During the past few years, I did a lot of Google searches around, “What is SIBO?”

Off-and-on, I suspected I had it.

My suspicions were correct. I have SIBO.

What is SIBO

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Overgrowth

SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

We all have bacteria in our guts; in both the small and large intestines. This should be no surprise to you.

Those with SIBO have an abnormally large amount of bacteria in the small intestine; bacteria where it should not be.

How do I know if I have SIBO?

My most telling symptom was that it felt like something was “feasting” in my upper gut constantly.

When it got really bad, I’d hear rumbling and I’d feel absolutely famished 24/7. No amount of food could satisfy the hunger pangs I’d get.

Once the feasting, rumbling feeling settled, it would drop to my lower stomach and I’d feel bloated (and crabby and more crabby and just blah).

You might not feel that, but other symptoms can include things like:

• bloating
• diarrhea
• constipation
• pain
• B12 deficiency
• rashes
• fatigue
• food sensitivities
• headaches
• all of the above (ugh, the dickens!)

Want to learn more about this? Check out THESE 8 SIBO Signs and Symptoms.

SIBO Breath Test

Just because you feel the above, does not mean you have SIBO. As a matter of fact, you should never just assume. Assuming means you make a lifestyle change that might not be necessary.

But if the above things are present, ask your doctor of s/he will do the testing. There are 2 main types of tests. The first is invasive via enteroscopy.

I don’t know anyone who has been diagnosed in this way since it requires a lot more out of patient and doctor.

The second, most common, way is via the SIBO breath test. This is how I was diagnosed.

My doctor had me tested through Commonwealth Labs. The testing is not fun, and it requires a 24-hour preparation period before taking the test; the first 12 hours require a specific diet, and the last 12 hours require a complete fasting period. 

Once the tests begin, you simply blow air into testing tubes and then mail those testing tubes in. Click HERE to learn exactly how to do the SIBO breath test.

The tests themselves are measuring the amount of hydrogen or methane in your breath. The Paleo Mom states (on page 299),

Neither hydrogen nor methane is produced by our cells, but rather only by intestinal bacteria. In healthy people, hydrogen- and methane-producing bacteria live almost exclusively in the large intestine, so 80 percent of the gas that is produced is expelled by flatus. When these bacteria live higher up in the digestive tract, a larger and larger percentage can be measured in the breath as they metabolize sugars.

By the way, you can also get a SIBO test online now. See them all HERE.

You can also test at home to simply understand how your body reacts to different FODMAP foods via the FoodMarble Aire device.

Treatment (minus diet)

Treatment, quite honestly, will depend on your doctor and his/her beliefs.

These are the most common approaches:

1. antibiotics
2. herbal antibiotics
3. elemental diet
4. combination of any and/or all of the above

It truly just depends on several things.

If you like this information and want my whole e-book on SIBO, grab your copy of Reasonable SIBO.

Herbal Antibiotics

My current treatment is exactly as The Paleo Mom describes in her book via alternative health care practitioners,

a variety of medicinal or botanical antimicrobials, including monolaurin, cat’s claw, wormwood, goldenseal, pau d’arco, olive leaf extract, garlic, barberry, Oregon grape, and oregano oil.

Additionally, SIBO oftentimes causes a huge Vitamin B12 deficiency, which The Paleo Mom mentions as a severe SIBO case. That was me! I had to inject via my belly Vitamin B12 2-3 times per week.

Side note: I went through an entire cycle of IVF doing shots at home. The day I was diagnosed with all of this, my doctor’s phlebotomist gave me a shot. It was excruciating. I never remembered it to hurt that bad. So here I am now, at home, with my needles and B12 juice. And if I’m being honest, I’ll tell you that I have yet to do a shot. This is because I’m scared. But I will resume in January. Scouts honor. I must get better.

Updated in 2021: I did all of this and more on my SIBO journey. I documented the whole process and everything I did via the e-book above, after relapsing a total of 4 times. I have been thriving since July of 2018!

SIBO Diet

The SIBO “diet” can be many different things, but the one thing that is typically always regarded as mandatory is following the FODMAPS diet.

A low FODMAP diet has saved me, but the key is in some very specific, deep-down digging I had to do.

For example, most bloggers and most lists will tell you that blueberries are FODMAP approved. This is only kind of true. If you eat 20 blueberries and you have SIBO, you should be okay. But, if you have 40+ blueberries, you will likely not be okay. And let’s all be honest, 40 blueberries is nothing. I used to eat that almost nightly, and then wonder why I felt so horrible.

[p.s. The e-book contains 300+ graphics dedicated to these portion sizes for various foods. Grab your own copy of REASONABLE SIBO HERE.]

I wore my “hot pants” (I love referring to them as this!) last week, and most days of the week these days because I finally feel comfortable in them. My stomach never bloats. I feel at peace.

Little-by-little, day-by-day, I am tackling SIBO.

I am also tackling severe adrenal fatigue and a low thyroid….but all of that for another day.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:

1. DIY Elemental Diet
2. Food Marble Breath Test {podcast episode with Aonghus Shortt}
3. 90-Day Gut Healing Journal

Xox,
SKH