What is sibo?
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Gastroenterology Associates of Colorado Springs (GACS) is here to help you with your SIBO struggles. Our board-certified gastroenterologists treat SIBO by combining traditional medicine with natural approaches that will heal your gut.
What is SIBO? Small bacterial overgrowth is a chronic bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. This bacteria normally lives in the gastrointestinal tract, but have overgrown in an area they’re not supposed to be in such large numbers, causing havoc. It is estimated that on average 60% of people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) may actually have SIBO. If you are experiencing the following symptoms, you may have SIBO.
Symptoms of SIBO
Symptoms
Symptoms that may occur in upper GI disorders include:
- Bloating
- Cramping
- Consitpation
- Diarrehea
- Food Sensitivites
- Belching
- Flatulence
- Heartburn
- Fatigue
- Joint Pian
- Brain Fog
Conditions associated with SIBO
Conditions
Symptoms that may be associated with SIBO
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Acid reflux
- Celiac disease
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic constipation
- Diabetes
- Diverticulitis
What causes SIBO?
Causes
Symptoms that may cause SIBO
- Food poisoning
- Gastroennteritis
- Antibiotic use
- Acid blockers
- Fungus overgrowth
- Stress
- Diabetes
Healing options
Treatments
Treatments for SIBO:
- Antibiotics
- Healing the gut through diet
How to test for SIBO?
A breath test is a common test for diagnosing SIBO. Excess bacteria in the small intestine releases gases when they come in contact with foods. They especially like to produce gas from foods like sugars and carbohydrates. The gases produces are either methane or hydrogen and these can be measured using a breath test.
Gastroenterology Associates of Colorado Springs (GACS) has the state of the art equipment onsite and is able to get results quickly. All breath tests are interpreted at GACS by experts in SIBO, Dr. Elena Sidorenko and Dr. Tom Meister.
Treatment Options
Antibiotics
Studies have shown antibiotics to be a highly effective treatment that can quickly treat bacterial overgrowth and resolve SIBO symptoms. Xifaxin (rifaxamin) is a often prescribed as it is not absorbed into the blood and kills the unwanted bacteria without harming the good bacteria,
Other antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole( Bactrim) are also effective in treating SIBO. As with most antibiotics, a rare infection caused by Clostridium difficile can develop. This requires treatment with a different antibiotic.
Elemental diet
This diet comes in a liquid or powder form that provides all the nutrients the body needs. This approach treats the overgrowth of bacteria by starving them of their nutrition. The duration of this diet can be a few days up to one month.
The taste of this diet has improved over the years and is often used in recurrent SIBO (particularly methane producers) that have not responded to treatment.
Low FodMap Diet
This diet is low in fermentable carbohydrates which decreases gas and bloating symptoms in SIBO. This diet may be recommended while treating SIBO to help decrease the bacteria’s food source.
It should not be used longer than 2 months as it may cause nutritional deficiencies and decrease good bacteria populations.
Plant -Based and Prebiotic Foods
A plant-based diet is nourishing to the gut as it is high in prebiotic fiber which feeds the microorganisms living in our gut. However, in untreated SIBO, a plant- based diet can produce gas which causes abd pain and bloating.
Once SIBO has been treated, it is ideal to choose foods high in prebiotic fibers to help the gut flora return to an optimal balance.
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