SIBO – Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth

*The information on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

WHAT IS SIBO?

SIBO, Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth is a complex Gastrointestinal Disorder that affects the small intestine. SIBO is a displacement of various types of bacteria that create an overgrowth in the small intestine. Though SIBO seems to be relatively unknown, it is actually more common then realized and many times when somebody is diagnosed with other digestive disorders, it is really SIBO.

These bacteria or an overgrowth of them can create a lot of problems such as poor absorption and digestion of food. SIBO can also create damage to the lining of the small intestine and affect the nerves in the small intestine and create problems in your gut by not allowing good bacteria to flourish and probiotic filled foods and probiotics, good bacteria, be able to be reimplemented in the body.

COMMON SYMPTOMS

Common symptoms of SIBO can be found to be any of the following:
Poor Food absorption
Bloating
Gas
Nerve Damage and/or lining damage
Leaky Gut
Irritable Bowels
Abdominal Pain
Cramping

Since the gut/digestive system is the key source of energy and nutrient production a wide array of indirect symptoms can also happen such as fatigue, mood swings, headaches, inflammation in the body, joint pain and skin issues.

Diagnosis

SIBO, is not always easy to diagnose because of how difficult it is to reach the small intestine. Common testing methods for SIBO are breath tests. Here is some good information on the breath tests.

These breath tests, though can show a positive result, are not always accurate and a good Gastroenterologist who understands SIBO will diagnose ultimately based on symptoms.

Another way SIBO can be diagnosed is through something called a Capsule Endoscopy. More information on what exactly a capsule endoscopy is, can be found here.

If you suspect SIBO, visit a Gastroenterologist who specializes in diagnosis and treatment of SIBO.

Treatments

Treatment for SIBO can be complicated and usually is multi-faceted. Components that are usually included on a treatment protocol are diet, pharmaceutical drugs and/or herbs, boosting your immune system and reducing stress.

PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS –

Pharmaceuticals are usually the first things used in trying to attack SIBO head on. The common drugs used are Xifaxin and Neomycin. Metronidazole and Alinia have also been known to be used as well. Some more information on success rates and how these drugs are combined can be found here.

Often times, pharmaceutical drugs either just keep symptoms at bay or don’t solve the SIBO problem. It is possible they can, but not always, or requires many rounds of SIBO treating antibiotics.

DIET

Diet, plays a huge role in keeping SIBO at bay. So much so, there is a very specific diet for those suffering from SIBO and more information on this diet and other diets can be found here.

PROBIOTIC IMPLANTATION

Probiotics are often part of the multi-faceted protocol for SIBO, when the cause of the SIBO is a lack of good bacteria. Some individuals have more problems when they take probiotics and have SIBO so be careful with probiotic supplementation and what kind as this can create more problems at times. Timing on when the probiotics are given is also important. Some more info on the importance of probiotic implantation for SIBO, can be found here.

MOTILITY AGENT

A motility agent is often used to help move things along in the digestive tract when SIBO is being treated. Some information and dosages of motility agents used can be found here.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR SIBO

Since SIBO, can deplete your body of key nutrients, there are certain supplements that have been known to help with SIBO. Some supplements that can help with SIBO, are B Complex, Omega Oils, Zinc, CoQ10, Vitamins, A, D and E.

ESSENTIAL OILS

http://drericz.com/healing-the-gut-with-essential-oils/

STRESS AND SIBO

Reducing Stress is very important for healing from SIBO. Stress can be one of the biggest triggers to flare up SIBO symptoms and cause disruptions in your digestive system. Here are some great ways you can reduce stress.

TREATING PARASITES

There are some schools of thought that feel the root cause of SIBO is really from parasite disruption. Specifically, parasite disruption not just in your colon but also in your liver, gallbladder and pancreas. If you suffer from SIBO, it might be worth trying a good parasite protocol. Here are a few good parasite protocols to check out:

So, with SIBO that does not go away with other treatments, there might be a link to parasites as being the root cause.

PREVENTION

Prevention of SIBO is multi-tiered and falls into three categories: gut health, immune system health, and detoxing adequately.
GUT HEALTH Maintaining gut health and balance is essential for prevention of SIBO. Here is a link with some information on how to maintain gut health:

A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM –

Maintaining a healthy immune system is important to prevent any illness or ailment. SIBO is no different. When somebody has a weakened immune system, it can most of the time be traced directly back to the gut. Here is some information on how you can keep up a healthy immune system: