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SIBO(Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 5/26/2014 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
My name is Mike I'm 35 years old and I'm a new member to healingwell.I've been sick for 3 years battling this chronic illness.I feel like I need to talk to someone who is dealing with the similar illness and can understand what I'm going through.My main symptoms are constipation,burning in my stomach and rectal area and pressure feeling in rectal area.At times my stomach burns so bad it feels like I lit a match and swallowed it,like an inferno.I have to take all kinds of laxatives to have a good bowel movement and sometimes they don't work.I take Milk of Mag 6-8 tsp daily,3-6 senna laxative teas daily and at times I have to take mag. citrates.In the beginning of my chronic illness I lost 80 pounds.I've been seeing one of the top GI doctors in the country at Cedars Sinai and he has tried all kinds of antibiotics,xiafixin twice,eurothroymicin twice,augmentin twice.The other treatments we've tried for the SIBO is the vivonex treatment for 3 weeks.For the constipation we've tried linzess,amitiza,and resolor.I've done other tests petscan,liver byopsies,mri,catscan,barium enema,defography,colonoscopy twice you name I've done it,just to see if there was anything else going on.I would appreciate any feedback from anyone.
Thank You,Mike
Posted 5/26/2014 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mike. I don't have the same symptoms as you, but I am battling a mystery stomach issue diagnosed as IBS-D with wheat allergy. I am getting ready to try flagyl since xifaxin is so expensive and cipro can snap tendons (I run, so I can't risk it) to see if it brings any relief. At this point, the GI doctor has no idea except to prescribe me more drugs, when all I really want to know is what's wrong so I can try to help myself naturally. I know how frustrating it is and although I don't share in your symptoms, I just wanted you to know that there are people here who care and understand the misery.
Posted 5/27/2014 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Check into the Fast Track Diet or the LOFODMAPS diet....also I take probiotics and this has helped a lot
Posted 5/27/2014 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to those of you that replied to my post.It's good to know that there are people out there that understand the misery I'm going through.I wish everyone the best.
Thanks again,Mike
Posted 6/3/2014 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hello there, ItMike
I can't help but wonder if you would start making more progress if you went to a doctor of alternative medicine.... Truly... please consider it.
Goodness knows you have given the AMA more than a fair shake without any real results.
I can't help but feel that with a total change of diet, plus doing what Ericapeace said...would really benefit and change things for you.
I wish you the best of luck...and please at least toss around the idea that I gave you, ok? OK! :)
Posted 6/3/2014 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the info I appreciate.
Posted 6/9/2014 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
I recently completed antibiotic treatment for SIBO with Flagyl (Metronidazole). My doctor prescribed it to me on a hunch, did not give me the breathing test and is kind of at a loss as to the issue I’m having, so he’s just trying anything at this point. I did test positive for a wheat allergy, negative for celiac and he says I have a loopy colon (from colonoscopy); everything else seems clear though. Every morning, I have diarrhea 1-2 times, usually within an hour of waking. If I ever have a solid stool, it’s in the evening. And usually preceded by eating blueberries and/or bananas. He’s prescribed me everything under the sun – Bentyl, Omeprazole, Hyoscyamine… none of which has helped. Back to the Flagyl.

I was on 500 mg 3x a day for 10 days. I was super thirsty, had lots of diarrhea and had a terrible taste in my mouth the whole time. Towards the end, I could not run (I run 4-5 times a week), I had terrible muscle spasms and muscle pain and just sheer exhaustion.

As for the efficacy in treating my stomach, my issues are exactly the same as they were before – lower abdominal pain about 20 minutes after eating and diarrhea a few times a day.

As for the Flagyl, I would not recommend it to anyone unless you know that you have SIBO and the doctor really thinks it will help. The side effects were pretty bad and I can honestly say that if the doctor tried to give it to me again, I would say no. I’m getting to the point where I’d rather treat my issues through a strict diet and deal with them than receive any more “treatment” from my doctor. He is sending me to the allergist, which I will go forward with out of curiosity. I just wanted to post this in case anyone is searching for info on Flagyl like I was two weeks ago. It could have been worse, but the thirst and taste in my mouth was way worse than I ever could have imagined.
Posted 6/10/2014 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
Mike,
I've been diagnosed as Iag deficient - that's immunoglobulin A. It's the type of immune cell that helps fight infections places in the body that have mucus - in the gastrointestinal system, sinuses, etc. I've had c diff twice.

I struggle with prolific diarrhea most days. At its worst I'm incontinent and can't leave the house, which isn't great. This alternates with bad constipation, and I'll skip the details on that.

I get tons of roughage every day. In addition to my plant-based diet I also get 4 tablespoons of ground flax seed every day. I don't take probiotics - they result in good bacteria overgrowth and I get copious gas and more pain (which makes everything worse). A course of antibiotics usually helps. This last time it was Clindamycin. I can't constantly take antibiotics, though.

One thing that seems to help me is to give my digestive system a break every now and then. My diarrhea and constipation get better on a diet of nothing but smoothies. I don't do JUST smoothies all the time, just when things have been really bad. My smoothies are dairy free and are basically fruit only, with protein and roughage boosters added. After about a week on these and these only, I start to feel much better. Big bags of frozen fruit can be found at Costco or Sam's club. Ninja or Vitamix or Bullet blenders work best.

Example:

The Hawaiian
1 cup frozen mango
1 cup frozen pineapple
2 cups water or coconut water
3 tablespoons soy protein powder
2 tablespoons ground flax seed
Blend until smooth

PB&J
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 cups frozen berries
2 cups water or coconut water
3 tablespoons soy protein powder
2 tablespoons ground flax seed
Blend until smooth

Substitute any kind of chunked frozen fruit - banana, cherries, seedless oranges, etc. I think the key here is there are no animal products, it's the whole food, it is clean food - no additives, and it is blended smooth. If you need to up the calories peanut butter or other nut butters do the trick, if you can have them.

This may or may not work for you. Who knows. Maybe just try it for breakfast or dinner for awhile and see if it makes a difference.
Posted 6/12/2014 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Katydid11
I'll have to try a fruit smoothie again.I tried some a while back and it bothered me,it just seems like whatever I put in my stomach doesn't agree with me.Thanks for the recipes I appreciate it.I hope you start feeling better.Mike
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