Abdominal pain. Nausea. Bloating. An uncomfortable feeling of fullness after eating.
You may experience some or many of these, depending on the severity of your condition: Abdominal pain. Abdominal distension. Nausea.
During a SIBO flare-up, a wide range of gut health symptoms can increase or appear. This can involve an increase in symptoms such as bloating, an increase in gas and abdominal pain. It's also common for bowel patterns to alter.
Bacteria break down carbohydrates and produce methane and hydrogen gas. This increased volume of gas stretches the small intestine and causes painful belly bloat.
No, SIBO is generally not life-threatening. In very severe cases, malnutrition might be a significant issue warranting serious attention, but most of the time it causes very frustrating, uncomfortable, and sometimes painful symptoms.
Prebiotics are fibers found in foods (i.e., inulin, resistant starches) and help promote the growth of bacteria. Prebiotics are perfect if the goal is to rebuild healthy bacteria, but they can make the symptoms of SIBO significantly worse by further increasing the overgrowth numbers.
Fat: With SIBO, the bile acids responsible for the breakdown and absorption of fat are deficient. Fat malabsorption produces visible signs, including oily, smelly, and floating stools.
Bloating is a common symptom in SIBO. Apart from bloating, other common symptoms of SIBO include abdominal pain, nutrient insufficiency (e.g. B12 or iron), aching joints, excessive gas, belching, diarrhoea or constipation.
Dietary changes: Restrictive diets (like a low FODMAP diet) should be temporary fixes during a SIBO flare up and may help reduce symptoms. For long-term gut health, Dr. Barish recommends a diet rich in plant-based foods and healthy, whole-grain carbohydrates.
Allowed sugars: glucose, sucrose, aspartame (Nutra sweet), saccharin. AVOID: Lactose dairy, milk) fructose concentrate, lactulose, Splenda (sucralose), mannitol sorbitol (sugar free gum/mints), oligosaccharides (soy milk), corn syrup (regular sodas many others sweetened foods).
For most people, the initial way to treat bacterial overgrowth is with antibiotics. Doctors may start this treatment if your symptoms and medical history strongly suggest this is the cause, even when test results are inconclusive or without any testing at all.
On account of the build-up of gas, someone with SIBO usually feels bloated, experiences excessive flatulence, burps, and has bad breath. The pressure in the stomach resulting from gas can also cause nausea, heartburn, and spastic abdominal pain primarily located near the navel and right lower abdomen.
The most common symptoms associated with SIBO include diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain and bloating.
Symptoms associated with SIBO may include abdominal distention and bloating. Abdominal distention grows progressively worse throughout the day and is usually worst in the evening. Abdominal pain or discomfort also is common, though intense pain is not usually associated with SIBO.
When patients suffer from excessive belching, they can belch acid from the stomach into the gullet, causing symptoms that mimic reflux-like heartburn. Flatulence/wind – again some wind is normal, after all everybody farts! Patients with SIBO are often very windy and the wind can be very smelly.
Many people who have SIBO don't realize their symptoms are caused by bacterial overgrowth. Left untreated, SIBO can lead to serious complications including nutrient deficiencies, dehydration and malnutrition.
Slower transit time
Methane-producing SIBO has been shown to cause constipation and may cause a slower transit time, which means that food stays in the digestive tract longer than it should2. This slower transit time can lead to various symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain and weight gain.
Examination of the tissue of the GI tract itself with an upper endoscopy or colonoscopy may be obtained. Some of the material from the jejunum, the middle part of the small intestine, may be obtained to analyze. The number of bacteria present in this sample can determine if there is overgrowth.
SIBO may be caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hypothyroidism, or a whole host of other medical conditions. SIBO can also be an underlying condition that triggers other diseases.
Small-bowel aspiration and culture during upper endoscopy is generally regarded as the best method for the diagnosis of SIBO and SIFO.
But did you know that SIBO may also cause non-digestive symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, poor mood, headache, joint pain and much more? If you struggle with fatigue and other unexplained SIBO symptoms, gut treatments like probiotics and diet might not be top of mind.
Omelettes with vegetables such as ample amounts of red peppers, scallions, tomatoes and olives are the perfect SIBO friendly breakfasts. Even adding lactose-free cheeses is allowed and seasoning such as salt, pepper and hot sauce is unlimited. Processed or cured meat is not recommended in the anti-SIBO diet.