Healing SIBO
In to today’s episode of “The Dr. Haley Show”, Shivan Sarna, author of “Healing SIBO” joins Dr. Michael Haley to share her experience and wisdom to help those that have suffered with this condition.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is also becoming known as “Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth” (IMO) which is usually associated more with constipation. The naming of the condition just depends on what kind of gas is being produced by the overgrowth. The gas producers determine the best treatment. Symptoms of SIBO include constipation, diarrhea, alternating constipation / diarrhea, and “bloating bloating bloating”. Shivan Sarna got SIBO when she was about 5 years old following food poisoning which is the #1 cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
The IBS Smart Blood Test will help you see if you have the antibodies. Also, lactulose breath tests (Trio-Smart) help you determine if you have an overgrowth producing a methane, hydrogen, or hydrogen sulfide gas. Figuring this out helps you customize a treatment plan.
SIBO is related to the impairment of the “migrating motor complex” which is that sweeping motion of food, bacteria, and debris out of the small intestine. Diet can manage symptoms, but will not cure SIBO/IMO. Many cases of SIBO/IMO are curable.
Finding a healthcare professional that understands SIBO can be a challenge. Many Naturopaths have been trained to identify and help people with IBS and SIBO/IMO. Asking if the healthcare professional orders SIBO breath tests may be a good question to find if a practitioner is even aware of SIBO/IMO. SIBOSOS.com is also a helpful site for more information.
Some treatments for SIBO include:
1. The Elemental Diet – a 17 day diet to reduce the bacterial load followed by retesting
2. Antibiotics – Xifaxan / Rifaximin for treating the hydrogen producers. This antibiotic stays in the small intestine so does not destroy whole microbiome
3. Metronidazole or Neomycin when the methane producers are present are combined with the Xifaxan.
4. Herbal Antimicrobials, allicin from garlic, oil of oregano and others. Probiotics may be beneficial.
5. Prokinetics – stimulates the migrating motor complex (herbal or medical)
These treatments are best guided by the algorithm developed by Dr. Mark Pimentel and then added to by Dr. Allison Siebecker and Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis. The “SIBO Recovery Roadmap” can be found at www.SIBOSOS.COM.
What You Will Learn In This Show
- What is SIBO?
- What causes SIBO?
- How to test for SIBO?
- How to find a healthcare professional that understands SIBO?
- Effective Treatments for SIBO?
- How Common is SIBO?
