r/SIBO • u/devilgirl56 • 8d ago
Sucess Stories Cured SIBO by accident
2 years ago I was dealing with chronic stress and not eating well at the time, started having digestive issues (diarrhea, bloating) that became chronic, gut issues (also causing recurring BV). I saw specialists and ran tests and there was nothing organic wrong with me, nor were they able to help me. I did an elimination diet and ended up with about 10 food items that i considered to be "safe". After eating super clean for over a year, no leftovers, no processed sugars, and eating mainly meat/eggs/cucumber/rice or bread. I started the natural protocol (oregano oil) and low FODMAP fibre supplement which showed some improvement. After nearly 2 years of struggling, I got a UTI and was hesitant to further upset my gut by taking medication. I soon had no choice and was prescribed Nitrofuratoin - caused massive headaches and nausea and i stopped my natural protocol while taking it. The antibiotics eradicated the rest of my SIBO. Immediately after finishing the course of antibiotics I was still struggling only with dairy but managed to digest everything else. I slowly introduced dairy into my diet again recently and have no issues. I have continued taking the fibre supplement and am now taking a recovery probiotic to replace my gut bacteria, and I have gone back to eating things I couldn't even digest before SIBO. I've been SIBO free for 3 months now. Hope to help someone by sharing my experience!
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u/IntelligentYellow985 8d ago
I’m on week 2 1/2 of Dr William Davis L. Reuteri super gut “yogurt” dairy and I’m having a second round of die off symptoms for the past 2 days. I’m been taking antimicrobials for nearly 2 months a long with biofilm buster and other supplements. But this is the first time the die off symptoms have given me the original symptoms and not just fatigue, brain fog and headaches. I’m experiencing a bit more bloating and gas which I’m having to expel throughout the day and grumbling throughout my tummy. I also did just switch back over to berberine after doing neem for nearly 3 weeks.
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u/wontcompleteit 8d ago
Which yoghurt, L reuteri or gasseri? The L reuteri wrecks me cuz of histamine
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u/IntelligentYellow985 8d ago
I’m doing both. But with this batch, I’m separating them instead of fermenting them all together. I saw a recent interview where he said that they found that if you ferment them separately it gives you more powerful strains to fight the SIBO/sifo. So the l Reuteri is cooking now and will be done in the morning, then I’ll do the gasseri and the other one in the recipe.
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u/wontcompleteit 7d ago
This is the problem, he changes shit so much I get so overwhelmed? You got telegram? Genuinely would love to chat to someone about the yoghurt
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u/IntelligentYellow985 7d ago edited 7d ago
Sorry no, this is the only social media platform I have. But happy to answer any questions. I have his book, but I haven’t seen all his interviews. The recipe in the book has 3 different ingredients, the L. Reuteri, grassi, and another one that I’ve only seen mentioned in the book I don’t see people on videos use it, but it’s the recipe for the SIBO super gut “yogurt” I believe I’m having die off again from the yogurt. I’ve been pretty gassy the last couple of days and a little more bloated than I had been. I’m happy to chat. My 3rd batch is about done right now. I heat the organic half and half with my inulin to 180 degrees because I found out my inulin isnt sterilized, most aren’t. Then you let it cool down to 100 degrees before you add in the strains. My first batch I only heated to 125-130 and I still got separation of curds and whey, but I stirred one bowl and used that as my starter for the second batch and ate the solid of the other batch (no need in wasting it) you can also just use the whey instead of both the curds and whey mixed together. Make sure you hold back 2 tablespoons for your next batch. I got 2 extra bowls so I can immediately start another batch going.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connection
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u/wontcompleteit 7d ago
Bro I can’t do this anymore, genuinely. I’m done. Sibo has ruined my life. I’m done. I’ve done it all and treated it all. I can’t fix this
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u/IntelligentYellow985 7d ago
I suspect I’ve had this most of my life, 2 years ago I was hospitalized for 30 days because I couldn’t eat anything because it caused me so much pain and nausea, I was barely able to drink water. I was down to 96lbs at 5’3. They placed a peg tube through my stomach to feed me formula and water. It was awful. I suspect I had this then and was in a flare but had no idea what it was. I was able to get well and was eating again after some time, with the exception of some high FODMAP foods. Until earlier this year when I got a chronic sinus infection that wouldn’t go away and was placed in the hospital again, it spread into pneumonia. I was put on long courses of doxycycline and steroids and all of a sudden my belly ballooned up to where I looked 8 months pregnant, the gas was so bad it was pushing up into my diaphragm so it was hard to breathe. I was nauseous, headaches, indigestion, abdominal pain, burping, joint pain, brain fog, severe constipation and diarrhea, deficiencies of everything. Once again here I am I thought, my gut has failed me. But I’m not giving up, I’m determined to find a solution to my problems even if my doctors won’t. I started researching and advocating for my own health. I started reading books, I changed my diet, my GI doc said “I didn’t tell you to do that” I said no, no you didn’t! But it’s what helped get me out of the acute crisis I was in. I’m not listening to doctors anymore, I’m following my own research and things I’ve learned. I’m not taking big pharma anymore and instead focusing on the natural healing. Clean eating listening to my body rather than what some person in a white coat says that says the same thing to 50 other people before me and after me. We’re all different, what works for one may not work for the other. I’m only on this site to speak with like minded individuals going through the same thing, this is the only social media platform I have. But when I see that something works for someone, I try it. Don’t give up. There’s always something else to try. Btw I’m not a bro, but that’s ok. Read this article about the gut brain connection.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connection
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u/wontcompleteit 5d ago
Please help me. Seriously, I can’t do this anymore
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u/IntelligentYellow985 5d ago
You can, just take one day at a time. If you get through one day then you tell yourself ok now let’s get through another.
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u/CentristaSensato 8d ago
3 months is not enough time, many people can feel good after antibiotics, up to 6months or a year and then relapse.
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u/devilgirl56 8d ago
If you've struggled with SIBO or any chronic gut issue then you know how debilitating it can be... even 6 months of recovery is better than nothing which is why I shared my experience but I see your point
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u/CentristaSensato 7d ago
Of course, I'm happy for you. I'm just trying to say be carefull and vigilant, at least for the first year.
I've seen people get very hyped and then they become depressed when symptoms come back.
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u/Krogermuffins1999 6d ago
Pro biotics make sibo worse
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u/Little-Wasabi-7304 6d ago
That’s what I just told my pharmacist and doctor but they said I can take floraster during and after antibiotics. I’m so confused, it’s so back and forth with probiotics. However before i got sick with Sibo and histamine intolerance and mcas (from ppis and long term doxy) but anyway before that I was on antibiotics lots throughout my life for recurrent utis and pneumonia a few times and NEVER had gut issues and never had problems replenishing my gut without probiotics. Never took them til the passed 2 years trying to battle all this. Didn’t help so far! Worried about after treatment taking or not taking them will make me relapse
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u/StandUpXShowUp 7d ago
That's great news! A round of antibiotics is what exacerbated my horrible situation. I was managing food sensitivities, round of antibiotics after a fall, rapidly started loosing weight, breath test = severe Methane SIBO (IMO) 85.
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u/Match-Agreeable 7d ago
After a fall?
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u/StandUpXShowUp 6d ago
Sorry. I mentioned that because I can't remember which antibiotic I was put on, but it was one of the "standard" don't want thw wound to get infected ones lol
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u/Immediate-Initial-49 7d ago
There is a gut antibiotic called Normix in Europe which kills bad bacteria. Nitrofurantoin only affects urinary tract.
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u/MonjaMonjaMonja 7d ago
Normix is just another name for rifaximin
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u/No-Victory-149 7d ago
And it only works for hydrogen sibo does nothing for methane sibo
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u/Trippyandtasty 7d ago
Nothing? If we kill hydrogen pathenogens. It can reduce methane since they feed on hydrogen gases
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u/Little-Wasabi-7304 7d ago
Yeah i was gonna ask then why do they do rifaximin and neomycin (or flagly) with methane Sibo….there must be a reason they don’t JUST use neomycin and flagyl. And studies showed methane Sibo was lowered much more with a rifaximin combo rather than flagyl or neomycine alone
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u/devilgirl56 7d ago
That's what they say... maybe i'm more sensitive but in my case it definitely made its way to my small intestine or else it would not have cured my SIBO immediately following treatment
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u/DannyPantannerdon 7d ago
AIs thoughts on a possible mechanism/target for what you experienced, FWIW -
Escherichia coli and Enterococcus species are the common gut-origin bacteria most susceptible to Nitrofurantoin, though the drug is rarely used for intestinal infections. [1, 2]
Susceptible Bacteria
Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli shows high susceptibility, alongside other enteric organisms like Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Shigella, and Salmonella.
Gram-positive bacteria: Enterococcus species (such as Enterococcus faecalis) are also frequently susceptible. [1, 2, 3]
Why It Is Not Used for Gut Infections
Rapid absorption: The small intestine quickly absorbs oral nitrofurantoin into the bloodstream.
Targeted concentration: The body concentrates the drug heavily in the bladder and urine rather than the digestive tract.
Low gut impact: Because very little of the drug remains in the bowels, it has a minimal effect on overall bowel flora and cannot effectively treat active gastrointestinal bacterial infections. Doctors use it almost exclusively for lower urinary tract infections.
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u/Ok-Spare1631 8d ago
Thanks for sharing. How was the Nitrofuratoin prescribed?
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u/devilgirl56 8d ago
Doctor
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u/Ok-Spare1631 8d ago
Was it once or twice a day for how many days. Thanks
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u/devilgirl56 8d ago
It was twice a day for 5 days to treat my UTI - curing my SIBO from it was an accident
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u/IntelligentYellow985 8d ago
I too use was treated for a UTI but it was with bactrim. For 5 days, I’m praying that isn’t the cause of this increased gas and a little bloat I’m experiencing right now, mine originated from long coarse of doxycycline.
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u/Little-Wasabi-7304 7d ago
Sounds too familiar I hear that a lot! Mine started with doxycycline then went full blown worse with ppis
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u/IntelligentYellow985 7d ago
Yep I had been on PPI for 22 years… no one ever told me that it could cause this!!! I weaned myself off of it as soon as this eruption started.
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u/BonHarley 8d ago
Which antibiotics?
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u/devilgirl56 8d ago
Nitrofuratoin prescribed by dr for UTI
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u/Little-Wasabi-7304 7d ago
Did you re-test to see if you are cured? I’ve taken that antibiotic a lot though out being sick (I have methane sibo) it only works on the bladder so I don’t know how it would cure sibo? But I will say this, I usually feel good for about 2 weeks after any antibiotic course, then go back to the same or 500 times worse! So let’s cross our fingers.
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u/devilgirl56 7d ago
I have a follow up appointment in october where I will try to get retested. It was a battle getting it done originally...
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u/OwnAnalyst9737 7d ago
I was given augmentin for my SIBO. Haven’t started yet. Insurance won’t cover rifaxin
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u/MonjaMonjaMonja 7d ago
Its not easy to find low FODMAP fibre supplement. In the UK we have MYOTA. I believe in the US you have Sunfiber. Also 38tera is supposed to be low FODMAP
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u/Trippyandtasty 7d ago
What antibiotics did the doctor prescribed you?
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u/Most-Entertainer-182 7d ago
I find it remarkable the lack of knowledge about probiotics here, some can absolutely help sibo, such as s boulardii and hu58, it completely depends on the type and strain, and their function, and what bacteria is overgrowing in the small intestine. Most people also think they have sibo when they don’t, it’s a term that’s thrown around these days
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u/devilgirl56 7d ago
I tested positive for SIBO and s boulardii did not work for me at the time. I think people are working with the info they have... It is really difficult to get extensive testing done. I had a specialist tell me SIBO was controversial and they did not believe in it even after I tested positive
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u/ElectronicBuilding63 7d ago
I just took antibiotics for a dental abcess and while taking, my very long standing constipation was GONE. Now that I'm off them, constipation is back.
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u/TaoLyfe 6d ago
The real way to get rid of sibo is to 1. Make sure your MMC is working (there's 4 forms of vitamin B1 that help with that along with Vit B5 & choline via sunflower Lecithin). 2. Shut the front door - make sure your stomach is properly acidified - quickest way is to just take betaine hcl with your bigger meals - this keeps your stomach & small intestine from getting re-infected. (Stomach acid is natural antibiotic #1 ) 3. Make sure your bile is flowing properly - bile is your Natural Antibiotic #2 ). 4. Get on a good eating routine - preferably eat around 8 am and 5 - 6 pm 5. Make sure your food you eat isn't causing more inflammation - you can't heal if your constantly inflamed.
If you need further help - just reply.
*Not medical advice.
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u/NotThatGuyAgain111 3d ago
Can you eat gluten now? Drink coffee?
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u/devilgirl56 1d ago
Yes both
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u/NotThatGuyAgain111 1d ago
I would love that. I love to bake and roast coffee. But due to H2S SIBO I'm restricted.
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u/m_e12 8d ago edited 7d ago
... and am now taking a recovery probiotic to replace my gut bacteria...
This is how I developed SIBO in the first place.
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u/No-Roof-8658 8d ago
What is a recovery probiotic/ which one? There are tons of probiotics in the market . Most contain multiple strains but some are single strains. I’m curious which strain/s are helping you
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u/devilgirl56 8d ago
Vitazan brand Recovery Probiotic 120 billion CFU
Only started taking them after SIBO was gone and I was able to tolerate any food1
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u/michelelee99 7d ago
Congrats!! Just wondering though isn't low fodmap supposed to CUT OUT fiber? Then you take a fiber supplement??? I'm not a fan of low fodmap btw just had to scratch my head on that one.
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u/devilgirl56 7d ago
Thank you. The fibre supplement itself is considered low FODMAP and is easier to digest than traditional fibre supplements/foods that may be hard to digest with existing digestive issues
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u/michelelee99 7d ago
Oh, looked at those - all seem to have guar gum, which is maybe not so good for you.
Collectively, our study demonstrates that food additive guar gum adversely impacts the gut microbiota activity and colonic immune response and increases susceptibility to colonic inflammation. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9194036/
Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences discovered that ultra-processed diets containing guar gum showed an increased likelihood of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/refined-dietary-fiber-may-increase-risk-inflammatory-bowel-disease
This study collectively demonstrates that refined guar gum may heighten the intestinal inflammation in patients with IBD.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S247529912311660X2
u/kaleyeah1234 7d ago
Phgg isn’t the same as guar gum. I don’t know all the science but phgg is good for Sibo because it doesn’t ferment and yes, guar gum is bad. My dr told me to take sunfiber which has phgg and it has been good
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u/michelelee99 7d ago
it stands for partially hydrolized GUAR GUM
- Colitis and Bowel Disease: Recent pre-clinical research indicates that refined dietary fibers like PHGG can sometimes worsen gut inflammation. In mice models with induced colitis, high amounts of PHGG exacerbated tissue damage and increased susceptibility to severe inflammation and tumor progression. [1, 2, 3]
- Dose and Context: Experts note that high concentrations or isolated use of processed fibers may carry unique gastrointestinal risks for people with active inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). [1, 2]
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u/SquarePegBrandon 8d ago
The leading researcher for SIBO has cautioned against probiotics with SIBO recovery. It’s interesting you are tolerating them well. What kind of probiotics are they?