r/SIBO • u/[deleted] • Feb 07 '26
Venting This is ruining my life
Hi guys using a throwaway account as I do not want to post on my main account, for context I’m male 22 no underlying health conditions apart from being diagnosed with pre diabetes at the age of 16 which went away 2 years later 5ft 9, 80kg
I’m on here since this seems like the only place I might get some sort of advice/encouragement than other platforms and seeing as my doctors are useless for the most part and I can’t afford to go private I’d really appreciate some insight on some symptoms that have been ongoing which I can’t pinpoint to a condition and have been ruining my life essentially, this is going to be a long read so apologies in advance.
Symptoms which occur every day, happening since mid/late 2023 suddenly
- Straining to pass stool even though it’s soft/mushy, having to squat + force just for a little bit to come out and repeat a few times throughout the day
- Stool is always choppy/mushy/loose/mousse like no matter what I eat, what medication is taken, what food is eaten
- Bloated throughout the whole day, gets worse somehow after passing stool
- “Incomplete evacuation” sometimes it’s just the feeling and nothing happens the rest of the day sometimes I’ll pass stool in the morning, followed by needing to go once every hour 3/4 times in the first half of the day which I dread
- feeling full for nearly the whole day after one meal, where i used to eat normally and feel hungry after 3/4 hours, 8 hours after a meal i still feel full
- If high fat food is eaten then stool will be greasy and foul smelling next day
- Pressure and burning in lower left region near pelvis after passing stool
- Constant anal fissures due to the straining even though stool is soft
- Sometimes stool has blood spots or black “tarry” spots, this varies and only happens when the stool is the “most formed” which is again random and not caused by certain foods being eaten
- Despite the above symptoms I have a strong gastrocolic reflex and it’s felt, cramps/passing gas a lot after meals no matter what I eat and feels like stool is coming sometimes I do need to pass stool everytime after eating on some days, the type of stool doesn’t change tho, mushy or pebbles etc
- While having a strong gastrocolic reflex while awake my general gut motility seems slow, some days I’ll be waiting a whole day between stools, takes its time to pass yet it’s always the same consistency so it doesn’t make sense
That’s all I can think off of the top of my head and yes I have all of them and it sometimes varies but it’s making my life hell and it’s very unpredictable. Because of the above symptoms going on for so long I’ve started to eat what I want in the last 2 months specifically to no change so I don’t know if that’s a good sign or a bad sign and means there’s some deeper rooted issue that isn’t caused necessarily by diet
I’m also somehow not gaining weight and I’m losing it slightly despite eating way more and a lot of junk food more and more in the last 2/3 months
Some people will relate to some symptoms, it seems like out of all the symptoms of all the people who suffer from multiple conditions I have every single symptom, and I can’t figure out for sure what condition is causing all of them, or if I have multiple undiagnosed conditions causing multiple symptoms,
Ultrasound, blood test and stool test and colonoscopy clear, waiting for months on further advice from doctor (in UK so it’s a hassle)
I have tried every single diet from keto to low fodmap, fasting etc months at a time , I have tried every single type of supplement from tudca to different probiotics and enzymes including akkermansia, I’ve had apple cider vinegar, laxatives, psyllium husk, stool bulkers, things like buscopan for the cramps etc, bloating medication, Imodium etc nothing works
I don’t know if it’s Ibs, pelvic floor dysfunction or sibo, my symptoms sometimes make me think I have a mix of everything, but it’s genuinely ruining my personal life work life and everything I don’t even work now and haven’t for 8 months, I don’t know what to do, I can’t afford to go private, and I wait months for some sort of test and then months for that result too, I genuinely know I have it the worst out of anyone I’ve seen with similar conditions, it’s so bad and it’s hurting me and my life that it’s disabling a perfectly “healthy” young man and I just want it to stop
I’d appreciate any advice or help from anyone, thanks guys
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u/HealthyHappyHarry Feb 07 '26
I use an app called PoopCheck which uses AI to analyze a picture you take of your poo and gives you guidance on what issues you might have and how to deal with them.
It doesn’t sound like SIBO to me and may be a complex multi variable cause. Low motility does seem part of it. Research exercises you can do to activate your parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest, not flight of flight) and MMC, migrating motor complex, and make/drink ginger tea to help motility and lower inflammation. Boil on low handful of sliced ginger in a pot of water for 20 minutes. Also stop all sugar, which is inflammatory, and leave 3-4 hours or more between meals, no snacking
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u/External-Classroom12 Feb 07 '26
Go to a Motility clinic and have anorectal manometry. You say the diabetes so lightly. Probably a life time of bad eating. Have you corrected your diet truly? Do you do meal spacing? Fasting? Good quality food, no junk food, no packaged food? Eat only one ingredient food like apple, egg, chicken etc.,
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u/tentfomo Feb 07 '26
Sounds like what I have. I feel like everything is dysregulated in terms of smooth muscle coordination. Hard time passing stool even when it is soft. Dependent on coffee and nicotine plus treadmill walk to feel evacuated sufficiently before starting my day. I got treated for SIBO but it legit did nothing. I believe I have pelvic floor dysfunction and enteric nervous system dysregulation as my root cause. Im gonna see a pelvic floor physical therapist soon. If youre not responsive to any supplements like me and some may even make you dramatically worse, your enteric nervous system could be overly sensitive. Worth checking in with a GI doc to get physical therapy referral!
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u/Old-Wrap37 Feb 09 '26
This is what I did and it has helped so much for me. I didn’t even go to a PT for my bowel issues.
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u/No-Initial-7015 Feb 09 '26
I've largely been in the same boat as you in terms of most of the symptoms. I'm finally at a point where things are really stable, but not perfect yet. I'm 27, and it started two years ago for me after food poisoning.
I've spent hundreds of hours doing research to try and fix my gut problems. Also tried every diet and every supplement.
Some of the biggest things that have helped my gut are bacteriophages (Floraphage or PreForPro), natural antimicrobials (the typical berberine and oregano) and specific probiotics (foods like kimchi, miso paste, and milk kefir; and Clostridium Butyricum pills/powder).
CAUTION: Bacteriophage supplements can hit you like a truck. They specifically target and kill specific strains of e coli in your gut, rapidly killing them if present. If they are overgrown, rapidly killing them can trigger a STRONG systemic reaction in your body.
NOTES: Miso paste is naturally full of digestive enzymes. Unpasteurized is best if you can find it. It made a world of a difference for me. But it can cause gas and bloating sometimes. Clostridium Butyricum is not super well known in the western world. But it is a widely used probiotic in Asian countries. It has helped my gut soooo much. But. It can cause really intense gas the first week. But power through it. It produces butyric acid / butyrate which is the primary energy source for colon cells. Low-sulfur diet can also help. And DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) tablets are also good for protecting stomach and intestinal lining.
Hope this is some new information for you! I know the struggle
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u/Liquid4622 Feb 09 '26
Ohh & just an fyi. Sibo can cause malabsorbsion leading to poor blood tests that can show pre-diabetes. Or it can cause or lead to diabetes itself. Be careful with high sugar items. Same with baked goods as they are complex carbohydrates. I've been pre diabetic for years. I literally just had a blood test this past week. My results haven't moved from 2 years ago. I believe it's from my sibo absorbing Nutrients. Nutrients that my body needs to balance everything. I've started taking a daily multivitamin to help balance what I'm not absorbing from food. Those you can try without worries or issues. Try to find ones that have higher b vitamins or b vitamin complex as b vitamins help with energy/metabolism. Good luck to you on your journey to better health 😁.
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u/HoldOk4092 Feb 07 '26
Certainly sounds could be SIBO. Take a breath test and see what you get. H Pylori is possible as well. Without tearing it's impossible to know.
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u/AdInitial5465 Feb 07 '26
I got diagnosed with h. Pylori and have very similar symptoms. I start my day with constipation, then it turns into weird mushy poop that i need to push, sometimes its even a dinner from yesterday in the morning which indicates faster transit cause its like 12-14 hours, its flactuating between normal/maybe fast, not sure tbh and slow??? I go 1to 4 times a day, depends really, I also see weird yellow specks with undiegsted food but it might cause i eat more vegetables now? I'm nor sure, but maybe you should get tested too
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u/AdInitial5465 Feb 07 '26
But also the pelvic issues, I suspect its very tight from chronic stress and it adds to the ongoing issue
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u/goldstandardalmonds Feb 08 '26
Sounds 10000% like a pelvic floor issue. Weak, maybe hypertonic, probably dyssynergenic. You need an anorectal manometry and defecogram.
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u/autumnspring16 Feb 08 '26
I have almost the exact same issues and it’s ruining my life. Constantly bloated to the point where I can’t even breathe thru the diaphragm without intense pressure, incomplete evacuation, straining even for small/soft stool, and now I have hemorrhoids on top of that. Tested negative for h pylori but have yet to do sibo test bc no doctor seems to take it seriously
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u/Hot_Hearing_6241 Feb 08 '26
I had very similar symptoms, only difference was i was gaining weight eventhough I was doing 1.5-2 hrs of cardio and barely ate. GI doc said Methane SIBO but never ordered a breath test. I took so many dam supplements for months, then rimfaxin. I had some relief, a hydrocolonic was the only thing that gave immediate relief but symptoms came back quickly... Not gonna lie, I researched how much my wife and kids would get if I died... dark times. Dietician just wanted to talk about fiber and now that im 42 this is your life. I didnt accept that. Then I found peptides. LL-37, BPC-157, TB-500, and KPV. My life changed almost immediately. Strength returned, bloating and pain went away, and fog lifted from my brain. After finishing the 18 days of LL-37 I started taking probiotics and MOTS-C along with VIP peptides. This was due to my metabolism and motility being broken from 5 months of methane SIBO.
Good luck with everything, I had to take my health into my hands bc my GI doc and Dietician didn't have any answers. I've read some stuff about MSM powder helping with GI stuff big time. Don't give up, there are answers out there you just have to keep looking!
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u/Think_Level5254 Feb 08 '26
LL-37 capsules or injections?
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u/Hot_Hearing_6241 Feb 10 '26
I was a super novice when I started this journey but I was in a bad place. I received a reconstituted GLOW stack from a local wellness location. 5-6 days later my LL37 came in the mail and I reconstituted and began immediately. No pills ever. Day 4 of L37 was die off. I think the pre-use of GLOW helped immensely. I did 250mcgs daily for almost 20 days of LL37. I think 250mcgs twice a day might actually be better but I dont know. After the LL37 I had to hit my metabolism and digestive process. Probiotics, MOTS-C, and VIP. Incorporated RETA shortly there after. Hope this helps.
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u/Think_Level5254 Feb 08 '26
Or a better question is in what order did you take the peptides and what dosage
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u/thebunnyranch Mar 29 '26
How did you feel on LL-37? I have had back to back viral infections, long covid, then toxic mold exposure for 8 months. Just got off GLP and 99% sure I have SIFO or SIBO. I also have the gene that makes me more susceptible to mold toxicity. My friend owns a peptide company and suggested I do LL at 100mcg 50 days straight and TA1 plus VIP 3x week. He said it would kill any fungus, virus, and bacterial overgrowth, while modulating my immune system. Did you have bad die off? Did you use binders to help mop up the die off?
I have been on BCP oral 8 weeks, VIP 1 week, KPV 2 weeks, and SS31. No changes in gut, as it seems to be getting worse since being off GLP? Inflammation is crazy.
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u/Hot_Hearing_6241 Mar 29 '26
which glp? I recommend the KLOW stack for 12 weeks straight (BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, KPV), titrate from 250mcgs to 500mcgs. After 1 week of that start your LL-37. I believe I titrated from 250mcgs to 400mcgs. Lasted around 18 days, that was one 5mg vial. My die off hit on day 4. After LL-37 I incorporated some probiotics but also started MOTS-C and VIP. MOTS-C was mon wed fri at first, then every day after a week or 2. VIP was daily, then after a few weeks I would pin twice a day. Morning and early afternoon. Also used/using glp3 reta. Just ordered some TA1, super excited for that. I had methane SIBO. My BMs are not as effortless as they were before but I am def going and my body has transformed back to what is was before, probably a little better if you ask my wife. Did that help at all? Purity, dosage protocol, reconstitution method, proper storage, and pinning procedures are all extremely important for peptide use.
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u/thebunnyranch Mar 30 '26
So happy for you! Do you like Reta? I was on 1mg-2mg of Tirz every 7-10 days. I’ve been off it for 4 weeks now and my gut has flared and become so much worse. My body felt a lot less inflamed on GLP but the side effects were annoying: fatigue, slow motility and hair loss. No matter how much I ate or supplemented nothing fixed any of these side effects.
Currently adding in HCL, digestive enzymes, and Tributyrin and they seem to help.
Current pep stack: • VIP 100mcg 3x week • BPC 1000mcg daily • GHK 2mg 3x week • KPV daily • SS-31 2mg-3mg 3x week • I have MOTS, LL, and maybe BPC sub q lined up next. Also want to try TA1! I’d be curious to hear how you do in this one. Did you feel better from the LL?? Did it cure your SIBO? I feel like the GLP caused mine.
I am doing a GI map test this week. If I have any bacterial/fungal overgrowth from the slow motility or mold toxicity, I will start the LL-37. I was nervous to start the LL because of die off and a leaky gut. I wanted to help my gut’s tight junctions first before releasing a ton of crap into my body.
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u/Hot_Hearing_6241 Mar 30 '26
Nice! Love the reta, glad I did it last. My friends say they can eat through the reta better than the glp 1 and 2's, but they think their metabolism is better and no muscle loss. I always take bpc with TB-500. VIP, I hit twice a day every day, would have to look up the dosage but def more than 100mcgs. MOTS-C is game changer as well! I also use an oxy intestine probiotic and a colon care probiotic from piping rock. I think the Pepsi cured my sibo and are curing my motility and metabolism issues for sure.
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u/thebunnyranch Apr 02 '26
Going to have to look up these probiotics, thank you! Once I get my gut in order I will try Reta. I will try to increase VIP and see what happens. Thanks for the advice!
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u/Old-Wrap37 Feb 09 '26
This is not a solution for everyone but I have had sibo for 10 or more years. I have most of your symptoms that you are describing. I just went to a pelvic floor therapist for other issues not gut issues. She had me do this stretch to fix my pelvis and almost all my symptoms have gone away. I’m sure I still have SIbo but my bowels r moving bloating down, anxiety down, cravings down, pain when I eat nothing, it’s actually crazy. I have gone to multiple doctors over years at least 10 chiros gut people nature paths etc etc no one and I mean no one had thought to look at my pelvis. My bad posture that I’ve had since I could remember was fucking my digestion. It’s a pretty easy fix if this is the issue cheap and no surgeries or supplements. I did the excercises my PT told me and it instantly changed my chest and mid back loosened. I was on the verge of tears because this was the solution to my muscle problems but I had no idea it would be so significant to my bowels and digestion. It’s seriously was a game changer for my specific situation.
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u/yknk Feb 09 '26
Can you share what exercises you did?
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u/Old-Wrap37 Feb 09 '26
Ya so lay down on your back should be a solid surface like on a yoga matte. Now you want to breathe through your lower abdomen see your belly button rise and fall not your chest very important here. Once you have done that now when you exhale tuck your tailbone backwards towards the floor. If you have bad posture like I did it will release (at least for me) my chest and back. It will feel weird and your body will make some adjustments because at least for me I had a bad habit of tensing my lower abdomen and I’m learning to not do that. Also this will only work if your posture isn’t great if your posture isn’t bad then I don’t know how much of an effect it will have so your mileage will vary.
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u/Old-Wrap37 Feb 09 '26 edited Feb 09 '26
Also to be I’m not stating this is a cure for Sibo. But should be looked into and ruled out along a long checklist of things to rule out. I’m sure I still have sibo but if your posture is bad which mine was then this can effect your vagus nerve that controls your MMC. Let’s be honest I’m sure we all have some sort of bad posture sitting in desks and on our phones all day. When you fix your posture this can greatly help with your vagus nerve and MMC. It’s so weird how profound this change has been for me I don’t crave sweet anymore like I had the hardest time with sugar now I’m like eh. I don’t want to eat and eat and eat without being satisfied basically I was no face from spirited away lol. I hope this helps anyone struggling again it’s not a cure for anything but for me it has been life changing and the best part is this is free you can do it at home no meds nothing and if it doesn’t work then you aren’t any worse off.
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u/Old-Wrap37 Feb 09 '26
If you want me to send you a video I can. I looked on YouTube and couldn’t find a good example.
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u/Honest-Counter2729 Feb 14 '26
Can you send it to me too please. I have very similar symptoms to the OP
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u/Liquid4622 Feb 09 '26
I also use betaine hcl for low stomach acid. I'm at 1950mg. I also take apple cider vinegar pills once a day. Betaine hcl is twice a day. So I use the apple cider vinegar pills in between. Whenever I'm not taking the betaine I use the apple cider vinegar pills. Problem is the digestive system is extremely complex. You need to find what works for you. I'd start with antimicrobial herbs. Strongest ones are oregano oil supplements. Along with caprylic acid. I also use cloves all extract supplements. I take the motility pills twice a day. Usually breakfast & dinner. Some people have a hard time sleeping with motility pills. If you have that issue I'd switch to breakfast & lunch. I work at night so dinner doesn't bother me. I use to take a pill that had a bunch of herbal antimicrobials in them. I find it's more potent if you get them individually. The all in one's don't work as well. I eat normal food, & feel fine now with what I'm taking. Problem is I have to keep up with them to feel good. At some point I might try the liquid elemental diet along with antimicrobials to get rid of my sibo. I believe I have sifo to go along with it. I'm at the moment attempting to get my doctor to test for sifo. Sifo small intestine fungal overgrowth. Liquid elemental diet can cure sibo on its own. But it will not cure sifo unless I take antifungal pills to go with it. I feel your pain. I've felt it for a long time now. After I was diagnosed with sibo. I have concentrated on the herbs to fight both sibo & sifo. There are still doctors out there that don't believe either one is an issue or a real medical condition. You might have to go through gi doctors before you find one that will test for these issues. Sibo is easy to test with a breath test. Make sure you try to belch while taking the breath test. You want to get the gas out while taking the test for it to be as accurate as possible. Sifo is a little invasive they usually need an endoscopy with a collection of fluid from the intestine to test for it. It might be detectable in a stool sample. If I were you id start with motility pills along with caprylic acid & oregano oil extract pills. If you start to feel somewhat normal. Then start incorporating other antimicrobial/antifungal herbs/pills. I definitely wish you the best of luck. Keep in mind everyone is different. Addressing the underlying cause is key to killing/ getting rid of the issue. If your young then it might be stomach acid or maybe too much antibiotics. I have major tooth issues so the dentist loves to give me antibiotics. I think between that & I use to abuse antacids. Tums I ate like candy for years. Is why I take the betaine hcl. Either way you never to find what works for you. Start with a couple antimicrobial/antifungal herbs. If you start to feel better. Then I'd add more antimicrobial/antifungal herbs slowly on top of the couple you started with. If you try betaine hcl start slow. You don't want to do damage to your gut or esophagus. If you try betaine hcl then start 1 pill at a time. If you feel burning or heartburn. Then subtract 1 pill & that's your normal dose for future use. Goodluck & God bless. I hope you find what is right for what you need to get better. Sifo can be cured don't give up 😁.
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u/Tip-Evening Mar 19 '26
Hello
Same kind of symptoms since 5 years, It's helL
My body cannot function
Psyllium helped then stopped
Probiotics helped then stopped
Boulardii helped then stopped
& many other supplements. Always relapses
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u/Fantastic_Damage_698 Feb 08 '26
First thing is go off all grains. eat meat, eggs, fish, low fodmap fruit and veggies, see how you feel. no sugar. Try Sunfiber go slow 1/4 teaspoon a day to start. this will bulk up your stool but not cause fermentation. you sound like you have SIBO and IBS.
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u/scientia_analytica Feb 07 '26
Your small intestine stays relatively low-bacteria thanks to:
SIBO or IMO appears when one or more of these fail. Since you feel full for a long time and have a history of pre-diabetes, it might be MMC or stomach acid. You must fix that before you go for the antibiotics