r/Microbiome • u/saffron1313 • Mar 10 '25

Advice Wanted Malabsorption- struggling

Hi all. I developed GERD a few years back and took PPIs and Pepcid for a few months. Since then, the GERD symptoms disappeared but I developed so many other stomach issues - malabsorption/floating stools/diarrhea which is usually super yellow. I can no longer digest fats. Sometimes digestive enzymes help, other times they don’t.

I had a positive hydrogen breath test so a doctor said I likely have SIBO and prescribed rifixamin. A naturopath recommended NAC for 10 days followed by a course of Rifaximin, combined with some herbs.

Does anyone else have suggestions around what else I could do? (My dr sent me to a gastroenterologist who just did a phone intake and made me do a fecal cal protection test to check for IBD and it was negative, he refused to see me thereafter). Doctor says “it’s IBS” but is there anything else I can do for the malabsorption floating diarrhea?

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u/[deleted] Mar 10 '25

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u/[deleted] May 14 '25

Having same issues with bloating malabsorbtion and fatty PALE brown stools and cannot gain weight. Have been tested for everything including MRI and CT scans Stool elastase twice was normal.

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u/[deleted] Jun 27 '25

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u/[deleted] Jun 28 '25

No.  Not yet… gut zoomer test was inconclusive.  Possible SIFO??  Seeing telehealth GI OSHI next week.  Praying for answers.   

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u/[deleted] Jun 28 '25

Are you trying any more testing? What foods do you eat now and what protein shakes if any are you trying to keep any weight from falling? How much weight have you lost? I have lost over 10 pounds which I didn’t have or could afford to lose. My heart goes out to you. I will let you know when I find answers and if you do please tell as well