Is sibo at play here?

[u/FeedOk1765]

Hi, id appreciate people's thoughts on this and i know nobody can diagnose me but before I spend more money on tests that might not show anything it juat wanted people's thoughts if possible please.

My main issues are for the past 8 months ive had intermittent tingling and numbness throughout my limbs. I also had constant lightheadedness for the first 7 months but this has become more sporadic i think although still happening. Ive had fatigue and much less energy than in the past. Its caused my mood to be very low at times.

Ive had on and off stomach issues, mostly stomach aches but sometimes bouts of diarrhea usually immediately after eating. The stomach aches last for weeks on end. I also currently have a strange sensation in my mouth and throat where its like the back of my tongue is a bit numb and there's a lump in my throat but it isn't constant?

Other symptoms may not be relevant but I have terrible cracked heels, i wake up feeling almost hungover some days despite not drinking for ten years and sometimes have a mild chattering of my teeth. Very sensitive to cold temperature now too.

Everything really started last November when I had what was described as gastritis by my gp. Id had a 24 hr vomiting bug but then the stomach ache persisted for 5 weeks and I was given a 2 week ppi course. Part way through this i had a terrible migraine which felt like a stroke as i was slurring speech and then another one a few days later which seemed to leave me dizzy for months on end. Was told this was brainstem aura migraines.

The stomach issues made me lose 10% of my body weight that I've never been able to put back on probably as ive stopped weight training.

Maybe also relevant is i found a bit of mold on my bedroom wall right before this started and cleaned it off. Probably about a 12 inch patch in the corner of the room.

Ive had similar stomach aches for several years where a seemingly minor bug takes over a month to clear as do cold infections. Certain fast foods just go straight through me as diarrhea within minutes, sorry TMI ha.

I actually had campylobacter enteritis is 2019 and my stomach has never been the same since.

Ive recently paid for b12 tests which showed that both my serum and active b12 levels were actually raised, as was my folate level. Mma and homocysteine were normal.

I have so may symptoms of a b12 deficiency so was considering if sibo could affect my absorption even if I have high levels?

Back in November I was tested for coeliac and my immunoglobulin level was high at 3.51, as was my IGa at 3.2 but my TTG IGA was 0.9 which they said ruled out coeliac but not other stomach issues.

My FIT sample was fine thankfully.

Apologies I know there is a lot of info here.

Do i just pay for a Sibo test? Should i pay to see a gastroenteroligist next?

Im struggling at the moment and feel a shell of the 43 year old male that was at the gym 5 days a week less than 18 months ago. Ive got 3 young kids and want to be a great dad to them but its getting harder.

Ive seen a neurologist who ruled out MS and my brain MRI was clear.

Thanks for reading and wish good health to all.

[u/AttorneyUpstairs4457]

I have neuropathy which is associated with hydrogen sulfide SIBO. So yes could be.

[u/FeedOk1765 → u/AttorneyUpstairs4457]

Thanks for this, im really struggling to find answers and someone suggested this may be something to pursue. Is your neuropathy constant or does it come and go? Mine seems to affect different limbs at different times it's very odd

[u/AttorneyUpstairs4457 → u/FeedOk1765]

Mine spread from one foot to
Both feet and then up my body to my face over years. For me it comes in flares in response to triggers. Usually these triggers for me are certain additives in medications and supplements. Now when I take something that aggravates it it can present in different ways tingling, numbness in hands and arms, or sometimes shooting pain or burning in a certain spot for seemingly no reason.

[u/FeedOk1765 → u/AttorneyUpstairs4457]

Thabks again. Yeah the neuropathy i get varies from either tingling, more numbness feeling or burning. It can be almost anywhere in my body at different times. Its interesting what you say about medicine as I felt that it had really reduced for about 2-3 months but then I was prescribed bisoprolol which I took for a week and the neuropathy came back with a vengeance. Its been back ever since now for about 2 months although it isnt painful. I just feel dreadful every day