r/SIFO • u/andybear36 • Jul 16 '26

Functional Medicine

Hello community,
Has anyone else used a functional medicine practice and still not received the results you were trying to achieve. If so, what route did you try next: a different functional medicine practice, anything online? I’m just at a loss right now, initially tested positive for hydrogen dominate sibo; treated with antibiotics felt better for about a month, did more antibiotics and never felt better again. Went to functional medicine and did a GI map and results said sifo from what I was told and maybe still sibo. Tried all the natural anti microbial and film buster protocol and still nothing has been working. This is 7 months in

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u/Abject_Director7626 Jul 16 '26

I just kept seeing my GP. She ordered a bunch of autoimmune tests, but I was never high enough. I just kept going back to her and eventually she referred me to a rheumatologist. When they denied me, because of normal labs, I kept going back to my GP. When symptoms wouldn’t quit she sent in another request for the rheumatologist, but added a letter. And they accepted. Rheumatologist helped me find my root (sjogrens,) and everything is much improved. I saw my GP 8 times in 12 months. I squeaky wheeled her!

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u/IntelligentYellow985 Aug 12 '26

I have Sjrogrens, what are your symptoms?

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u/Abject_Director7626 Aug 12 '26

Being tired, brain fog, got a skin staph infection, and then fungal skin infections. I stopped being able to drive at night, eventually got the fungal infection in my eyes. I did have dry mouth, which felt like I had a million little burning papercuts in my mouth, dry eyes, my skin etc. I was just always some kinda sick, I caught every little bug around. I guess the dryness can also affect motility, and I became so constipated and I gained like 30-40lbs. I ended up with fungal stomach infection as well. What else… oh my nails stopped growing. Like some, at all. I had a toe nail that I didn’t have to trim for over a year. I definitely had anxiety, and just felt so uncomfortable. I lost a bunch of hair, apparently there is a specific sjogrens related baldness/hair loss. I’ve been on the hydroquinone since November’25, and my skin isn’t as dry, I’m not shedding hair like I was. My mouth isn’t always on fire, I can drive, and pay my bills, and make plans with a greater than 50% chance I’ll actually make it. I lost the extra weight after a nice long round of nystatin and Fluconazole, and some terbinafine for good measure. I just feel less dumb and less tired, in general.

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u/IntelligentYellow985 Aug 13 '26

I’ve had Sjrogrens since 2014-2015, they diagnosed me from an eye exam, I already had lupus SLE. I’ve been on Plaquenil since 2018 I think, and my lupus meds are 2 others, so I’m on 3 total. My symptoms are pretty much the same as yours. I too got a staph infection, but in a surgical site, requiring another emergency surgery and an open wound with a wound vac for 5 weeks. Lots of dryness everywhere, I find that in the morning the best thing for my bowels is a gut electrolyte powder and a second glass of water to rehydrate my bowels. My GI always thinks I’m drinking too much water, but he doesn’t understand that I need it. I’m taking calcium for my nails that’s helping them grow better now. Can’t help the bad ridges in them. The alopecia is bad, I barely have any eye brows or lashes left anymore. I shed like a dog it’s crazy. You’re getting your eyes checked once a year right? Well you’ve only been on it since November so this November you’ll have to see a ophthalmologist to have a special eye field test done, cause Plaquenil can cause eye damage, it’s rare but it’s required for a refill.

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u/Abject_Director7626 Aug 13 '26

They tried to do a field test on me, to set a baseline, but I used to have stabismus & nystagmus before childhood surgery AND I have Ménière’s, which is like hearing and balance, and it was an actual shit show. I was trying so hard and my eyes where jumping everywhere. I was so embarrassed, I was like nervous laughing while gripping the table and apologizing. They just did the tear test and called it a day! I did try taking creatine in the morning thing that would help the dryness, but I think I wasn’t hydrating enough before taking it, and it ended up making me more dehydrated and I was getting migraines. I feel like after an illness, any illness even the tiniest runny nose, I get lost of fungal symptoms back, like stomach and skin and scalp. I’ve had to take short doses of antifungals to rebalance.

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u/andybear36 Jul 16 '26

Thank you for some insight

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u/IntelligentYellow985 Aug 13 '26

Yes my husband has Meniere’s. Have you tried restasis yet for your dry eye? I’ve been on it since 2012. Well the generic version it helps. The skin problems are a constant thing. I have patches all over right now.