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Has anyone had the breath test for SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/15/2009 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone,


My GI doc is gonna send me to have a breath test done to see if there's an overgrowth of bacteria in my small intestines. He says this is the most accurate way to test for it. I really don't believe that, but what am I to do....?

I posted before that in the past I had an organix test done through urine that gave results that I had excessive overgrowth of the toxin that comes from overgrowth of the clostridial species. I was 120 times over.

I showed him these results and he felt that it's not accurate or the lab is reliable... kind of both!

He wanted to put me on 14 days of high doses of Cipro but I said i want to do the breath test first...

What do you guys think????? I wish there was a resistance/sensitive test I could take....

Thanks!
Posted 4/15/2009 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't heard of it, let us know if you do the test and what the results are.
Posted 4/16/2009 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
I've never heard of it but I would love to try it out.

Posted 4/16/2009 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
I thought it was common. I thought many people with UC/UP have gotten this done.

It's a definite. I go to see him in about 2 weeks and he's gonna give me the script to go to another hospital to get it done. They don't do the testing where I see hi at.


Well, hopefully someone has had it done and will post on here.

BTW, I heard its a 3 hour process....
Posted 4/16/2009 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
I've never heard of such a thing. I think it's great that your GI is looking for a reason as to why you have UC and not just treating the symptoms which is what I think most GI's do.
Posted 4/16/2009 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/labtestindexbyfocus/a/Breath_Test.htm
Posted 4/16/2009 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
yea, he's being pretty cool. He said it's the most accurate way to test for it. He said the organix test I took was not and laughed. I personally believe the organix test is accurate as alot of people and physicians use this lab. Anyways, who knows. Everyone has their own believes.

I will let everyone know what happens.
Posted 4/16/2009 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
That is so awesome! I can't believe your doc is sending you for that test. I've read Mark Pimentel's book, and I really believe I had a case of SIBO. I think it causes UC in some cases, but nobody has made that connection, AFAIK.

I'm anxious to hear your results.
Posted 4/30/2009 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone,


I had the breath test done today, and it was 100% positive. I had no methane, but the hydrogen was very high. There are two different toxins that can be let out, either methane, hydrogen, or both. The doctor who did the test said that methane is much harder to get rid of, but I only had hydrogen.

Anyways, they faxed the results to my doc. She said if I don't hear from him by tomorrow to call on Monday.

She said antibiotics are usually prescribed. There are a bunch of different ones that can be prescribed. She said ciflaxin is the most common and best... I think the spelling is wrong. There is cipro too that is commonly prescribed.

It up to my GI doc though. I don't think he's ever treated this, so we will see what he does/says.

She said that my GI doc could go into my small intestine and take a biopsy or culture to find out exactly which bacteria I have and that the lab would be able to also provide a susceptibility and sensitivity test to see what meds will work... However, she said that's up to him.... I don't think he'll go for it.

She said my skin rash/plugs, my UP, and fatigue could and probably are from the SIBO.

That's it for now! I know I've been feeling like crap.....
Posted 4/30/2009 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know why they don't do this for everyone. I wonder if I have an overgrowth. Did they say they are going to put you on cephalexin. I took a lot of cephalexin (keflex) when I was younger.  I thought maybe it could have contributed to my UC. Hope you find a solution and feel better soon!

Posted 4/30/2009 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
What did you take the keflex for? Is it a bad idea to take?
Posted 4/30/2009 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
I took it because I had surgery. I had to take it for over a week. If you need it, I don't think it's a bad idea. I think for me, it was worse because I was on different antibiotics a few times in a short period of time. Maybe it will help you, I don't know. tongue

it says this on drugs.com:

Before using Keflex, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs (especially penicillins), or if you have:

  • kidney disease;

  • liver disease;

  • a stomach or intestinal disorder such as colitis;

  • diabetes; or

  • if you are malnourished.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Keflex.

Posted 4/30/2009 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I definitely have proctitis....haha! And I think I'm allergic to all cillins.....

Man oh Man, I'm really getting fed up with all this crap!
Posted 5/4/2009 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Well, spoke to my GI doc today.... He wants to put me on Cephalexin (keflex).


Has anyone ever taken this? Is this drug absorbed in the blood or gut? I googled it, but couldn't get that info!

BTW, my GI doc said that you can't culture or biopsy the small intestine for a particular bacteria, b/c there is billions... What a ignorant ass----.... The doctor who did the breath test for SIBO said you could and that it was a good idea b/c you could test for drug sensitivity.....

Jeez!!!!
Posted 5/4/2009 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
So how's the antibiotic doing? Did you find you flatulence to have a different odor, like rotting garbage?
Posted 5/5/2009 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I haven't said yes to the antibiotic yet, b/c I'm not sure if it's a good idea...

Hopefully, someone on here has used it and can give me some info on it.
Posted 5/5/2009 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
If the antibiotic is Rifaximin/Xixifan or neomycin, then I'd say do for it.  They aren't wide spectrum, they aren't absorbed well into the body, but stay within the GI tract.  That makes them super effective for this kind of thing, without having many of the issues/side effects of other antibiotics.

Mark Pimentel's book, A New IBS Solution http://www.amazon.com/New-IBS-Solution-Mark-Pimentel/dp/0977435601  explains SIBO in great detail.

Posted 5/5/2009 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
He wants to put me on Keflex.... I have no idea why?
Posted 5/5/2009 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure if many GI specialists even know about Rifaximin. It probably is part of a U.C. protocol yet, and using it this way would be considered off-label I suppose. It's intended for traveller's diarrhea.

Dr. Mark Pimentel is the Director of the Gastrointestinal Motility Program at Cedar Sinai, so I'm sure he's got some cred.
Posted 5/6/2009 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I just schedule an appt with my old GI doc to see if he will do the small bowel culture to see what bacteria I have and a sensitivity test. My appt is may 22, so time will tell. I'd rather get facts then treat it. I'm gonna order that IBS book and read it.

THanks!!!
Posted 5/30/2009 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone, I''ve been on Xifaxin for about 16 days now and my BM are actually worse. I know that this can happen, so I'm sticking it out. Tomorrow I will start neomycin too along with the xifaxin. I'm done the xifaxin in 3 days though...


I guess we will see what happens!
Posted 10/27/2009 7:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Freakzilla.

How have you responded to the antibiotics?
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