Have you ever eaten something and quickly after your stomach uncomfortably bloats up? Do you wake up with a flat stomach and by the end of the day look 7 months pregnant?
Bloating is not normal, even if it isn’t as severe as looking pregnant. It’s a sign of intestinal inflammation. If you’re having bloating and discomfort regularly, or are dealing with IBS, there is a possibility you may have Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).
SIBO is basically bacteria from the large intestine that have moved into the small intestines and it cause problems because they are not supposed to be there. Fermentation then happens in this area and produces gas and discomfort. It can lead to poor nutrient absorption, symptoms commonly associated with IBS, and may even lead to damage of the stomach lining.
Signs and Symptoms of SIBO:
Bloating
Constipation
Diarrhea
Food intolerances or food sensitivities
Burping
Joint pain
Iron and B12 deficiencies
Rosacea and skin rashes
Abdominal cramping pain
Nausea
Interstitial cystitis
Coeliac disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis
Restless Leg Syndrome
IBS
Fibromyalgia
To treat the condition you need to remove the cause.
Some Possible Causes of SIBO:
Gastroenteritis/food poisoning
Antibiotic use
Use of proton pump inhibitors, Low Hydrochloric acid production
Surgical interventions-Crohn’s disease, gallbladder removal, appendix removal
Overconsumption of simple carbohydrates and alcohol
Hypothyroidism
Celiac disease
High Stress
Aging
Testing:
It is important to test rather than to just guess you have the condition. SIBO has a high relapse rate. It is an easy test performed at home over three hours after 24 to 48 hours of a restricted diet. It involves drinking lactulose and then every 20 minutes you are taking a breath sample. The idea is to see how quickly the lactulose is used by the bacteria as food. Once the bacteria eat the lactulose they produce hydrogen or methane gas which gets diffused into the bloodstream and exhaled via the breath.
If it is determined you have SIBO the treatment plan involves dietary changes, antimicrobials, and lifestyle changes. It is a difficult condition to treat and one best done with the help of a nutritionist or naturopath.
If you think you may have SIBO and would like to find out more please do get in touch. You can book online or give me a call.
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