreme dieting and lots of sugar-free sweets.

I just did the following:

- 14 days of Rifaximin 400 mg twice/day

- Berberine 500 mg once/day (I had already been taking it for insulin resistance from PCOS)

- NAC 300 mg once/day

- ginger 400 mg once/day

- Iberogast twice/day

- simethicone at every meal

- very low fermentation diet

- eating at every 4 hours distance

- overnight fasting of 12 hours minimum

During this course, there were less stomachaches, no longer nausea, less bloating in the upper belly, but still bloated in lower belly.

I tried eating yesterday oven baked potatoes and it triggered all the symptoms from before starting the medication and low fermentation diet. I can only eat chicken, fish, eggs, olives, polenta and dark chocolate. Although I have no hunger cues, I am starving. Considering that underfueling was a cause for SIBO, and I cannot eat enough, I don't see how am I supposed to fix the root cause.

1. Why, even on empty stomach in the morning, drinking tea immediately triggers lots of gurgling... what does it mean? There are bad bacteria in my stomach, not just in the lower intestines?

2. How should I continue the protocol?

After 2 years of thinking the bloating was due to hormonal imbalances and disorders, the digestive symptoms became increasingly worse and after some research, I concluded that it's methane SIBO/IMO (the unexplained weigh gain was the one who convinced me), which, looking back, it was caused by extreme dieting and lots of sugar-free sweets.

I just did the following:

- 14 days of Rifaximin 400 mg twice/day

- Berberine 500 mg once/day (I had already been taking it for insulin resistance from PCOS)

- NAC 300 mg once/day

- ginger 400 mg once/day

- Iberogast twice/day

- simethicone at every meal

- very low fermentation diet

- eating at every 4 hours distance

- overnight fasting of 12 hours minimum

During this course, there were less stomachaches, no longer nausea, less bloating in the upper belly, but still bloated in lower belly.

I tried eating yesterday oven baked potatoes and it triggered all the symptoms from before starting the medication and low fermentation diet. I can only eat chicken, fish, eggs, olives, polenta and dark chocolate. Although I have no hunger cues, I am starving. Considering that underfueling was a cause for SIBO, and I cannot eat enough, I don't see how am I supposed to fix the root cause.

Why, even on empty stomach in the morning, drinking tea immediately triggers lots of gurgling... not sure what it means. Also, I don't know how to continue the protocol.

After 2 years of thinking the bloating was due to hormonal imbalances and disorders, the digestive symptoms became increasingly worse and after some research, I concluded that it's methane SIBO/IMO (the unexplained weigh gain was the one who convinced me), which, looking back, it was caused by extreme dieting and lots of sugar-free sweets.

I just did the following:

- 14 days of Rifaximin 400 mg twice/day

- Berberine 500 mg once/day (I had already been taking it for insulin resistance from PCOS)

- NAC 300 mg once/day

- ginger 400 mg once/day

- Iberogast twice/day

- simethicone at every meal

- very low fermentation diet

- eating at every 4 hours distance

- overnight fasting of 12 hours minimum

During this course, there were less stomachaches, no longer nausea, less bloating in the upper belly, but still bloated in lower belly.

I tried eating yesterday oven baked potatoes and it triggered all the symptoms from before starting the medication and low fermentation diet. I can only eat chicken, fish, eggs, olives, polenta and dark chocolate. Although I have no hunger cues, I am starving. Considering that underfueling was a cause for SIBO, and I cannot eat enough, I don't see how am I supposed to fix the root cause.

1. Why, even on empty stomach in the morning, drinking tea immediately triggers lots of gurgling... what does it mean? There are bad bacteria in my stomach, not just in the lower intestines?

2. How should I continue the protocol?

After almost 2 years of dr visits, countless lab tests, dr gaslighting me, it took me to barely tolerate any food to finally piece everything together and understand that it's SIBO.

For context: BMI 23, and waist circumference: 96cm/37in. Over the course of the last 2 years, I had to give up cabbage and peas, because of bloating. Which only ever worsened, even after a sip of still water on empty stomach. Lately, I noticed I couldn't tolerate kefir and that was the biggest question mark, which led me to think that what I thought was hormonal imbalance, because of PCOS (which was confirmed by ultrasound and CT), is actually SIBO. In the last month, I went diary-free, which lowered the inflammation I felt in my tummy. These last weeks, I had to give up veggies and fruits, because they fermented and made me feel even worse.

Made an appointment with GI, explained everything, and although she agreed to give me Rifaximin, she diagnosed me with gastritis, and gave me Esomeprazol, when I specifically told her that reflux is the only symptom I don't have yet. And she gave me probiotics (Bacillus clausii).

From what I have seen, PPI are highly problematic... do I actually need it? And is it not better to take the probiotics after the treatment with Rifaximin?

Sorry for any confusion, I have been trying to find a diagnosis for 2 years and even now, it doesn't feel like I got the right treatment (apart from Rifaximin and simethocone). Thank you!

For months, I have seen over 10 drs, for my unnaturally swollen belly (BMI 23, waist circumference 96cm/37in), and I got a diagnosis of PCOS from a CT. But I am certain that's not the solely culprit, because lately I keep bloating from still water, low FODMAP veggies, grilled chicken breast, bananas, kefir, whole-grain bread and cereals.

Going on a rabbit hole, I strongly believe I have SIBO, so I made an appointment to a GI. Till then, and probably even after, till I manage to get a respiratory test, what can I eat and what supplements to take, because every single thing seems to worsen my bloating. I already take Berberine for PCOS, but I have taken it twice for 3 months last year, and I haven't seen any improvement from it.

Is there anything that I can do, till I get a diagnosis and treatment?! One of the drs just diagnosed me with abdominal obesity and gave me a RX for Mounjaro 😒 Even though I have a clean diet for years, no sugar/chips/alcohol. This is making me insane.

ETA: I went diary-free one month, and I didn't feel as inflamed, but the bloating hasn't subsided.