Dealing with Bloating? Let’s Talk About SIBO
SIBO or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth is pretty common these days and is often thrown around on the internet. Many people come to me with suspicion that it’s the cause to their symptoms like bloating. If you haven’t been diagnosed with SIBO, but have been diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), I would highly suggest still giving this blog post a read! It’s estimated that about 60-70% of IBS cases may be linked to SIBO. This blog post will discuss what SIBO is, how you know you’re dealing with SIBO, and what to do about it.
What is SIBO? Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, is when bacteria enter the part of your intestines, particularly the small intestine, where there shouldn’t be much of. The large intestine is inhabited with millions of bacteria normally, but sometimes, the bacteria move into the small intestine and take over.
There are many symptoms that can be present in SIBO. Some of the more common ones include:
Bloating that gradually increases throughout the day or feeling like you have a balloon in your stomach by the end of the day
Gas like burping or farting
Pain in your stomach
Constipation or diarrhea
And if you’ve been diagnosed with IBS, this doesn’t rule out SIBO. Did you know that it’s estimated that about 60-70% of IBS cases may be linked to SIBO. Often times going undiagnosed, all while having to deal with uncomfortable symptoms. A diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion, the real problem could not be found from the conventional medical model, so the patients dealing with these symptoms are often labeled as “IBS”
Many people go long periods of time with bloating and thinking this is “normal.” They may have been bloated for all their life, it may be their “normal.” I’m here to let you know, you shouldn’t be bloated after every meal. If you are, there is something going on that needs to be addressed! Let’s get you some help.
How do Naturopathic Doctors Diagnose SIBO?
A breath test is one of the best ways to test for overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. This is a test that can be done at home. During this test you drink a specific liquid that comes with the kit and then every 20 minutes, you will breath into a tube, this collects gases that are produced in the gastrointestinal tract.
If positive for SIBO, the results will come back showing levels of either hydrogen, methane, or both found in the tract if the cause of your bloating is in fact SIBO.
Your practitioner then will give you a gut healing protocol that includes herbs and nutrients that kill off the infection and heal the gut.
What is the Treatment for SIBO Like?
The steps of treatment is important to remove the overgrown bacteria, heal the gut, and reduce inflammation. Antibacterial herbs are used in specific doses to help kill off the bacteria. There are many herbs that have been studied to be effective at eradicating SIBO like garlic, oregano, or peppermint. Certain antibiotics prescribed by a gastroenterologist can also be used.
During the gut healing process, a low FODMAP diet is followed. You may have heard of the FODMAP diet, this is just one of the many diets that can help in SIBO. This helps patients because the food that is often high FODMAP is highly fermented by that bacteria stuck in your small intestine (causing bloating).
What most practitioners miss is the importance of supporting the digestive process and healing the gut alongside this. In my process, I use herbs like turmeric to help reduce inflammation and other nutrients like colostrum that heals the gut lining.
There may be a chance these antibacterial herbs kill off the “good” bacteria in your gut during treatment.
Part of the gut healing protocol includes the introduction of probiotics. this is often through supplement and food sources.
Getting to the Root Cause
What caused the SIBO in the first place? There are many different root causes of SIBO and they vary depending on the person. Addressing the root cause is vital, especially in a tricky condition like SIBO. Without addressing the root cause, there is a chance the overgrowth can occur again and come back.
Causes I often see in SIBO:
Low Motility: your digestive tract isn’t moving food fast enough through your system, causing food to hang out. This gives the bacteria more time to move up to the small intestine and consume the food you’re eating (instead of your body digesting it). Low motility in SIBO may be an issue due to hypothyroidism or other conditions slowing the digestive tract.
Low stomach acid: Without acid, the pH of stomach can be too high (or basic) to kill off bacteria that ends up being ingested with food. These bacteria can travel into the small intestine and colonize there, causing SIBO.
Poor diet: A diet rich in carbohydrates or even diabetes can be at the root cause of SIBO as well.
Getting to the root cause is important because we can do all things to get rid of those “bad bugs”, but if the root cause isn’t addressed, there might be a relapse. And who has the time for that? Let’s be honest, being bloated all the time sucks, and it’s time to accept that this is not normal and get some relief.
If you’re ready to get down to the cause of your bloating and you think SIBO may be the cause, book a free discovery call with me. Working with an experienced practitioner will make the healing process a lot easier and can save you so much headache!
Talk soon!
xx Dr. Alyssa
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