IBD/IBS

IBS is a disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. IBD is inflammation or destruction of the bowel wall. 

 Have you been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), been treated and still not seeing long term improvement in how you feel? Have you been to more than one specialist and not yet gotten to the root of your problem? You may be living with SIBO (Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth).

More and more, physicians and researchers perceive the role of Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth (SIBO) as a common cause of Irritable Bowel Sydrome (IBS) symptoms. Recent studies indicate that more than 50% of patients diagnosed with IBS may actually have SIBO, with one study suggesting up to 84%.SIBO is a condition in which large numbers of bacteria that normally reside in the colon multiply in the small intestine and produce gases that wreak havoc, causing extreme discomfort.

Left untreated, the bacteria of SIBO can damage the lining of the small intestine, eventually leading to intestinal permeability, also known as Leaky Gut Syndrome. When the gut is “leaky,” the blood then carries harmful substances throughout the body, which explains why there are often symptoms in locations other than the digestive system, (such as the skin, lungs, and brain, causing brain fog, memory issues, headaches, etc.).After years of treating patients with SIBO, we have come to learn that every patient is unique in the way he or she reacts to bacterial overgrowth.Below are some common signs and symptoms that can help point to a diagnosis of SIBO:

• Bloating and abdominal distention
• Flatulence or belching
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Diarrhea or Constipation (or alternation between the two)
• Heartburn or “burning stomach”
• Headaches, joint or muscle pain, fatigue, memory loss, rosacea

Other conditions can also be associated with, or be a risk factor for SIBO. These include:celiac disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypothyroidism, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis,autism, interstitial cystitis, diabetes, fibromyalgia, GERD, cirrhosis, Restless Leg Syndrome, Lyme disease, lupus (SLE), other autoimmune diseases, a past head trauma or abdominal surgeries, chronic stress, lactose intolerance, pancreatic insufficiency, bowel obstruction, nerve damage, and many more.Here are a few more key indicators that increase the chances SIBO is the cause of your IBS:

• You developed your IBS symptoms after contracting gastroenteritis or Traveler’s diarrhea
• Fiber worsens your constipation
• Taking a probiotic that contains a prebiotic worsens your symptoms
• You notice an improvement in your IBS after taking antibiotics
• You are still gluten intolerant although you have removed all gluten from your diet
• You have chronically low iron or ferritin levels
• You have a history of taking opiates or proton pump inhibitors

Dr. Breen is a member of GastroANP

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