SIBO Treatment and FODMAPs

After taking the antibiotics to treat SIBO, small intestine bacterial overgrowth, I felt great.  For the first time in almost a year I felt that I could eat just about anything (I still stayed away from lactose).  I never felt bloated, my stomach never hurt, and I no longer had loose stool.  I felt normal!

I graduated from Physical Therapy School and my boyfriend graduated from Dental School in May and I was able to participate in all the celebrations without my stomach being angry at me.  I ate whatever I wanted and drank whatever I wanted.

To celebrate our graduations, my boyfriend and I went to Punta Cana in the Domincan Republic to an all inclusive resort.  We went to Secrets; absolutely amazing!  We had a great time eating, drinking and relaxing.  Not once did my stomach get upset!  I literally thought I was cured of all my stomach ailments.  

We returned from our trip June 8th and by June 15th I started feeling the same symptoms I've felt since last May.  The bloating, stomach ache, and loose stool returned.  Why oh why? I was feeling so good for almost 2 months!  What happened?  I can only guess that SIBO came back just like the gastro said it can. I didn't have another appointment scheduled with her until late July, so I decided to do some experimenting with my diet to see if there were any trigger foods.  

My boyfriend and I decided to do an elimination diet.  There are many forms of the diet out there for you to try, but we tried eliminating everything.  I mean EVERYTHING. We ate only chicken and rice for a week.  We seasoned our meals with salt, pepper, olive oil, and various spices.  No garlic or onions.  By the end of the week we both felt FANTASTIC! No bloating, no stomach ache, no tummy rumbling, no gas. I decided to start putting things back into my diet using the FODMAP diet as a guide. The nutritionist at the gastroenterology practice recommended me to try it after I finished the antibiotics for SIBO. 

• FODMAP basically eliminates many of the vegetable, fruits, and grains that could be upsetting your stomach
• FODMAP is a diet that is now commonly used to treat IBS. 

Here are a list of foods I added back into my diet that were OKAY and didn't upset my stomach: 

1. spinach
2. egg
3. tomato (in small quantities)
4. colored peppers (not green)
5. bread (in small quantities)
6. fish
7. pork
8. beef

Here are a list of foods I tried that I found did upset my stomach:

1. carrots (especially in large quantities)
2. garlic
3. onions
4. large amounts of cooked tomatoes (i.e. tomato paste, pasta sauce, and ketchup)
5. large amounts of wheat (i.e. full serving of pasta)
6. honey (this one was REALLY, REALLY BAD!!)
7. Blueberries  
8. Raspberries
9. Strawberries
10. Melons - watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew
11. Avocados 

I am still trying to figure out all the foods I have issues with, but here is the start of the list.  Some websites, doctors, and other people say that they are able to eat some problem foods in small quantities without any issues.  I have yet to try and find out if this is the case with me.

The process is really long, but so far I feel great most days... as long as I eat at home.  Obviously if I go out to eat, it is really hard to stay away from some of the foods I know irritate my stomach, such as garlic.  I do my best to modify the dishes to my stomach's liking.  

A few things that I found work for my stomach and still allow me to enjoy what I love:

1. Garlic infused oil-- AMAZING, great garlic taste without the stomach ache
2. Vodka Soda with a SPLASH of juice.  I usually have grapefruit juice because it cuts the taste of the vodka a lot and is usually a juice that is lower in sugar.  Another good juice to use is cranberry.
3. Sorbet with NO high fructose corn syrup
4. You can view other things that work for me here

The adventure of determining a good diet with a happy stomach and a happy me continues...

Second Date with the Gastro

In April, three months after my initial visit to the gastroenterologist, I returned for my second appointment.  Prior to the appointment, I was very frustrated.  The fiber wasn't working and I tried being gluten free, but nothing was working.  I still felt bloated and uncomfortable with a 3 month old food baby.  

I told the gastro everything.  Her rebuttal, "your symptoms sound like you might have SIBO."  SIBO, what is SIBO?  SIBO stands for small intestine bacterial overgrowth.  You always have bacteria in your intestines because that is how we break down our food.  However, if there happens to be more bacteria than there should be in your intestine, especially your small intestine, the excess of bacteria produces and excess of gas.  Your small intestine is not made for gas.  It is small in diameter, there is lots of it, and it is all folded up inside you.  So, if gas is produced in your small intestine, you usually get a very bloated feeling.  Your large intestine is made for gas; it is wide and not folded and you wouldn't feel too uncomfortable if there was an excess of gas... you would just fart. 

Here are the symptoms I had that lead my gastro to believe I might have SIBO:

• Gas
• Bloating
• Diarrhea

Some literature says that SIBO is turning out to be more common than doctors really thought.  Originally, doctors only thought that people with gastric surgeries got SIBO.  Now, there is speculations that SIBO might be linked to IBS.  Just speculations though.

What is the treatment? Taking very expensive antibiotics (I paid $140 for 10 days).  These antibiotics are specifically for the small intestine.  They are meant to kill off the excess of bacteria.  If you have SIBO and the antibiotics do their job, you should feel great within a few days. 

Well, that is what happened to me.  By day 3 on the antibiotics I felt 70% better.  After I finished the course of antibiotics I felt better than I had for a year.  I still felt a little bloated, but I felt immensely better.  I was no longer worried about what I was eating.  I felt like I could eat just about anything.  I was on top of the world.  Probably the best $140 I've ever spent.  

Disclosure: The gastro did warn me that the antibiotics are not a "fix it forever" drug.  She said that there is a good possibility that the SIBO will eventually come back and you may need another round of antibiotics somewhere down the road.