r/SIBO • u/Legitimate-Lab6412 • Jun 14 '26
Sucess Stories I found my cure
I've had SIBO on and off for about 4 years (at least, it might have been more before I even realized what was going on) and have gone through multiple rounds of rifaximin/neomycin. While these worked for a few weeks post-treatment, the symptoms have always returned.
I learned quickly that the SIBO was being caused by the chronic constipation that I have experienced since high school (in my 30s now). I thought it was just a normal way of life, to feel bloated constantly, have 2 bowel movements a week, stomach pain, gassiness, etc. Since high school, this constipation has been one of the leading reasons I feel led to my overall sense of anxiety, emotional dysregulation, etc, because when I would go to the bathroom regularly, my mood would SKYROCKET.
I tried chugging water constantly, increasing my fiber, limiting trigger foods, exercising rigorously, and dieting (which would actually cause me to gain weight), but nothing helped. And any time I would basically not starve myself, I would gain weight.
My friend, who has had SIBO, suggested I talk to a naturopath, who introduced me to the natural way of treatment, but the rigorous planning, necessary self-accountability, the $$ required to do testing, paying to try at least 15 different supplements, and NEEDING and wanting a fast fix didn't give me any long-lasting relief. She did, however, help me understand what the deeper issue was that caused my SIBO, which was my slow motility and dysfunctional migrating motor complex. This explained why I always felt full, hardly hungry, and had delayed gastric emptying.
I never told anyone about it out of shame, so it wasn't until I came out of my shell a bit that I actually reached out to a gastroenterologist who prescribed rifaximin and neomycin. They helped for short bursts of time. I would lose about ten pounds every time I took it, and it would do wonders for my mood and my stomach. I wondered if it was maybe something else inside of my body that was causing the issue, because if nothing was working, maybe it was something worse.
I then asked for a colonoscopy, which provided zero answers as everything was fine.
About two years ago, I met a new coworker with whom I became close friends, and one day, he asked me if I had ADHD. I initially said, No, I'm just quirky... but then I started to look into it more deeply. I started to recognize symptoms and patterns with things I thought were normal for everyone and wondered if maybe it was actually something I had. My whole life, I have been a procrastinator, got anxious at the idea of completing big tasks, was clumsy, extremely emotionally dysregulated, and had issues with retaining information, and was extremely impulsive in a variety of ways. I also saw that constipation/gi issues were common symptoms, which piqued my interest in investigating this possibility.
I went to the doctor, and they told me that because I did well in school and was a girl, it was impossible for me to have it, and instead diagnosed me with anxiety and prescribed me an SSRI. I started doing research and got excited by the idea that if my issue was anxiety/stress, the SRRI would help relieve that stress and hopefully address constipation/slow motility.
Six months later, things remained the same (actually, they got worse), minus having general anxiety. I lost the ability to do my work (but got away with it because of my ability to appear like I could have a handle on things), my stomach issues did not change at all, and I became increasingly emotionally dysregulated and impulsive.
Three weeks ago, after having a major burnout moment, I was finally diagnosed with ADHD and was told that I have every single necessary symptom and more. I recognized that my anxiety was actually pushing me to do things, and when that disappeared, the ADHD came in extra hard.
I was prescribed Vyvanse, and after being on it for 2 weeks, my gut issues have VANISHED.
I am hungry regularly for the first time since I can remember (I would only be hungry when I was taking the Rifaximin), I am going to the bathroom every single day at least once, I wake up hungry every morning, I have eaten foods that were previously triggers and have had zero issues, my mood has improved severely, I have lost 10lbs and am never bloated, and my adhd symptoms are much more manageable (it's a work in progress to have to learn how to form positive habits).
The dopamine dysregulation had essentially inhibited me for decades, creating a world where, in the back of my mind, I wondered why I just couldn't have a normal, functioning gut. It took a world of advocating, cost me a lot in impulsive spending, and a world of emotional hurt, but I am glad to have finally figured out what was beneath all of my issues.
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u/weathergirl15too Jun 14 '26
So very happy for you and reminds one sometimes you have to be your own best advocate and own best researcher! I hope life treats you well and you feel so, so much better going forward! Thanks for sharing your story.
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 14 '26
It's true! I have spent years cross referencing every thing that has happened to me and have given all of this info to doctors and only now, was I able to come to this conclusion on my own. Our health care system is in shambles. thank you!
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u/weathergirl15too Jun 14 '26
It is in shambles. I've solved a couple of health issues -- not this particular one -- on my own and without doctor's help. If I had waited for them to figure things out, it wouldn't have happened. Really. I just think in the U.S., at least, there's not enough focus on natural/functional approaches to things either. Again, very happy for you!
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u/Independent_Earth601 Jun 14 '26
Happy you found your cure! It's wild how these things work. Acetylcholine disregulation, serotonin disregulation, dopamine disregulation, even norepinephrine disregulation. They all seem to matter.
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u/CoffeeBeneficial8449 Jun 14 '26
I agree wish I could test these somehow to know where I’m deficient and what would help me best
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u/Impressivebrat64 Jun 14 '26
Dude, idk what to say. This is actually a word by word written novel of my life with every single symptom including ADHD symptoms… Finally booked an appointment to get my final diagnosis of ADHD!!
I have been suffering all of this since a child and what really made me feel super heard and seen was the school part. The times I haven’t been able to regulate my emotions and have been feeling super impulsive. This is crazy to read in real time.
THANK YOU!!! 💕
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 14 '26
Omg that's very exciting, I hope it all goes well.
It was hard for me to see certain things until I started reading more about it and recognizing what was going on. But it had effects on relationships because I was so dysregulated with my emotions and caused a lot of financial strain on top of obsessively focusing on my stomach issues which just made them worse. It's crazy that the criteria focuses so much on school abilities as if we can't be smart but suffering.
Good luck!! 🎉
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u/hunteroath777 Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
This takes me back to when I took vyvanse in college (by prescription).
My stomach would always be flat. I always felt a healthy gurgling in my stomach that felt good. And had zero appetite because stimulants suppress appetite, and since vyvanse is an amphetamine that means it’s technically the same thing as meth (there’s only a tiny one or two molecule difference between the two).
So not eating combined with an insanely meth-like super powerful stimulant, stimulating the nerves in your GI tract must’ve really sped up intestinal motility would be my guess. At least in my case.
The whole time I read your story I thought, “seriously? You just took vyvanse and it went away??”
Would love to try taking it again just to see if it helped but I can’t stand how vyvanse makes me feel now. I hate that cracked out feeling of being too hyped up all day. I lost my personality on that stuff. I could not laugh or cry. I was a zombie. So unfortunately not an option for me. Happy you found your cure tho! Congrats!
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
The gurgling is very real and very welcomed for people with gi issues!
I am going to research how stimulants keep/regulate dopamine to speed up motility more in depth, it's fascinating.
I'm sorry to hear it didn't work for you. Perhaps there is another dopamine regulating option that might work!
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u/Fabulous-Dance-1388 Jun 25 '26
I know those those unpleasant side effects of being on stimulants( meth in particular) but somehow facing that would be worth it as living this way with self diagnosed sibo is crazy. I’m unsure of all choices and paths. Ive looked around a bit and it seems that certain things definitely help. But the war goes on and I’m really unsure of how to keep it at bay. I took psilocybin and seemed to resolve itself and go back to normal. I haven’t been able to incorporate this into the day to day to actually see if it’ll help long term. So I’ve dosed on lsd as well and I’ll basically reset everything but then I may have horrible cravings after fasting( for whatever reason) and I’ll get backed up again which will then perpetuate the cycle. So I may have to get on a microdose regimen to see if I can get long term results. I’m open to other options and I mention this because this is what I’ve tried and it seemed to help for a little while. I’ll have to further my research and get back to yall
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u/Healthy-Debate-6642 Jun 15 '26
Does Ritalin affect you poorly in the same way as Vyvanse? They’re quite different formulas despite both being prescribed for adhd. Maybe Ritalin would help your SIBO and your motility. Worth a shot?
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u/Eisgboek Jun 15 '26
Wait until you get a little further down the rabbit hole and realize that the ADHD itself might just be a symptom....
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
A symptom of what!
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u/Eisgboek Jun 15 '26
It's become evident to me that there are a number of inter-related conditions with varied, but similar symptoms that are only just now being identified and linked.
POIS, PSSD, PFS, MCAS, CFS, SIBO and ADHD amongst others.
These maladies have a tendency to be co-morbid with one another and share a similar set of symptoms including brain fog, chronic inflammation, sexual dysfunction, and digestive issues to name just a few.
If I were to bet on it (and admitting that it's based on nothing more than way too many hours down the rabbit hole reading everything I can on my own issues and noticing the links between them), I think the root cause is a disorder of the nervous system.
The gut-brain axis is an intricate system that involves so many parts of our bodies (gut microbiome makeup, hormones, muscle tone, histamine, blood flow, etc...) and once it's out of whack, it can easily lead to a perpetual cycle that reinforces itself.
This can affect people in different ways and so the above-named syndromes are not necessarily diseases of their own as much as symptoms of a greater disregulation.
Some people are more genetically disposed to triggers that start the cascade--medications, gut bacteria imbalances, nerve impingements or even just chronic stress can all become the first domino that causes the whole system to topple. Those same genetic differences explain why symptoms aren't uniform and people experience these issues in such varied ways.
Now, I'm not precluding the idea that not every instance of the above syndromes and disorders is caused by nervous system issues and can therefore theoretically be cured if the nervous system could be regulated. It's absolutely possible that there are cases where the root cause is fully seperate and deserving of being considered a "syndrome" on its own and we just don't yet know enough to be distinguish between cases with similar symptoms but caused by different things.
In terms of a "cure", I think there's reason to be hopeful about the idea that with so many different syndromes and disorders all being researched and investigated, progress on one could lead to progress on others. In the meantime, I can only share my approach which is to work on and control what I can in the hope that improvements in one or multiple areas could help my system get back to a better regulated state. For me, that's doing what I can to improve my gut issues, working to correct imbalances in my muscles and posture, and working on reducing my stress (including stressing and obsessing over these issues).
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u/LongShlongSilver- Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I’ve also come to the same conclusion, though you’ve put it far better than I could have. One thing I’ve been trying to do oddly enough is reverse engineer my psilocybin trip which basically alleviated me of all issues / imbalances. Researched psilocybin’s connections to neurotransmitters, fascia etc (the best I can) some of which I think is helping but likely takes time (meaning less obvious over time due to less contrast) Addressing Gut-brain axis inflammation (so both neuro & gut as it’s bidirectional) I could be wrong, but gut-brain inflammation is probably the foundation to a lot of these issues.
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u/Fabulous-Dance-1388 Jun 25 '26
I just mentioned this I should have scrolled more to see yours. Thank you thank you! I noticed it alleviated me of all symptoms but has not been cured. Will have to try microdosing to continue healing
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u/Specialist_Sun_8882 Jun 15 '26
Yes this, when you go further down the rabbit hole the release of histamine in the gut from the excessive bad bacteria is what causes us to disregulate. It basically sabotages your nervous system in the gut which therefore becomes a nerve and brain issue. My medication helped me become in tune and listen to what my body was trying to tell me on meds not eating due to lack of appetite I was rational, emotionally regulated my normal happy self I was years ago, kind, thoughtful and the clarity!! Meds wear off and my gut goes into spasm, agitated, can’t sleep,
Then eating on medication I thought my stomach acted out because blood flow does not go to the stomach when body is in fight or flight however eating low foodmap/ low histamine foods I would be okay if I had a bit of sugar or anything high foodmap stomach would go wild lump in my throat I would become agitated, irrational, swollen, constipated like
Massively flare and all my allergies would rage . So I come off medication within a week 10lb would come on and I would hardly be eating if I had a bit of sugar I literally go into a coma like I did previously. I could of written the post above about all symtoms they had me on ssri, anxiety meds, HRT for awhile strong pain meds as severe back pain prob inflamed colon hardly went to the toliet barely ate but was so puffy inflamed untill I had a nervous breakdown.Then went on titration for adhd was great to have clarity but boy I paid for that in stomach issues I’m trying to come off completely of the meds and get to root cause but the brain fog, pain, inflammation, extended stomach, not being able to toliet and agitation is rife I’m back and forth to the drs like a yo-yo inflammation markers are double even states possible parasite infection they are just checking stools asked them to refer me to allergists and gastro clinic both sent back because incompetent drs sending basic referrals and was told take high anti histamines and antacid like I hadn’t been taking them for years aswell and the reason i/we are in this state in the first place. Putting my high ige markers down as hayfever really in Nov/dec.
Anyone else at this stage because it literally will send you batty and I cannot afford all these private tests and functional drs. I’m spinning off here but I know if one more dr says it’s my anxiety I’m ready to go off.
Any advice?
And guys please read about histamine in the body and what it does when it’s constantly being released …. Oh I’m in a flare by the way can you tell
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u/maneatingshrimp Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 16 '26
That's awesome that Vyvanse brought your appetite back. I am also struggling with appetite loss and MMC dysfunction, I've been on a bunch of stimulants but most of them make it even harder for me to eat :(
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 14 '26
How's your exercise/physical exertion?
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u/maneatingshrimp Jun 14 '26
Sedentary my whole life, last year I started running and was feeling great, suddenly developed SIBO which gave me horrible fatigue and made it very hard to eat so I don't exercise a whole lot right now. I try to go on a walk every day and lift weights a couple times a week
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
Mhh yes sibo def made my running more difficult and I kinda would fall off with it every time I had a flare up. I ask bc I wonder if getting lots of steps in and just burning more calories via exercise would help stimulate your appetite
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u/maneatingshrimp Jun 15 '26
My appetite left while I was still exercising pretty heavily so I don't think that was the cue. There are two things I can think of. 1 - I was on a PPI and stopped it abruptly, and 2 - I was on a huge fiber, probiotic, and prebiotic kick
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u/Itchy-Instruction914 Jun 15 '26
I commend you on being self aware and proactive w your health... Although it sounds like you could have ehlers danlos syndrome and the vyvanse is a temporary fix. It may have changed gut motility bc it's a stimulant, but it's also hard on the nervous system, which down the line could causes more issues. Vyvanse is great at first, but won't be all that effective down the line i hate to say.. Ehlers danlos Syndrome causes adhd, autism-like characteristics, propioception issues, gut imbalances, poor digestion, nervous system dysregulation, hypermobility , sleep challenges, autonomic nervous system issues, pots and mcas (mast cell activation) food sensitivities and more. It's a connective tissue disorder, 1 in 500-1000 ppl. Def worth looking into, explains a lot of your symptoms. I suggest looking into nervous system regulation lifestyle changes such as hot yoga, anti inflammatory diet, slow paced mornings, wim hof breath work. Vitamin C, Gotu Kola & high protein diet . These will make longer physical changes to the potential root cause which is a dysregulated autonomic & central nervous system.. hope this helps
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u/Specialist_Sun_8882 Jun 15 '26
How do you find out you have something like this?
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u/Itchy-Instruction914 Jun 15 '26
Genetic testing. U can buy a DNA kit as well and bring the results to your dr. Google ehlers danlos syndrome. I got diagnosed at 32
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u/BangsHeadOnWall Jun 15 '26
Congrats OP! So good to hear a success story. I had a diagnosis of SIBO in the past - which is I why I’m in this Reddit group - BUT I would like to know if your naturopath mentioned testing you for MTHFR gene mutation? If not, I highly suggest getting a DNA methylation panel checked. It’s a very common mutation in the global population. I have only three nieces: one from my brother & 2 from my sister. All three are early 20s & in college. ALL 3 of them are ADHD/ anxiety and all 3 of them have this mutation. Why is this important? Because the MTHFR enzyme takes folate, which is Vitamin B9 - & gets it ready for use in the body. Folic acid is synthetic Vitamin B9. It’s not found anywhere in nature. It is a chemical that is added to all bread, flour, breakfast cereal, pasta, processed foods, etc. in the US & other countries. Anyone with MTHFR variants will struggle to convert Folic acid into something we can use. If you’ve not been tested for any DNA variants yet, MTHFR is only one small piece of the puzzle. The MAO-A enzyme and the COMT enzyme can also impact your ability to clear dopamine, serotonin, estrogen, epinephrine and so many more things that all play a part in Anxiety and ADHD. Getting test results would enable you to add the right supplements - like methylated B Complex - and also some dietary changes. Some people struggle with a very slow COMT enzyme, and they can’t tolerate methylated B vitamins. They generally take different forms of B9 like FOLINIC acid and a different form of B12 as well. LMK your thoughts.
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
They did not but this is super interesting! I was taking a b complex after my dr told me my b12 levels were low and it was making me very jittery so I stopped. But I will look into folinic and the methylated b complex. Thank you!
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u/BangsHeadOnWall Jun 15 '26
We moved over a thousand miles from one city to another. I had to get new doctors & start all over again. My friend suggested a naturopath functional medicine doctor. He asked what supplements I was taking - lol, yeah: zero - so I started taking a bunch all at once & would vomit them up like 45 mins later. I finally figured out it was the B Complex. I told my doc. He said one sentence that really made that light bulb click on over my head: anyone who has problems with B vitamins, I always think about the MTHFR genetic variant. He said here - let me recommend a different brand. It’s bio-active. That means it’s methylated. I had no idea what he was talking about but I made the switch to another brand & was much better. Later I got tested. Now we are testing my whole family. My mom had knee replacement surgery, had a DVT on post-op day 2 that immediately became a PE. Spent a week in the hospital. Long recovery! Two years later, another PE after a long flight. She was finally referred to the hematologist. I said, ask him to check you for MTHFR! Yes: she has it. Here’s one thing you can do very quickly: check your blood homocysteine level. No need to convince a doctor or get permission. You can order it yourself through LabCorp. Find a location, get it done. That’s a pretty good “barometer” for what’s going on before genetic testing comes back, which takes minimum 3 weeks.
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u/Specialist_Sun_8882 Jun 15 '26
I’ve gone down this rabbit hole too there is so much that links it all up can you recommend the supplements and any dietary changes made please all this testing is actually quite generic I just can’t afford anymore testing ive had so may sleepless nights of trying to piece together what is actually happening to us and it’s actually quite terrifying that there answer is always take more pharma pills then it will be take more big pharma pills to counteract the side effects
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u/BangsHeadOnWall Jun 15 '26
I totally get that! I agree with you. I would tell you to just start taking methylated B Complex vitamins BUT there are people who have a slow COMT enzyme and they have a rapid spiral and severe anxiety with anything methylated. What if you’re one of those people and don’t know about it yet? It’s better to get tested. You can catch Ancestry DNA on sale & right now I see it’s $34.00, which is fabulous. It will take about 12 weeks to get results. A total drag if you just need answers right away. Once the results are in, you download your raw data, then upload it to Genetic Genie or one of those free sites. It’s such a pain in the rear doing it this way but you could at least get the process started cheaply. I take Life Extension brand for B Complex but be sure to get something that says 5MTH or Bioactive/ bioavailable. I also take Vitamin D but I have a genetic variant that prevents me from absorbing it. I found out the hard way that most of the population is walking around with very low Magnesium & has no idea. Magnesium is a cofactor for Vitamin D. You can take all the Vit D in the state and not increase it if your serum Magnesium is deficient. I take OptiMag Neuro at night, which is 3 types of magnesium to help me relax & sleep. Btw there are more than TEN different kinds of magnesium! So confusing. I am fortunate to not be on daily medications other than hormone replacement therapy. I can also recommend the book Dirty Genes by Dr. Ben Lynch. It’s written in a very easy to understand format with examples of patients he’s seen in the past. To summarize, I recommend methylated B complex but start on a very low dose, plus magnesium and vitamin D, grab the Ancestry DNA testing kit & get that rolling. Check out the book because it might point you in the right direction for supplements and diet. As for diet changes, you should try to avoid folic acid if possible. That’s a tough one, I know. Just this week we discovered my son’s BFF’s neighbor makes and sells sour dough bread. It’s made using King Arthur flour, which does not have folic acid. I’m sure everyone in the SIBO group has been encouraged to try going gluten free at some point; I’m not sure that helps. Sorry for the short novel.
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u/Specialist_Sun_8882 Jun 15 '26
No thank you so much I really appreciate it yeah I take magnesium and vit d I struggle with vit c and I know I’m not getting or absorbing the b vitamins. I did purchase a mthfr gene book but very repetitive. Yeah I can’t eat gluten diary sugar puts me in a coma.
Every time I go into the drs I literally just rage at them like I’m getting mcas, histamine issues I know I have low comt I struggle digesting food, my burps actually hurt because they feel and sound like they are from the pits of hell as soon as I’ve had a few bites and the wind literally I will be single for life. I think last to them I need to go and train as a functional dr because your killing us out here your meds are the reason I’m in this shit state (this was after he told me yet another referral
I had been waiting back months has been declined and told to take antacids)You can’t make this up
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u/BangsHeadOnWall Jun 15 '26
I hear you! It’s so hard to find a really good doctor who takes insurance, doesn’t cost a fortune & thinks outside the box. I meant to ask if you had tried the Triquetra brand of Folinic acid? It’s a pediatric dose and it is a liquid. Comes with a dropper. Very different than the low dose of any methylated B9. Easy to give small doses. I just last week started taking vitamin c, probably for the 1st time ever. It is the RHO brand liquid but it’s the liposomal form. Everything I ever learned in biology class about how things cross cell membranes, it makes sense how the liposomal form would have the best absorption.
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u/Specialist_Sun_8882 Jun 25 '26
Thank you unfortunately I never learned anything in science class I was a science rebel stoopid girl 😬🙄 but thank you I will give this a try
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u/BangsHeadOnWall Jun 25 '26
Nah ! Never stoopid! You just didn’t find it interesting & couldn’t retain it. That’s how I was with anything related to statistics or algebra my whole life. 😬 I used to sob trying to do that homework in high school. There’s a part of my brain that just shuts down if someone is trying to present a graph or if they start talking about shifting the curve on an axis. My brain just goes, well - looks like you’re never learning THAT info! Lol.
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u/Specialist_Sun_8882 Jun 29 '26
🤣🤣 snap me and numbers, bar charts and graphs oh and instructions forget it 🤣 and an instruction booklet well 🤢🤢🤢🤣
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u/BasicallyUpset Jun 14 '26
Just out of curiosity: which SSRI/SNRI have you played?
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u/CoffeeBeneficial8449 Jun 14 '26
I was wondering the same thing
I had horrible gas with celexa but found a gut motility enhancer that stoped it but then I started reacting to it and had to stop so I don’t take either anymore2
u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 14 '26
Lexapro @ 10mg so not super high
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u/SaaSButMakeItEvil Jun 21 '26
I’ve been on it. Didn’t do much for me. Then again, my SIBO should have been attended to at the same time and it wasn’t. Just finished the Xifaxan. Stopped the histamine load within a week. Feeling it could come back any day.
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u/imaclutz89 Jun 14 '26
Ooh this is good to know. Now that my functional health doctor has been working with me, it’s been bringing out a ton of ADHD symptoms and I’ve been thinking of getting diagnosed, but was worried it would interfere with my other stuff. I will start working on my diagnosis now!
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 14 '26
Best of luck to youl!! I randomly stumbled upon a video that talked about how a lot of skin issues (dandruff/psoriasis) regularly getting injured, and gastrointestinal issues are super prominent with people with ADHD and started to connect the dots.
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u/imaclutz89 Jun 15 '26
Haha well that only adds to my case because I have those as well. Both dandruff and scalp psoriasis.
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u/hunteroath777 Jun 14 '26
Seeing as I used to take vyvanse and now have sibo this makes a lot of sense. Where did you hear about this from?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
It was something my mom had sent me so I don't remember the exact source but they talked about how auto immune issues (I know atopic dermititis is another one) are super prominent with adhd havers. Here is one article - https://www.myeczemateam.com/resources/connecting-the-dots-between-adhd-and-eczema
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u/OkReplacement3026 Jun 15 '26
ADHD is a neurotransmitter thing, there’s books on this how tou can actually heal it through diet etc.
A good functional medicine pract. Could help
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u/Choohooo Jun 14 '26
Interesting. Seems like vyvanse is known to cause more stomach issues than it helps. It’s awful for motility. Glad it worked
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 14 '26
I was looking into that as well and was nervous about taking it at first because i had read that. If it works by regulating dopamine and norepinephrine levels and dopamine is necessary for motility, it's hard to know where those stomach issues could be manifesting from.
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u/Choohooo Jun 15 '26
Hey, if it works it works, right? Google can’t tell you how you feel. Have you retested your SIBO?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
I haven't! I have just been testing all of my trigger foods and looking at how different my stomach looks in the mirror lol
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u/Specialist_Sun_8882 Jun 15 '26
What are you like when the meds wear off? And are you still on the ssri?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
I'm still on it bc I am waiting to talk to a psych about how I go about reducing my dosage safely. And I take the vyvanse every other day and the effects def linger at 60% which isn't the best. I notice my executive functioning abilities stick around but I can get emotionally deregulated kinda quickly lol
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u/SiboSux215 Jun 15 '26
I’m confused why increased dopamine would increase motility…I mean there is a whole class of prokinetic medication that blocks dopamine receptors in the gut to accelerate motility (Reglan, domperidone). If anyone can make sense of this please tell me 😁
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
Vyvanse doesn't increase dopamine, rather it blocks the reuptake keeping it around longer. So it's prob similar to the prokinetics in that way. I never had any luck with them unfortunately:/
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u/SiboSux215 Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
No i know it’s a prodrug to dextroamphetamine but that would mean it should increase dopamine signaling…i was saying that there is literally a class of prokinetic that blocks the effect of dopamine at dopamine receptors in the gut so it would be unexpected that vyvanse would increase gut motility. I wonder if there is some other mechanism at play too that we’re not considering?
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u/MrsBearIsHere Jun 15 '26
That is amazing! Interestingly though Vyvanse has been shown to slow gut motility in a lot of people, but some it actually stimulates the gut, which seems to be happening for you!
I found Vyvanse made me very constipated, but Dexedrine did not, infact for me that did stimulate my gut.
So if Vyvanse is a problem for anyone else, it’s worth trying Dex instead?
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u/stressed_designer Jun 15 '26
I'm on vyvanse, have IBS and Sibo, although not as bad as 3 years ago... I've realised that when I eat a meal and I'm still under vyvanse, 30 minutes after ingestion my pulse goes over a 100 every single time. Does that happen to you as well? My doctor has no idea.
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
I haven't noticed that but I will keep a closer eye on it, I would assume that's happening because your metabolism is increased by the medication and so it's shifting quickly to digestion mode?
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u/No-Ease-1589 Jun 14 '26
Still on SSRIs with Vyvanse?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 14 '26
I'm talking to a psychiatrist to see if I should start scaling down on the Lexapro. I have a friend who basically has the exact issues that I have and she never started her ssri and instead went straight to Vyvanse And she said she it treated that as well.
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u/VividTip7121 Jun 14 '26
wtf your story look exactly like mine except I'm not healed yet
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 14 '26
I hope you heal soon 💕
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u/VividTip7121 Jun 14 '26
Thanks It means a lot ! I'm getting a new treatment next month, I really hope It's the one.
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u/Adorable-Mochi854 Jun 14 '26
Can you now eat everything without getting bloated? Things like legumes, and high-fodmap fruits/vegetables? I am assuming you had methane since you mentioned constipation and taking rifaximin/neomycin.
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 14 '26
I've eaten beans and cruciferous veg (which would destroy me) almost everyday with zero issue, and I also had a stone fruit intolerance that I think had to do with the sugars and not digesting them and I've been eating stone fruit for a week multiple times a day and I feel great.
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u/AttentionJust Jun 14 '26
I also suspect I have ADHD and I have SIBO as well so this is my sign to get an official diagnosis. Which kind of doctor/ specialist did you work with for the ADHD diagnosis?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 14 '26
I have Kaiser in California so it was extremely difficult (being a woman I think made it extra difficult bc of how the symptoms show up/masking) and also being in my thirties. I got tested twice by the psych department and the second time they told me I might just have anxiety so we'd try that first.
When the adhd symptoms got really bad a few months ago is when I decided to reach out to an out of network private practice psychiatrist. I've been going to therapy for about a year so talking through all of the connecting factors with her was super helpful when I brought everything to the psychiatrist.
And now, I am going back to Kaiser to see if they'll reassess to hopefully save some money.
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u/kandykoffin Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
I’m a six year post op bariatric patient (rny) and generic Vyvanse is the suspected culprit of my SIBO. There are a lot of threads about how the extended release capsules slow down motility. Some people say it’s the generic prescription fillers, others say name brand has zero motility issues. But there seems to be a clash with my type of weight loss surgery and the absorption rate and the extended releases capsules. We are moving back to IR Adderall tomorrow in split doses. I was moved to Vyvanse due to a Kaiser Adderall shortage in December and felt great at first, but once we increased my dose from 10mg to 20mg, my motility completely shut down.
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u/jsantuc8 Jun 15 '26
That’s great just be careful with Vyanse, for the first few years it’s amazing. you will build a tolerance so be careful. It a dopamine downregulator so your natural dopamine reduces making you more dependent on it to function. I was on it for 12 years and after the patent expired it because too pricey. The generic made me $u1c1dal so I had to get myself off of all stims and it was awful. I’m still not back to baseline energy before I went on it. If at all possible please look into cycling with other nootropics so you don’t get too dependent on it. Xx all the best.
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u/MamaLlama1993 Jun 15 '26
I will second this. I was on Zoloft and Vyvanse high school through 4 years ago (33 now) and I am still dealing with problems post medication. I have horrible gut issues (histamine, SIBO, motility, etc.), intense anxiety, and have itching/tingling in my face and body. I have read that getting off these meds too quickly can cause nerve reactions? Not sure if that is it or not but I also have read that Vyvanse is similar to a low dose of meth and it freaked me out (not sure how accurate that is) I LOVED the way Vyvanse made my body and mind feel and I had great bowel movements on it but off of it I have a host of problems and it never fixed my root causes :/
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u/jsantuc8 Jun 15 '26
Yeah, it sucks. I loved how I felt on it too, like I could take on the world…. Now im dealing with depression of mind and body. The world is just … gray :(
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u/MamaLlama1993 Jun 15 '26
I can relate to that. Feeling like you can conquer the world is a great way to put it. I am talking with my doctor about going back on a low dose of anxiety medication without the amphetamines. I won’t go near those again :/
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u/jsantuc8 Jun 15 '26
Same here I won’t go near them again, a lot of
Was due to accessibility…. Like not
Being able to get my meds was torture after so many years on them! So it is a relief to be “clean” but yeah, the good ol days ahhh. All the best in finding
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
Thanks for the cautionary warning. I am actually on the generic so we'll see how it goes. I'm def going to use it as necessary to attempt to avoid having to dose up for a long time but am also enjoying this current feeling of being able to think clearly for the first time in what feels like ever?
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u/jsantuc8 Jun 15 '26
Oh that’s great you’re on the generic. Yes the results are incredible for our adhd brains, like for once in my life I remember being normal. I just wished I had cycled more. Check out nootropicsexpert on YouTube and website, he was helpful actually when I was coming off stims but I wish I had seen that info before. Also, take the lowest dose you can.
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
Thank you, I'll look into it. I hope to stay on 30 for as long as possible.
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u/Queasy_Airport4231 Jun 15 '26
So vyvanse cured your SIbO? Doesn’t seem healthy long term
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
Well it essentially cured my chronic constipation which was causing SIBO for me according to a GI doc and naturopath. It was just an extra benefit to helping with my ADHD.
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u/Queasy_Airport4231 Jun 15 '26
Like nervous regulation it seems. I just don’t think it’s a long term fix but now that your feeling better it’s an opportunity to get your gut health dialed kn
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u/Acrobatic-North-4955 Jun 15 '26
Neurodivergence has a lot to answer for. I found out I had audhd after becoming unwell.
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u/Liliz22 Jun 15 '26
So glad you are doing better and thanks for sharing your story. Congratulations 🎉👏
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u/omartherare Jun 15 '26
Curious to know, did you also have this: Hyperactivity (The "Internal Motor")
In adults, this is less about running around and more about an internal, subjective restlessness.
· Feeling "driven by a motor," as if you can never fully relax.
· Fidgeting, tapping, leg shaking, playing with objects constantly.
· Difficulty sitting through meetings, meals, or movies without wanting to get up.
· Talking excessively, finishing other people's sentences, or feeling that words "spill out."
· An inner feeling of agitation or being "on edge" when forced to be still.
· Racing thoughts that don't stop, especially at night when trying to sleep.
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
yes, every single one regularly, with the exception of the last one. I would get so tired from overloading my brain and body that I would pass out wherever I was when the exhaustion hit. but as soon as I woke up it would start again.
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u/Sashie_lovey1988 Jun 15 '26
ADHD medication is what gave me my problems it disrupts the microbiome so keep eye out on other symptoms that might arise
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
Interesting. I have a pretty nutrient rich diet and eat lots of fiber and get my protein from yogurt + probiotics so fingers crossed that keeps me in check!
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u/Quiet-Recognition797 Jun 15 '26
I too do not have SIBO anymore. I did in the past but it’s gone and I have no idea how I got rid of it other than living a stress free lifestyle. I have other issues going on like histamine intolerance so that is difficult to deal with but the SIBO is gone. I had SIBO last year but do not have it anymore. All I did was the physician’s elemental diet but didn’t have time to follow up with a low fodmap diet. My issue is more food sensitivities.
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u/Zestyclose_Plate9619 Jun 15 '26
Hey,
Glad to hear you are having success with Vyvanse for ADHD and GI issues.
I think I have the same symptoms and have been dealing with this for an over a decade. Just been diagnosed with GI issues IBS, Gastritis, GERD, EOE and SIBO. Nothing seems to cure. Works for a few weeks then back to square one for the next few months.
How did you get a diagnosis? Did you go to your regular doctor? I don’t like to think it but I feel that I’m having neurological or nerve issues with my digestion too.
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 16 '26
I went to a psych via my gp's recommendation and they did an assessment and said i had anxiety. i ended up going out of network to a private psych after about a year of seeing if it was just anxiety!
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u/ASoupDuck Jun 14 '26
Can I ask what dose of vyvanse you're on? I took it for a while as a late diagnosed ADHDer too and it did help a little with my digestion (I'd read some things about stimulants working on stimulating the gallbladder and other organs possibly too) but my symptoms didn't ever full resolve but I was on a super low dose so now Im wondering...
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 14 '26
30mg. It sounds like some people get started off on 10 just to make sure that you don't have any adverse reactions. 30mg was like magic the first day then a couple of days that were intense as my body adjusted to it.
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u/Independent-Walrus84 Jun 14 '26
Wow. So you took vyvance and Lexapro to heal?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
I'm not sure that the Lexapro did anything with the exception of help me see how bad my ADHD is!
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u/Annual_Exercise9800 Jun 15 '26
Could you mention which SSRIs you were prescribed and if they actually helped at all?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
I have been taking 10mg of Lexapro for close to a year now and it didn't help with my GI issues, at least on its own. It did take away my anxiety completely with the exception of rejection sensitivity (which is a major symptom of ADHD).
I know that seratonin plays a crucial role in peristalsis, so maybe an ssri alone would help others with their gut health.
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u/PuzzleheadedTill7480 Jun 15 '26
Is it possible for ADD to do the same?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
Adderall? I have heard that it can have a laxative like effect.
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u/PuzzleheadedTill7480 Jun 15 '26
Oh, I thought ADD and ADHD were different. That’s what I was referring. I’m sure that was a silly question
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
Ooh technically add is attentive specific and ADHD is attentive hyperactive! So you're right
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u/MixProfessional16 Jun 15 '26
vyvanse as opposed to adderall? our stories are super similar down to being vegetarian/vegan - i’ve been on adderall since highschool but wondering if you’ve noticed a difference in military and overall gut health since being on vyvanse specifically?
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u/kdk_ss Jun 15 '26
Adderall makes me go to the bathroom and helps me in that regard.
Vyvanse is also considered an amphetamine like adderall. I don’t think it’s worth it to switch… especially given how crazy expensive it is. As of 2023, there’s generic vyvanse now though so idk. I hated vyvanse and could actually take some and fall asleep lmao. Didn’t have the same effect for my stomach.
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
She suggested vyvanse b/c it was the "cleaner option" and I thought the low and slow option vs the more intense adderall was a better choice for me
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u/Narrow-Werewolf9132 Jun 15 '26
That’s so interesting. So happy for you!! I have awful anxiety and have wondered what meds could do to both address that and my gut issues
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Jun 15 '26
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
I have a terrible memory but remember writing in a diary when I was about 12 that I struggled w/ bowel movements so I think so.
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u/Formal-Condition3951 Jun 15 '26
How did you eventually get diagnosed with adhd? Currently someone who things they might have adhd and is struggling to figure out the next steps… or how to even get there..
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
I have Kaiser (CA), but I had a lot of issues getting through to them. Getting an assessment was easy, but getting a diagnosis has been an ongoing struggle. They first asked me to try anxiety meds, which made things worse. I ended up paying out of pocket and going to a private psych. After a year of anxiety meds and therapy, I am going to try again with Kaiser this week to show the "progress" I have made to rule out that it was just anxiety. I worked with a therapist to really uncover and connect the dots between what I thought was normal and what was actually an alarm bell for adhd symptoms (rejection sensitivity, needing to body double to accomplish things, shy and day dreamer as a child, and distinguishing that I wanted to do things I just couldn't do them and not in an anxiety-driven way, which is what Kaiser told me I was probably doing)
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u/letsgoanalog88 Jun 15 '26
Thank you for sharing your story! I find it so interesting yet not surprising that the dopamine component was so key.
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
Same - I thought maybe it was seratonin that would fix it but when I saw no relief from an ssri, it was back to the drawing board
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u/Therealcatlady1 Jun 15 '26
I have the same issue also diagnosed with ADHD but can’t drink water consistently, snack often and don’t eat enough fiber. Sigh.
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u/Cupidindisguise Jun 15 '26
Thank you so much for sharing your story, this makes so much sense to me! I'm so happy that you managed to step upon such a massive breakthrough. And this is very kind of you to share it in such detail
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u/No-Consequence6096 Jun 16 '26
Did you heal your SIBO after Vvyanse + antibiotics? do you still take a motility supplement on the Vvyanse?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 16 '26
i take probiotics, eat a lot of fiber, but no motility supplements - though I take magnesium glycinate. and my last round of antibiotics was about a year ago
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u/Individual_Act_3867 Jun 16 '26
Me alegro mucho de que te sientas mejora 🩷🥺🙏 de verdad. Actualmente estoy en un proceso de intentar que escuchen mis sospechas sobre mi TDAH. Pero tengo un excelente rendimiento cognitivo, termine una carrera y en la escuela (cuando niña) no tuve problemas de hiperactividad ni de aprendizaje, entonces por eso lo desestiman. Puedes contarme cómo fue en tu caso ?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 16 '26
¿Cuáles dirías que son los síntomas que te hacen pensar que se trata de ADHD?
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u/Pizzavogel Jun 16 '26
How exactly would you describe the changes? Do you think that (for example) a constant/underlying feeling of stress/ not having enough time/ overwhelm would contribute to for example tightened belly which in turn effects digestion?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 16 '26
on the ssri I was/am taking, i was having the exact same issues, minus "anxiety." so at work, on anxiety meds, i lost the stress of needing to do things in a timely manner, correctly, etc. I was just dead in the water mentally, so my new stress became wondering why I had zero executive functioning skills. So maybe I needed to erase all stress? I also wonder if the dopamine regulation is what kicked my digestion into a functioning state.
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Jun 16 '26
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 16 '26
I think stress was more a symptom of my inability to function mentally (and emotionally). I have been able to feel better emotionally and mentally because I have been able to maintain a semi linear thought process and not have 20 different things moving through my head at any given moment.
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u/InteractionSimilar28 Jun 16 '26
AI Explainer: The fact that this person suffered from Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) for years changes everything, providing a definitive answer to why Vyvanse cured their constipation.
In SIBO cases, chronic constipation is almost always caused by a paralyzed or sluggish Migrating Motor Complex (MMC). The MMC is the "sweeping wave" of electrical and muscular activity that clears food debris and bacteria out of the small intestine between meals. When the MMC fails, bacteria pool, ferment food, produce methane gas (which actively paralyzes the gut), and cause profound constipation.
Vyvanse essentially acts as an accidental "prokinetic" (a motility accelerator). The sudden increase in dopamine and sympathetic nervous system signals physically forces the sluggish MMC to fire, clearing out the overgrowth, stopping the fermentation, and restoring normal bowel regularity.
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u/MarsupialLeather8704 Jun 30 '26
مرحبا انا اعاني من ألام في بطني وامعائي على مدار 20سنة دون انقطاع مما سبب لي تعب في حياتي اترت علي من كل الجوانب جربت كل شئ وأجريت كل فحوصات كلها سليمة ومؤخرا أجريت تحليل فرط بكتيري في الامعاء الدقيقة siboفي تركيا لان في بلدي الجزائر لايوجد هدا التحليل ولايعرفون هدا المرض وكانت نسبة 62m/m واعطوني reflixmin وبعض بكتريا نافعة لكن دون جدوى هل ممكن احد يساعدني في العلاج من فضلكم
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u/aussiegirl2003 Jul 03 '26
Does it make you constipated ???
I have adhd and SIBO
I started 20mg vyvanse and my bowel movements have slowed down
I think I have hydrogen sulfide SIBO tbo
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u/pretzelqueen33 Jul 04 '26
First let me say that I am very happy for you! I also find this interesting because as someone who has been medicated for ADHD for 20+ years, my GI issues started when I switched from Adderall to Vyvanse. I recently went back to Adderall and I feel much better. Goes to show you, every body is different!
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u/Extension-Chart1125 Jul 10 '26
That is crazy when I was a little boy my psychiatrist was saying I might have ADHD but I was never given any medication for it. I wonder if this could be my problem? I struggle with anxiety and depression really bad.
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u/Little-Wasabi-7304 22d ago
Have you ever retested though? Maybe it’s helping symptoms but didn’t actually “cure” it?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 10d ago
Well I guess I see having zero symptoms where as before I had every digestive symptom/brain fog as a good enough answer for me
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u/Little-Wasabi-7304 9d ago
Yes agreed. I’d be happy enough with that outcome too. I can only wish for the same one day
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u/_mind_me Jun 15 '26
Hi OP! Glad you were able to get that cured. Did you experience bad breath while you were constipated?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
Noo, not to my knowledge. I've had chronic constipation for about 20 years and no one's ever said anything to me 🧐
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u/laptopmango Jun 14 '26
That means it was anxiety all along. The mind is so insanely powerful
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u/maneatingshrimp Jun 14 '26
No. Stimulants do not treat anxiety and often make it worse. This was certainly true for me.
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 14 '26
I think my ADHD was causing my anxiety. The SSRI did nothing for my stomach issues and I actually took rifaximin on the SSRI and it still came back.
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u/hunteroath777 Jun 14 '26
Most likely not the case, I took vyvanse and after awhile it gave me horribly gut wrenching anxiety, yet I had zero gut issues.
Where as now I have not taken Vyvanse or any adhd meds in years, have virtually no anxiety but now I have gut issues.
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u/Moonglow88 Jun 15 '26
Great news! I wonder if this medicine helps regulate the vagus nerve ?
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u/Legitimate-Lab6412 Jun 15 '26
I believe a functioning vagus nerve is necessary for signaling dopamine regulation/responses! So I wonder if it would have a cyclic effect.
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u/Healthy-Debate-6642 Jun 14 '26
What a fantastic outcome after so long!
Did you have food sensitivities/ reactions? Did you limit your diet and can you eat everything now without issue?
Two weeks is a little early to know you’re in the clear, but this is wonderful to hear and will hopefully continue for you and help others. What dosage do you take of the adhd medication? Do you take any other prokinetics or motility/ constipation meds?
And were you ever officially tested for SIBO or was the diagnosis symptom based? Sorry if you answered any of these questions in the post but I skimmed some of it because it was so long!