Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Small intestine bacterial overgrowth is the name given to the condition of having too many bacteria in your small intestine. Some bacteria in your small intestine is normal, and even healthy for you. But when those bacteria take over and grow out of control then it can cause many problems.
SIBO is not usually a diagnosis in itself. It is thought of as a result of some underlying condition or interference with proper digestion. SIBO can occur when there is low stomach acid or when something is slowing down the transit time of food through your digestive system. Some things that can cause SIBO are heartburn medications, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), narcotic pain relievers, adhesions, gastric bypass surgery, and diabetic enteropathy.
And SIBO can cause mayhem on your digestion as well, often making it difficult to know which came first, the SIBO or the digestive problems you are facing! Too many bacteria in your intestines interferes with the digestion of food and damages your gut lining. SIBO is often the number one cause of IBS, which has symptoms of gas, bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea. SIBO is often involved in inflammatory bowel disease as well, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
The microbiome is what we call the bacterial life in our digestive system. It regulates much more than just our digestion though. New research is showing that seemingly unrelated disorders are actually a result of having SIBO. Some examples are: Rosacea, fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, autism, rheumatiod arthritis, interstitial cystitis, and hypothyroidism.
Testing for SIBO is done using the breath. The bacteria in your small intestine produce methane and/or hydrogen, which are not made by human cells. These gasses accumulate enough to get into our blood stream and end up in our lungs. When we exhale, these gasses are in our breath. There is a day of preparation which involves a special diet. The next morning you collect a breath sample, drink a special sugar solution, then collect 9 more breath samples over the next 3 hours. The breath samples are then mailed to the lab for analysis and results are sent to your doctor.
Treatment for SIBO is tailored to each individual, taking into account what type of bacterial overgrowth you have and what your current symptoms are. Treatment always involves a special diet to starve the bacteria, as well as medicines to kill off the bacteria and sweep them out of your body. After a round of treatment, a follow up test may be ordered to ensure the bacteria are indeed eradicated. Once the bacteria are down to a normal level, you will need to follow a maintenance protocol to keep it that way. People who have gone through this process will say they would much rather live with their new eating plan than to have the painful symptoms they used to suffer with. They have regained their life back!
SIBO is not usually a diagnosis in itself. It is thought of as a result of some underlying condition or interference with proper digestion. SIBO can occur when there is low stomach acid or when something is slowing down the transit time of food through your digestive system. Some things that can cause SIBO are heartburn medications, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), narcotic pain relievers, adhesions, gastric bypass surgery, and diabetic enteropathy.
And SIBO can cause mayhem on your digestion as well, often making it difficult to know which came first, the SIBO or the digestive problems you are facing! Too many bacteria in your intestines interferes with the digestion of food and damages your gut lining. SIBO is often the number one cause of IBS, which has symptoms of gas, bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea. SIBO is often involved in inflammatory bowel disease as well, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
The microbiome is what we call the bacterial life in our digestive system. It regulates much more than just our digestion though. New research is showing that seemingly unrelated disorders are actually a result of having SIBO. Some examples are: Rosacea, fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, autism, rheumatiod arthritis, interstitial cystitis, and hypothyroidism.
Testing for SIBO is done using the breath. The bacteria in your small intestine produce methane and/or hydrogen, which are not made by human cells. These gasses accumulate enough to get into our blood stream and end up in our lungs. When we exhale, these gasses are in our breath. There is a day of preparation which involves a special diet. The next morning you collect a breath sample, drink a special sugar solution, then collect 9 more breath samples over the next 3 hours. The breath samples are then mailed to the lab for analysis and results are sent to your doctor.
Treatment for SIBO is tailored to each individual, taking into account what type of bacterial overgrowth you have and what your current symptoms are. Treatment always involves a special diet to starve the bacteria, as well as medicines to kill off the bacteria and sweep them out of your body. After a round of treatment, a follow up test may be ordered to ensure the bacteria are indeed eradicated. Once the bacteria are down to a normal level, you will need to follow a maintenance protocol to keep it that way. People who have gone through this process will say they would much rather live with their new eating plan than to have the painful symptoms they used to suffer with. They have regained their life back!