Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Else Can I Do/should Do To Heal From Suffering From IBS-C/SIBO Since At Least 5 Years Condition?
Question: I’ve been suffering from IBS-C/SIBO since at least 5 years. I’ve found that if I follow a low FODMAP diet the symptoms are greatly reduced, but I’m not able to eat a whole lot of healthy foods, such as avocado, broccoli, apple, cauliflower, garlic, onion, etc. If I do eat these foods, I get terrible bloating, constipation, more belching and more reflux. Therefore, I have to comply with a very restrictive diet.
To treat this condition, I’ve tried a good number of things, on my own and also with the assistant of three health professionals during different periods of time. Included among the things that I tried was several different herbs to kill the bacteria, the elemental diet (which is supposed to be highly effective for SIBO), rifaximin (antibiotic), etc, without any success. If I follow the diet that I mentioned above, my gut seems to have good motility because I have bowel movements more than once a day. Test results indicate that I have SIBO – methane, which is consistent with my symptoms. I’m including, in the attachment, the results of some of the exams that I had done.
My questions are:
Why is it so difficult to heal from this condition?
What else can I do/should do to heal from this condition?
Thanks a lot.
To treat this condition, I’ve tried a good number of things, on my own and also with the assistant of three health professionals during different periods of time. Included among the things that I tried was several different herbs to kill the bacteria, the elemental diet (which is supposed to be highly effective for SIBO), rifaximin (antibiotic), etc, without any success. If I follow the diet that I mentioned above, my gut seems to have good motility because I have bowel movements more than once a day. Test results indicate that I have SIBO – methane, which is consistent with my symptoms. I’m including, in the attachment, the results of some of the exams that I had done.
My questions are:
Why is it so difficult to heal from this condition?
What else can I do/should do to heal from this condition?
Thanks a lot.
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your query,
Have seen the attachments and have read your details my dear patient.
Actually the problem is that in modern medicine control can be achieved but still a cure is not there for most of the ailments.
IBS actualy is a name given to a cluster of symptoms,The cause of which cannot be explained by modern medicine.
So when symptoms like loose motion or constipation,gas recurrent stools etc keep on occuring despite of all the tests turning out to be normal..tests like colonoscopy,Fecal calprotectin..Patient is labelled as having a idiopathic(cause unknown) disease with certain set of symptoms which can be different in different individuals....Modern medicine instead of using cause unknown labels it as IBS.
And as you can very well understand that if cause is not known then how come we cure it.
But yes again as it is a physiological disease.i.e in 99% of cases it can be related to food allergies,Anxiety,and there are N number of researches with N number of suspected causes.
But as you have SIBO probiotics can be taken for minimum of 6 months along with a strict diet which helps you and a course of Rifaximin 550 mg two times a day can be taken for 3 month under supervision of a Gastroenterologist.
2) what else could be done to treat the condition- for this I would like to know if colonoscopy has been done and is clear?
Waiting
Detailed answer below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your query,
Have seen the attachments and have read your details my dear patient.
Actually the problem is that in modern medicine control can be achieved but still a cure is not there for most of the ailments.
IBS actualy is a name given to a cluster of symptoms,The cause of which cannot be explained by modern medicine.
So when symptoms like loose motion or constipation,gas recurrent stools etc keep on occuring despite of all the tests turning out to be normal..tests like colonoscopy,Fecal calprotectin..Patient is labelled as having a idiopathic(cause unknown) disease with certain set of symptoms which can be different in different individuals....Modern medicine instead of using cause unknown labels it as IBS.
And as you can very well understand that if cause is not known then how come we cure it.
But yes again as it is a physiological disease.i.e in 99% of cases it can be related to food allergies,Anxiety,and there are N number of researches with N number of suspected causes.
But as you have SIBO probiotics can be taken for minimum of 6 months along with a strict diet which helps you and a course of Rifaximin 550 mg two times a day can be taken for 3 month under supervision of a Gastroenterologist.
2) what else could be done to treat the condition- for this I would like to know if colonoscopy has been done and is clear?
Waiting
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
