I've been officially diagnosed through hydrogen breath testing with lactulose.... with Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth. (Side note: the GI doctors at UW Digestive Disease Center in Seattle are amazing.) My numbers were "quite impressive" -- according to the MD. It's not a gray area for me; it's pretty bad.
So now I'm trying to come up with a game plan. I am not totally anti-antibiotic, but I don't want to take one just yet. Not until I try at least solving this other ways. Rifaximin is the one of choice for SIBO, and it's not a broad-spectrum antibiotic so it's not as disastrous to your gut flora as others.. but still. Not yet.
I've ordered a half dozen books on Amazon and I am reading through them all, and my husband is tackling publications on the matter. But I welcome any input.
1) What should I be eating to starve the bad bacteria?
2) What probiotics/supplements should I take?
3) I've read about chiropractic care for this - why? How would that help? Should I do it?
4) What else?
Right now, I'm eating a pretty limited diet:
Meat, Poultry, Fish, Eggs, Bone Broth
Dark leafy vegetables, cucumbers
Avocados
Really ripe bananas
Rinsed white rice
Coconut Oil/Olive Oil
Some winter squash (but no sweet potatoes)
Almond Butter
I'm thinking I need to change some things in my diet, but I just don't know what to eat and I'm limited in that I do have to cook for my two small children and husband, too. And I can't just be in the kitchen all the time... don't really know where to start.
Any input is welcome! Many thanks!
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2 Answers
If you don't mind me asking, what were your scores? I believe anything over 25+ for SIBO hydrogen breath test is considered positive?
You won't get rid of SIBO without antibiotics. Sorry to say. Probiotics might make the situation worse. And yes, Rifaximin is the one you should be taking. To mitigate the damage with Rifagut/Rifaximin, try taking it after a meal.
Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it. I'm thinking along the same lines myself, but am wondering if a rifaximin/diet approach with herbal supplements would plausibly give me a better outcome, so I am trying to devise a game plan so I "do this right" the first time. For instance, which probiotics should I take AFTER the antibiotics are done? Soil-based? Other kinds? Garlic, oregano oil, herbal supplements? What foods should I eat to discourage the re-growth of the SIBO?
Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it. I'm thinking along the same lines myself, but am wondering if a rifaximin/diet approach with herbal supplements would plausibly give me a better outcome, so I am trying to devise a game plan so I "do this right" the first time. For instance, which probiotics should I take AFTER the antibiotics are done? Soil-based? Other kinds? Garlic, oregano oil, herbal supplements? What foods should I eat to discourage the re-growth of the SIBO? Chiropractic? What else?
Sarah_14
(1826)
on November 23, 2013
at 07:11 PM
Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it. I'm thinking along the same lines myself, but am wondering if a rifaximin/diet approach with herbal supplements would plausibly give me a better outcome, so I am trying to devise a game plan so I "do this right" the first time. For instance, which probiotics should I take AFTER the antibiotics are done? Soil-based? Other kinds? Garlic, oregano oil, herbal supplements? What foods should I eat to discourage the re-growth of the SIBO? Chiropractic? What else?
Sarah_14
(1826)
on November 23, 2013
at 04:37 PM
Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it. I'm thinking along the same lines myself, but am wondering if a rifaximin/diet approach with herbal supplements would plausibly give me a better outcome, so I am trying to devise a game plan so I "do this right" the first time. For instance, which probiotics should I take AFTER the antibiotics are done? Soil-based? Other kinds? Garlic, oregano oil, herbal supplements? What foods should I eat to discourage the re-growth of the SIBO?