A Gutsy Girl

Heal your gut. Heal your life.

SIBO

Does SIBO Ruin a Healthy Life

Filed Under: Gut Healing, IBS IBD, Love, SIBO, Wellness Tagged With: , , , , ,

I have avoided this blog post for quite some time because I have avoided admitting it to myself. But I’m about as transparent as they come when it comes to healing the gut. I have questioned (mostly at rock bottom), “Does SIBO ruin a healthy life?” 

Maybe I should state it the REAL way, 

Does SIBO ruin a healthy life or is that life not all that healthy?

I cried as I texted my mom the other day,

I am so angry. This (SIBO) has, literally, affected every single piece of life, and I hate it so much.

She responded,

I know you do, and I feel so bad for you.

And I said,

I just want to eat vegetables and roasted garlic and run; the basics of a healthy life, and I can’t.

The rest of the day, I could not get over that simple thought about the “basics” of a healthy life.

Things I Know for Sure

Yesterday I shared the post, My 28-Day Rifaximin and Neomycin SIBO Journal. If you haven’t read that post yet, you should definitely start there because this will all make so much more sense.

As I stated at the end of the post, 

However, upon studying my 28-day Rifaximin and Neomycin SIBO journal, there are things I know for sure. I can draw many conclusions, and I can take the very worst days and see possible connections for why they were the very worst days.

Here is what I was referring to when I said the, “things I know for sure:”

  1. In my journal, there was a direct correlation with bad days and long and/or intense running days.
  2. Throughout my journal, there was a direct correlation with bad days and intense WOD’s (20-minute workouts).
  3. There was a direct correlation between workouts that involved my lower back and the level of bloat I had.
  4. Atrantil worked for me for a long time, but because the SIBO wasn’t completely eradicated back then, I don’t believe it’s working for me any longer. And if it’s not working, at some point it will strictly just mask symptoms while costing a lot of money. (That said, if you’ve never taken Atrantil before, I strongly recommend it. It worked so well for me in the beginning, and I will not remove it from the Recommended Supplements page. You just have to pay attention to all the other things I’m mentioning simultaneously.)
  5. Right here, right now, in this season of healing, me + carbs with SIBO and me + too many FODMAP foods just don’t mesh well. I don’t care if it’s a low-FODMAP food (like white rice) or good-for-you FODMAP like garlic….it’s just not working. I can’t fit a square in a circle no matter how hard I try. And believe me – I have tried, and tried, and tried. I’m tired of trying.

Does SIBO Ruin a Healthy Life

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Does SIBO Ruin a Healthy Life www.sarahkayhoffman.com #SIBO #Guthealth #healthyliving #IBS

So the question at hand for me right now, after reviewing the things I know for sure is,

Does SIBO ruin a healthy life?

And in the end, I have concluded that YES, SIBO does in fact ruin a healthy life, but only once we have ruined the very definition of what’s healthy for us.

You want the truth?

All the things I can’t do because of SIBO are all the things I overdid (and/or neglected to do – i.e. focus on my lower back) when I did or didn’t (I have no clue when SIBO was first present) have SIBO.

Do you even know how many seemingly healthy and fit women come to me these days with massive gut issues?

Can I just tell you that even women with half a million followers on Instagram because of their fitness following are now coming to me wanting to join the journey and desiring to heal? 

Probably the most significant and eye-opening thing I learned from my 28-day Rifaximin and Neomycin SIBO journal is that dwelling on food only as help or a hinderance to healing will get you nowhere.

And probably the saddest thing I learned is that it’s possible to love something so much that it becomes your greatest demise. 

This time I will really move forward from SIBO because I am desperate and it’s imperative. 

How? I’m sharing that in the next post, “Moving Forward from SIBO.”

Stay tuned. If you’re worried about missing these posts, either subscribe to the blog HERE, subscribe to my free exclusive e-newsletter HERE, and/or turn on post notifications and follow HERE.

Xox,
SKH

My 28-Day Rifaximin and Neomycin SIBO Journal

Filed Under: Gut Healing, IBS IBD, Inspire, Love, SIBO, Wellness Tagged With: , , , ,

As soon as I mentioned I’d be starting Rifaximin + Neomycin again, everyone started asking me to share what the days were like on it; side effects, ups, downs, etc. So I chose to document the 28 days, and now that they are over (ended on June 28, 2018), I’m ready to share my 28-day Rifaximin and Neomycin SIBO journal with Y’all.

[Read more…] about My 28-Day Rifaximin and Neomycin SIBO Journal

Micronutrients and Macronutrients with SIBO

Filed Under: Eat, Gut Healing, IBS IBD, Love, SIBO, Special Diets, Wellness Tagged With: , , , ,

Over the years, SIBO has robbed many of my micronutrient levels (it’s also robbed my life in general – and more on that in another post!). I have also come to realize how it drastically affects the  macronutrients I’m able to (comfortably) consume and in what quantities. Enter micronutrients and macronutrients with SIBO.

[Read more…] about Micronutrients and Macronutrients with SIBO

Yes SIBO is Real

Filed Under: Gut Healing, IBS IBD, SIBO, Wellness Tagged With: , , ,

Yes SIBO is real and yes this is going to be a rant-filled post.

In the thick of all the SIBO bull#$% these past couple months, I have been doing a ton of research. I have read thousands of words, dug into actual science regarding it, spoken with functional doctors about it, and listened to numerous podcasts relating to it.

And then I stumbled upon a blog post written by an extremely popular blogger. She is more of a lifestyle blogger who focuses on healthy/food recipes and self care than any sort of autoimmune and/or digestive blogger. Nonetheless, she wrote a post about SIBO and her experience with it.

I’m not going to link to the post or to her because I’m not here for he-said, she-said. I am going to point out things from the post because they made me so angry for me and for you my friend, who battles SIBO in an ugly way, too.

Test vs. Guess

First of all, it should be made very clear that she was never actually tested for SIBO, and that is one of my three main pillars for ultimate gut healing.

Based on some symptoms and acne, her naturopathic dermatologist had her start on the SIBO diet. When she went back to her (regular) naturopath, the naturopath said she never tested her SIBO because she believed “the test is flawed.” In her words, “She very rarely sees someone test negative, which indicates that either everyone has SIBO or that the test is not accurate.” Really? REALLY? Because I have a family member who tested negative when I’m certain that’s what’s going on with him. I know of countless people who have tested negative.

Of course the SIBO hype isn’t real if you don’t have SIBO.

SIBO Diet

She never did the test, but she still felt the need to do the diet. So she dove in with an 8-week diet and supplements galore. Let me be clear. When I say supplements galore, I mean that she was taking like 5 times the amount I am (and I have been diagnosed with SIBO).

She says the diet, herbals, and supplements made her digestion worse, and that the diet was so restrictive that she frequently had stress and anxiety around it.

24 Low-FODMAP Items from Thrive Market www.sarahkayhoffman.com What are FODMAP foods fodmaps sibo ibs

Am I going to argue with this? Absolutely not. After all, if you don’t truly have SIBO then why on Earth would you think an intense diet, herbs, and supplements would be some sort of magic for you?

I’ve dealt with this for years now and while I see insane improvements with (the right) diet (for me) and supplements, I am still susceptible to relapse (clearly).

Intuitive Eating

She then makes the statement that the intense SIBO diet is far from intuitive eating, that she doesn’t buy the SIBO hype, and that this strict way of eating can create disordered eating. 

And you know what? Again, I will not argue with those points.

But on the other side of this coin, I’ll say that so many people just wish to live a life of intuitive eating and that gut healing is not a diet….or maybe it is?

Probiotic…..Sponsored Post

If there was anything in the post I took seriously or considered for a true healing journey, it was completely wasted because “oh by the way, a probiotic in to save the day.”

That’s right.

The post was sponsored by a probiotic company. And why do I think this is extremely irresponsible? Because if you do have SIBO, you must be careful with the probiotic you take. 

Dr. Siebecker (a leading SIBO expert) states, “There is concern with adding bacteria in the form of probiotics to an overgrowth of bacteria that’s already there. There is also concern that probiotics might create a relapse. That’s why many doctors don’t use probiotics when treating SIBO. Additionally, there are some patients whose symptoms are aggravated by probiotics, especially if they contain prebiotics.” 

And guess what the said probiotic that sponsored the post contains? You guessed it – both probiotics and prebiotics.

Is SIBO a Real Condition?

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Yes SIBO is Real www.sarahkayhoffman.com Is SIBO a real condition? #SIBO #guthealth #healthyliving #IBS

Do enough research (I have), and I have both evidence that SIBO is and is not real. One could debate either side, and either side might win.

My issue is with those who act like SIBO (or whatever you want to call it) is some made up mishap. Though there might not be a gold-standard test, the set of symptoms that make it up and definition are real and have been thoroughly documented.

It’s kind of like those who get in a tizzy about the phrase “Gotcha Day.” Gotcha Day = adoption finalization. 

I don’t care what you call it; the meaning still remains. SIBO = an awful digestive disorder (or maybe disease, if the underlying condition is disease).

And if you have SIBO – whatever you want to call it – stumbling upon blog posts like hers is not helpful because:

  1. It makes you think you’re making it up in your head and/or
  2. Has you taking actions (like the probiotic or stopping the diet or whatever) that will not behoove you in the long run

It was completely ironic, but just before I stumbled upon her blog post, a probiotic company private messaged me on Instagram. They wanted to send me a month supply for free (how kind of them – insert sarcasm). I did my research and noted the first ingredient, “100% Natural Fruit juices.” So I politely declined, “No thank you.” 

They came back with, “What a shame you will pass on something that has genuinely been handpicked to better your health and lifestyle for completely free but no worries.”

(Enter my livid state.)

I responded with, “‘It’s not a shame. I have SIBO and UC. I don’t just take whatever, whenever because it’s free. I’m not the blogger who will promote products in exchange for a month supply that might not only not help at all but might also do me more harm. I’m glad you are proud of your product, but telling me this is a “shame” is not right. Have a great day.”‘

And that is the honest, real, and raw truth, my friends.

I’m so tired of people who have no business acting like they know everything about something when they have never truly lived it, and then on top of it shilling for brand product and money.

I have vowed to myself and to you that I will not do that. 

Yes SIBO is Real

I will never tell you that your SIBO (or anything else) is not real.

Your “hard” is not mine; that’s okay, it’s still real.

Yes SIBO is real. 

Yes this gut stuff is a pain for all of us, and no you do not have to feel like just going back to “intuitive eating” is all you need to do to get your life right.

I tell my husband this constantly, but “you just can’t make this s#$$ up.” And he gets it because he sees it, lives with it, and knows that I would do anything to click my heels to make it just go away.

Healing the gut is going to take hard work, time, and persistence, and if you’ve been DIAGNOSED with anything, you must know that.

Of course you must live life , but trust me, those in the depths of an ugly, awful gut don’t just get to engage in some whimsical intuitive eating lifestyle, hope-for-the-best scenario.

There is no easy escape, but I’m here listening anytime you need it, and I’m remembering each and every single one of my Gutsy friends during every occasion when you stumble upon people and blog posts who dismiss something you know to be very real, raw, and maddening on a daily basis.

And I’ll never stop sharing the truths.

Xox,
SKH

The SIBO Weight Gain Connection

Filed Under: Gut Healing, IBS IBD, Love, SIBO, Wellness Tagged With: , , , ,

I never wanted to write about the SIBO weight gain connection because I really hate talking about weight on my blog. It’s not my thing. It’s not what I like to focus on. And I believe that, as women especially, we are inundated with far too much weight loss s#$@ every single day that I just don’t want to be part of it. 

So then why am I talking about the SIBO weight gain connection today?

Honestly? Because when I couldn’t figure out my own situation, I began digging into the research. It was there that I realized just how many people out there are in this boat vs. the SIBO weight loss boat (the one that doctor’s usually associate with SIBO) so I wanted to help people understand what’s going on.

In my post, “When SIBO Keeps Relapsing,” I told you about the doctor who made the comment to me, “You don’t have SIBO. If you had SIBO, you would be losing weight quickly and very frail.”

Well he was wrong then and he’s still wrong today. I’m not making this up, there is plenty of science and research around it.

Let’s cut to the chase, and dig right in with something that might help Y’all.

IBS/D – C: Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Constipation (Methane Dominant SIBO)

IBS/D – D: Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Diarrhea (Hydrogen Dominant SIBO)

(Note: That is typically what it looks like. Can it be different? Yes, in some cases; usually not.)

SIBO can be methane or hydrogen producing (or both – I produce both). Bacteria produces hydrogen and archaea produces methane.

There is nothing wrong with having bacteria in the gut; everyone does and everyone should. The problem with those who have SIBO is that there is too much (and the wrong kind) in the small intestine causing problems. If high levels of hydrogen are the problem, then bacteria will cause unabsorbed carbohydrates to ferment. Then, if you’re really lucky (insert sarcasm) you’ll have problems with methane production when the archaea feed off the hydrogen.

What are Archaea?

Archaea or methanogenic archaea, “are known as human gut inhabitants since more than 30 years ago through the detection of methane in the breath and isolation of two methanogenic species belonging to the order Methanobacteriales, Methanobrevibacter smithii and Methanosphaera stadtmanae.” (source)

Now to correlate archaea to SIBO (and Lehman’s terms), I like how Chris Kresser describes them,

Unlike bacteria, which primarily produce hydrogen, the archaea are what produce this methane, and they do this actually not by fermenting carbohydrates. So bacteria produce hydrogen and the way they do that is by fermenting fibers. The methane production works differently. The archaea consume the hydrogen that’s produced by the hydrogen-producing bacteria, and then they produce methane as a by-product of that process. So this is actually one of the ways that excess hydrogen in the gut gets metabolized, is by these methanogenic archaea converting that hydrogen into methane.

Problems Caused by Methane

Not everyone produces methane, and that’s a good thing, because here are some of the problems caused by methane.

The SIBO Weight Gain Connection and Problems Caused by Methane www.sarahkayhoffman.com #SIBO #guthealth #ibs

(image source)

And there it is, obesity. So let’s discuss the topic at hand…..the SIBO weight gain connection.

The SIBO Weight Gain Connection

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The SIBO Weight Gain Connection www.sarahkayhoffman.com #SIBO #guthealth #weightloss #ibs

Recent evidence has linked methane production to the pathogenesis of constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as well as obesity. (source)

From my research, methane dominant SIBO correlates with weight gain more often for these 3 reasons:

  1. Slower transit time. I’ve talked about this at length in various places, but there is a correlation between slow transit time and methane production. Slow transit time means that food sits in the gut for far longer than it should, causing many problems, including weight gain.
  2. Archaea have been shown to affect the amount of calories your body absorbs by increasing the capacity of gut bacteria to digest specific glycans. (source) What does that mean? Yet again, a calorie is not a calorie. “So let’s say you have a high-fiber diet. Humans generally can’t eat fiber. Cows and ruminating animals have a lot of methanogens because the methanogens help facilitate digestion of fiber. So what does that mean? That means that you can get more calories from a meal if you’re a methane producer because you’re liberating calories from things that people who don’t have methane can’t get.” (source)
  3. Sluggish metabolism. (source)

While I have high levels of both hydrogen and methane, I lean far more towards methane symptoms than hydrogen. When it comes to the SIBO weight gain connection, I don’t complain about my weight gain because I still remain fairly small. That said, a year ago I was eating about double what I am now, and about 7 pounds less. 

Because of my research and all that has happened these past couple months, my approach for healing post-antibiotics this time is going to look much different than it has in the past (it will fall in line with my e-book vs. just doing and eating whatever I want). And furthermore, I will not stop until I find out what my underlying cause for SIBO relapse is.

Having high levels of both hydrogen and methane has been a vicious, exhausting cycle. Until you’ve lived it, you don’t know and you can’t understand. This isn’t just a little “weight gain” complaining. This has affected, truly affected, every single last piece of my life. 

Giving up will never be an option.

p.s. Without even knowing it, I was sort of on to this a long time ago with Rotten Gut Bacteria, Starving and Weight Gain.

Xox,
SKH