r/SIBO

Went through a lot of trial and error. Here's what I wish I'd known earlier.

• I'd use doctors only to rule out serious stuff. Once they say "IBS" and shrug, I'd move on. They're not really equipped for this.
• I'd see a nutritionist who specializes in gut health. Better yet, a few of them. They'll contradict each other, which sounds frustrating but actually gives you a more complete picture.
• I'd test aggressively. Breath test, stool, minerals, hormones, the works. Not all tests are perfectly reliable but they still give you something to work with.
• I'd write out all possible root causes and rank them by likelihood. Then test the most probable ones first. Treat it like an experiment.
• I’d use getnoorish.com or similar from the start - to keep history at one place, consolidate info, rank hypothesis and get next steps
• I'd track everything in one place. I lost so much info in endless ChatGPT conversations. Memory is not reliable when symptoms shift constantly.
• change one thing at a time.
• I wouldn't fixate too much on symptoms. They're often just downstream of the real problem. Slow motility, APD, pelvic floor, acid or bile issues, hormones - all worth exploring.

Took me way too long to figure some of this out.

Bit of a silly question but if my constipation is caused by constipation, then if I frequently use laxatives would this just get rid of the sibo?

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice or to see if anyone else has dealt with this specific "Gut-Brain" nightmare.
For years, I struggled with severe emetophobia (fear of vomiting). It got so bad that every meal became a high-stress event. I would often end up throwing up during or after meals because my body was in such a state of "fight or flight."
The good news: I’ve finally resolved the vomiting/emetophobia side of things! The bad news: I’m left with what I’m 99% sure is SIBO, and it’s ruining my life in a new way.
The Main Issue: Gas Incontinence / Leaky Gas
Because of the years of stress, I think my gut motility just stopped functioning correctly. Now, I have constant fermentation in my small intestine. The biggest struggle is the "leaky gas." It feels like gas is escaping without me even feeling it or having control over it. It’s created this massive new cycle of anxiety where I’m terrified of the smell in public, which just causes more stress and keeps my gut "frozen."
My Current Protocol:
I’m trying to restart my system using a motility-focused approach:
Ginger Root & Artichoke: Taking these right before sleep to try and trigger the Migrating Motor Complex (MMC).
Peppermint Oil: Taking this before meals to help with the bloating and gas pressure.
Morning Routine: Ginger and peppermint first thing in the morning to get things moving.
Diet: Looking into SIBO-specific protocols to stop the fermentation.
My Questions:
1 Has anyone else had SIBO triggered specifically by a history of mealtime stress or emetophobia?
2 How do you deal with the "Social Anxiety" of gas incontinence? I’m so stressed about it that I’m sure my "Fight or Flight" response is stopping the supplements from working.
3 For those who used Ginger/Artichoke for motility, how long did it take to see a reduction in the "leaky" gas symptoms?

Hey guys
Just wanted to tell you guys about my current situation and if anybody can relate or has any tips that might work.
Short story: 7 years of GI problems , mainly gas and constipation. SIBO and imo
Taking prucaloprid for 2,5 months, works great overnight bus loses effect in the afternoon, evening?

I’ve been doing Allicin oregano oil Nac for 1. round 4 weeks and supposed to do 8 weeks 2. round but stopped at 5weeks because my stomach couldn’t take it anymore.

The main problem is. Before the treatment I ususally didn’t have that much of a problem with Bloating since my body was quite good at passing gas, so the build up and bloating was small. But for a couple of weeks I am insanely bloated starting the afternoon. As if my colon just stops working. No gas passing, good stool in the morning but after noon nothing. Even though I know and I can feel that I should. But nothing. I walk a lot for my bowel. I drink lots of water and eat 90% healthy. Nothing changes in an diet the last year. I use magnesium already.
But know it seems that my colon is stuck. But not only that, it feels like my whole pelvic region is kinda stuck an hypertense.
I already to physio therapy for my pelvic floor. But it was never this bad. Maybe for a day or two.

I don’t know how to losen up may colon or pelvic floor or what ever is stuck there again.

Has anybody encountered the same and has something that helped ?

Hey guys, I’m currently on treatment after 6 years of searching for what was happening to me. I’m doing second week of antibiotics (metronidazol and normix) all of you who is here know, that treatment doesn’t work if you don’t empty yourself, ideally we should want to get to the point when you feel empty as much as possible. And that’s actually not my case. I tried strong doses at evening of magnesolv, I tried triphala, I tried changing food diet for soups like (pho bo) eating rice and chicken, nothing make it easier. Please I’m searching for advice and even words that can make me believe that it is ending soon, and I’m going to be able to breath normally without panicking when I can help myself only with Xanax, it sounds desperate but I truly want this to end. This is not life it’s survival.. thanks to all of you who respond.

I need to gain weight terribly to be safe for a surgery. Without enough carbs I'm just not putting on weight. Despite my sibo I still prefer to eat whole foods than processed and I need potassium. I know this is probably a case of you'll only know once you try but which do you think would cause a worse reaction?

waxy potato - slow digesting, more time to ferment but low starch

floury potato - quick digesting but high starch

sweet potato is out for sure, the combination of fructose plus starch hurts me badly.

I want to share this because I spent over a decade trying everything and wish someone had pointed me in this direction sooner.

My digestive issues started in my mid 20s. Constant extreme bloating, food sitting like a rock after every meal, crushing fatigue, brain fog. I looked visibly distended most of the day and my pants would never fit right because of it. I saw multiple doctors and got no real answers. I tried every diet, carnivore, vegan, raw food, low fodmap, elimination diets. I spent thousands on practitioners. Nothing resolved it.

The piece nobody ever mentioned was stomach acid. When your stomach is not producing enough acid, food sits and ferments instead of digesting properly. That fermentation produces the gas and distension that builds through the day. It also means your body is not absorbing nutrients no matter how well you eat, which explains the fatigue and brain fog.

Betaine HCL supplementation was what finally started moving the needle for me after 13 years. The bloating started reducing noticeably within a few weeks. The fatigue after eating started lifting. I also added ox bile recently which has helped significantly with digesting foods that contain more fat.

I am not fully healed but I finally feel like I found the root cause rather than just chasing symptoms.

Has anyone else found low stomach acid or bile to be the missing piece with SIBO?

Tell me which one helped you and when it's best to take it to have regular bowel movements and improve my MMC. If possible, please tell me the brands and dosages.

I've heard that artichoke is better for constipation.

Anyone else get really intense pelvic pressure and feeling like their colon is constantly holding stool? + then having to sit in the toilet forever to have to go & push?

It definitely eases when I am strict low fermentation. Would love to know if anyone else experiences this

Hey everyone! I wanted to share some fascinating information I've dug up regarding MCT oil and its potential for SIBO sufferers. We all know how crucial the Migrating Motor Complex (MMC) is for sweeping bacteria out of the small intestine, and how fasting between meals (meal spacing) is key to activating it.

Usually, eating any type of food or traditional fat (long-chain triglycerides or LCTs) immediately interrupts the MMC and triggers the fed motor pattern, stopping the cleansing wave [1]. But MCT oil is an incredible biochemical exception:

• Maintains and Speeds up the MMC: A clinical study using antroduodenal manometry demonstrated that infusing MCT directly into the gut, unlike normal fats, preserves the fasting interdigestive motility and the MMC waves [1]. Not only does it keep the MMC active, but it actually shortens the cycle length—from a normal 127 minutes down to 53-65 minutes [1]. This effectively doubles the frequency of the cleansing waves and drastically accelerates transit time to the cecum [1].
• Zero Digestive Effort: MCT oil completely bypasses normal digestion. It does not stimulate CCK (cholecystokinin) and does not require bile or pancreatic enzymes to be broken down [2]. It gets absorbed via passive diffusion directly into the portal circulation [2]. This provides instant energy (a lifesaver if you have malabsorption or steatorrhea) without leaving fermentable leftovers for the bacteria.
• Antimicrobial Bonus: The high-quality components of MCT oil, specifically caprylic acid (C8), have well-documented antibacterial and antifungal properties [3]. Caprylic acid is even used in clinical herbal formulations to successfully eradicate SIBO and combat Candida (SIFO) overgrowths [4].

⚠️ CRITICAL WARNINGS (Read to avoid disaster!) ⚠️ Because of its powerful osmotic and prokinetic effects, you must be careful with dosing.

• Phase 1 (Adaptation): Start with a tiny dose (1/2 to 1 teaspoon) strictly with food for the first 2-3 weeks . Taking it on an empty stomach when your body isn't used to it will rapidly draw water into your gut, causing severe cramps, nausea, and osmotic diarrhea .
• Phase 2 (Prokinetic Action): Once your gut has built up a tolerance, gradually transition to taking it on an empty stomach ``. Taking it during your 4-5 hour fasting window between meals allows you to fully leverage its ability to accelerate the MMC's cleansing waves without breaking the fasted state.

Has anyone else experimented with taking it this way instead of traditional prokinetics?

Scientific References:

1. Effects of medium-chain and long-chain triglycerides on antroduodenal motility and small bowel transit time in man. Verkijk M, et al. Digestive Diseases and Sciences (1997). [1]
2. The Use of Medium-Chain Triglycerides in Gastrointestinal Disorders. Parrish CR, et al. Nutrition Issues in Gastroenterology (2017). [2]
3. Caprylic Acid: The Antifungal, Antibacterial Fatty Acid. [3]
4. Herbal Formulation Containing Caprylic Acid in SIBO Eradication. International Journal of Functional Nutrition (2021). [4]
5. MCT Oil Side Effects & Dosage Tolerance.

Question: Is MCT oil a legit PROKINETIC for SIBO/MMC, or is this just total BS?

I had SIBO like symptoms for 2 years and didn't know what it was. Food intolerance was my first thought but during my elimination diet followed by reintroducing didn't change a thing. Even gluten wasn't the issue.

I got tested on methane and hydrogen and I did this test twice, one with lactulose and one with glucose. Both came back negative.

I am reliefed. I have used herbs like berberine that helped immensely. Now I am taking MSM daily and my bloating is going away! I even could eat ice cream without bloating like a balloon 😄

I just wanted to thank ya'll for all the useful information I gathered thruoghout the last couple months. I have a list of supplements that I will slowly introduce to see if anything changes.

My next step is a stool sample and blood test. I need to check if my organs are functioning properly. We'll see...

After 3+ months of pain (post upset tummy incident), severe upper abdominal bloating, and every test I could take, the last one (SIBO breath test) came back positive for hydrogen! I started on Xifaxan (Rifaximin) 550 mgs last Thursday but I haven't seen or felt any relief. I'm doing my best to eat more fiber and foods that won't upset my stomach, but I still have pain in my left side after eating, and am still very bloated in my upper abdomen.

Is that normal? I feel like the anti biotic should have started to work by now. I've seen 2 GIs, the second doesn't believe in SIBO. My first GI said no probiotics or anything else, just the meds for 3x a day for 14 days. And to then check back in 2 weeks after the course is done.

I really really hope the medication works, but I'm not so sure it is right now. I want to know what I should do next in the event one course of anti biotics don't fix this.

hi i have the methane SIBO type and i get really bad constipation and recently i have found that eating in general even a normal amount 3 meals a day no snacks nothing super triggering makes me feel really full and nauseous and then i get hard time breathing and my throat gets tight probably from anxiety, but i was wondering how to avoid this nausea even if im eating a regular amount. do i minimize my number of meals or how much im eating during a meal or should i see if there is something else going on? its been making me very nervous feeling so sick all the time. 😞

is low fodmap really working for y'all? honestly i'd happily spend the rest of my life on the diet and wouldn't find it horribly restrictive if only it worked? talking of symptom relief. i mean there's so many grains (oats, quinoa, millet) allowed, just make me instantly bloat like crazy, and i'm not talking about insane portion sizes here. i've even tried to follow the biphasic diet my doctor prescribed me along with the antimicrobials, even bloated from parsnip. i also have histamin so sometimes bloat from that too. basically anything that has carbs or starch in it makes me bloat. couple of months in and out of this whole thing (rifaximin & neomycin antibiotics didn't work either) i'm starting to wonder if there's something else going on. so please let me know, if you follow low fodmap, is anyone here actually symptoms free? is it just me??

and yes i've been low fodmap for months with small interruptions, but nowhere near symptom free ever lol?

also dr pimentel says that with methane, the gas keeps lingering on for days in the intestines, so the bloating doesnt really refer to what you just ate. yet still, i'm talking about months of low fodmap here.

Overnight I became so intolerant of them following a really traumatic experience that left me with terrible gut issues. Now even the smallest amount and I’m tired, brain foggy and have horrible dark thoughts. More, and the next day I’m poisoned and in bed.

Any one made a reverse on a situation like this ?

These little f&&kers are in nearly everything.

I am dealing with APD (at least I think I am), and I am also a daily marijuana user. I smoke from a cart in the evenings and directly before closing my eyes for bed. Has anyone with APD that also smokes noticed any improvements after cutting it out? I’m wondering if that would help. Thank you.

Hi,

sorry for spamming, but if you have done the classic breath test and aire 2 test at the same time, were the values the same/nearly the same? How reliable is that device? Thanks!

hey so I was on xifaxan for 2 weeks and i felt the best ive ever did when on it. friday was my last day on them and now its wednesday, and since then i have been feeling like garbage.

i went back to my gastro and she told me i can go back on them for another two weeks but she also wants me to pair it with a probiotic.

now i do want to point out i dont have sibo, but i believe i do. i took a test for it but was only tested for hydrogen which came back negative. prior to these meds i had insane constipation where i would only go once a week or once every 2 weeks. yes i know thats insane.

now that im off the meds i just been having intense anxiety and i cant eat certain foods or food at all without my stomach hurting.

i was scrolling through this sub and saw that people said u have to wait months to take xifaxan again but is that fully true? i will be taking it either tmr or friday but once again i just finished one course of it. I have seem a bunch of people talk abour Cdiff on this sub as well which is what i am scared about if im being honest.

any advice is welcomed!

Edit: to point out my diagnosis is post infectious ibs

I have methane dominant SIBO (nothing crazy, 13ppm at max) and have been prescribed Rifaximin + Metronidazole for 2 weeks.

I have not started yet because I am absolutely terrified of taking Metronidazole, and it wrecking my microbiome even more.

Context: I’m pretty sure I got SIBO from 2 repeated infections (Shigella and E. Coli) and followed heavy antibiotic use. My stool tests show a dysbiosis (Klebsiella and Enterobacter overgrowth) and high ph..

I want to get rid of IMO/SIBO for good but I don’t want to wreck my gut and suffer long term damage.

Any advice???

PS: Neomycin is not available, so not an option.