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All 8 SIBO signs and symptoms were present in my life whenever SIBO was active.

Instead of kicking them in the a#$ immediately, I ignored it because I didn’t want it to be true. 

Thus, my SIBO fully relapsed because guess what? That’s not how life works. We can’t just put a mask over something, anything, and expect that somehow it’s just magically going to disappear. 

If you do a Google search, you’ll easily find SIBO signs and symptoms.

I’m sharing them with you today, but I also want to share my own, personal symptoms to make it more real life.

I find too often that almost every single condition out there has the same set of standard symptoms, but those who live with the conditions can give far more insight into them than a book or medical list can. 

That’s my goal with this post.

8 SIBO Signs and Symptoms

Click HERE to save these 8 SIBO signs and symptoms for later.

Here is a list of SIBO signs and symptoms you would likely find online.

Common SIBO Symptoms

• bloating
• diarrhea
• constipation
• undigested food in stool
• pain
• B12 deficiency
• rashes
• fatigue
• food sensitivities
• dark circles around eyes
• hypersensitivity
• headaches
• all of the above (ugh, the dickens!)

And here is how I personally knew I was on the verge of a full relapse plus the SIBO signs and symptoms that accompanied it.

Personal SIBO Signs and Symptoms

1. A ton of stress

I was under a crazy amount of stress since December 20 when we moved back to Minnesota.

Some good, and some not-so-good, but every single day there has been a level of underlying stress. Stress doesn’t cause SIBO; it’s a trigger.

In my life (probably yours, too), stress is always the trigger.

2. Acne

My whole body shows SIBO signs and symptoms.

Namely, I would break out 24/7, no matter what time of the month it was.

This was another sign that I totally ignored because I didn’t want it to be true, but major breakouts can usually always be linked back to the gut.

For me, I breakout on my back, and around my mouth primarily (but I’ve still kept the perioral dermatitis completely at bay).

I have even had neck breakouts.

3. Super Fatigued

For so long I had been telling you that I was up, without an alarm, between 3:30 – 4 am. But then I needed an alarm to wake up at 5 am. That then progressed to 6 or 7 am. Then, even after 10 hours of sleep, I’d still be tired.

My energy levels started to tank, and while I was still working out, I made sure to just sleep at night vs. fighting the fatigue battle. 

Quite honestly, though, I had no idea it was SIBO in the beginning. I thought I was getting sick.

4. Rotten Gut

Rotten gut is nasty, I’ll leave it at that. I wrote about what happens to me way back in 2013 via Rotten Gut, Starving, and Weight Gain.

I now know that this is mostly due to the fact that I had both high levels of hydrogen and methane SIBO.

5. Ileocecal Valve

AKA. IC valve protrusion. I talked about the IC valve in my 2017 SIBO status update.

You can see exactly where it is HERE.

I have a very defined one. In fact, I think it’s too defined and as I explore with my new doctor, it’s something I want to talk about. (Updated late summer, 2018: After my Colonoscopy and Endoscopy, they don’t think it’s my IC Valve anymore, though not positive.)

6. Punch in the Stomach

About two weeks ago, right before I left for work, I doubled over in pain. It felt like someone was punching me in the stomach. It was the same feeling that lead me to the ER back in October and during the whole eggs episodes a couple years back.I got goosebumps, and I thought I’d throw up, but never did. It only last about 20 minutes and has not returned, but it was central to the small intestine. And miserable.

7. Starving feeling

I always know when SIBO is trying to relapse or has relapsed by that tugging, nagging feeling in my small intestine that says, “You are hungry” 24/7, even if I’ve just eaten a huge meal.

No amount of food can satisfy, and my stomach is constantly off. 

8. Bloat

And last, but certainly not least, I get massive bloat.

Within a matter of minutes, I can go from normal to 5-months pregnant looking. It all sits in my lower gut, and nothing I do helps (really not even going to the bathroom) until I hunker down with addressing the nasty SIBO.

One of the most annoying comments to me when I’d explain this to women has always been, “Oh, I totally know how you feel. When I have my period, I get like that, too.”

No. No. Just no. It is nothing like that. Not even a little bit.

I get my period, too, so I know exactly what that bloat is like. In fact, when use my gut healing journal, I always make note of “bloat like period” or “bloat like SIBO.” SIBO bloat is absolutely miserable, and if you have SIBO, you know the difference.

That lingering health issue? Seriously. Don’t let it linger.

I PROMISE on my life that it’s not going to get better if you don’t address it because nothing changes if nothing changes. 

Wondering what I did? Check out 28 Things to Do During a SIBO Flare Up.

p.s. Post updated in 2023 to add: today I am healed, and it’s incredible! If you want my BLUEPRINT on SIBO, you can grab Reasonable SIBO HERE.

Here are two resources to help get you started with more answers:

1. The Beginner’s Guide to Digestive Health Testing
2. 9 Steps to Building Your Gut Healing Team

If you’re looking for more help and getting started today on a gut healing and health journey, check out:

1. Start Here
2. Reasonable SIBO
3. A Gutsy Girl’s Master Resource
4. The Gutsy Girl’s Bible
5. The Leaky Gut Meal Plan: 4 Weeks to Detox and Improve Digestive Health

Xox,
SKH