SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) with Glucose

Overview:

What Are the Symptoms of SIBO?

If you’re having stomach pain, bloating, and gas, you may be suffering from small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Unfortunately, SIBO can be hard to diagnose on the basis of symptoms alone, since its symptoms have many similarities with those of IBS, lactose intolerance, and other gastrointestinal ailments. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about SIBO and how you can get an accurate diagnosis. 

What causes SIBO?

SIBO is caused by specific types of bacteria colonizing the small intestine in high numbers. Normally, the small intestine harbors only very few bacteria. This overgrowth happens most often as a result of other illnesses or as a result of the treatment for such illnesses which may include acid reflux, antibiotics, surgeries, autoimmune diseases, and so on. 

While there is no established treatment plan for SIBO, treatments include dietary changes and supplements. 

Unfortunately, unless the underlying cause is dealt with, the disorder will often return a few months after the patient has finished the course of antibiotics. If you do have SIBO, you should discuss additional testing options with your personal care provider and determine the best course of action going forward. 

How do I know if I have SIBO?

Different cases of SIBO may have slightly different symptoms, but these are some of the most common: 

• bloating
• gas
• abdominal discomfort
• cramps
• heartburn
• nausea
• loose stool/diarrhea
• constipation
• fatigue
• joint pain
• rash
• headaches
• loss of appetite
• sudden weight loss

 The variety of possible symptoms is one of the reasons SIBO is often mistaken for IBS or another illness. In fact, some believe that undiagnosed SIBO may be the cause of over 50 percent of IBS cases. If you’ve only recently started experiencing some of these symptoms and especially if they only started after an illness appeared or a treatment or surgery was performed, you should consider testing for SIBO. 

How to test for SIBO: 

A breath test is simple; you can perform it at home and then send it to a lab for verification. This type of test measures the amount of hydrogen or methane in your breath when you exhale. A breath test can help to differentiate between SIBO and IBS and is used by gastroenterology specialists worldwide as the standard for diagnosis. It’s also non-invasive.