Does everything you eat make you sick? Immediate belly pain, painful bloating, burping?   Do you start the day fitting in your clothes, and by the end of the day you feel 6 months pregnant?  Did you have food poisoning, but never fully recover?  Are you dealing with embarrassing gas, diarrhea and/or constipation?  Does every probiotic make you sick?  Do you try to eat healthy, but every time you do, you bloat horribly from it? 

If so, you may have Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, aka SIBO.

SIBO is when a bacteria that does not belong in your small intestine, or one that can hang out in small amounts and not cause problems, grows out of control. Many of these bacteria feed off of carbohydrates, fibers, and other things you may consuming and produce gasses as a result.  When this happens, life gets uncomfortable really fast.

Symptoms of SIBO include:

  • Gas
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Abdominal pain
  • cramping
  • Diagnosis of leaky gut, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • An ever-growing list of food intolerances such as gluten, casein, lactose, and fructose
  • Histamine intolerance
  • Diagnosis of a chronic illness such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, neuromuscular disorders and autoimmune diseases
  • Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, including vitamins A, B12, D, and E
  • Fat malabsorption (signified by pale, bulky, and malodorous stools)
  • Rosacea and other skin rashes

Many of these symptoms and diagnoses don’t seem to be related to SIBO and thus, it is an often-overlooked root cause that is actually resolvable. In fact, it’s estimated that 6-15% of “healthy” people do in fact have SIBO. Those who are bloated and gassy at the end of the day but it’s not uncomfortable? This might be why. While 80% of IBS/IBD patients are actually suffering from it as well and can feel better rather quickly with proper treatment. 

Don’t guess, test. However, to be sure it’s right for you, take this questionnaire.

WHAT CAUSES SIBO TO HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE?

There are several reasons people become more susceptible to an overgrowth of these bacteria in the small intestine.  Some of these are:

  • food poisoning
  • low acidity of stomach acid
  • poor diet high in sugar, grains, and processed foods
  • stomach surgeries
  • physical issues resulting from other health problems
  • certain genetic variants
  • other infections within the large intestine (intestinal gut dysbiosis)
  • certain medications including antibiotics, heartburn meds, and steroids

Once the defense is weaker, abnormal bacteria can be introduced through one end or the other.  In other words, you swallow it (such as food poisoning), or it backs up from your large intestine into your small intestine (constipation and/or excessive colonics). 

Getting to the root cause is essential in preventing the return of it as you resume normal eating again. You should not eat a “SIBO Diet” forever!

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE

Now that you’ve filled out the questionnaire (if not, go do that now!), and it looks like SIBO could be what’s going on, it’s time to test. Don’t guess!

The test we trust is from Genova Diagnostics.  The test is $314.99, no appointment necessary. Upon ordering you will receive your kit in the mail. Follow instructions to the T, package it up and send it back to the lab. The results are easy to understand and you will know for sure if SIBO is the root cause of your GI issues. From there, we highly recommend scheduling an appointment to get the proper treatment. (Read below for all treatment options)


YOU HAVE SEVERAL TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE 

If you tested positive for SIBO, it’s important to treat it promptly and correctly. You have 3 treatment options available to you.

  • Pharmaceutical (antibiotics)
  • Herbal
  • Elemental Diet

Each one has its pros and cons. For the best, treatment option for you, we strongly recommend seeing a SIBO-Literate Provider (GI or Functional Medicine) well versed in all 3. Not all doctors understand SIBO. After treatment, a SIBO-Literate Provider will retest to ensure the SIBO was resolved completely before moving onto healing the gut. 

NOW THAT YOUR SIBO IS GONE, YOU HAVE TO HEAL

YAY! The SIBO is gone…but not the damage it did. One key piece that is often missed post-treatment is repairing the gut and restoring a healthy microbiome.  The concentration should be healing the cells of your gut, the junctions in between, the nerves that innervate the gut, optimize motility, and balance out the immune system.   

This may be done with a combination of supplements, medications, and must include a therapeutic diet for success. 

DR. GEYER’S COMPREHENSIVE SIBO DIET PROTOCOL

Dr. Geyer has developed the most comprehensive Post-SIBO diet program there is. Yes, there are a lot of SIBO protocols out there. It’s confusing to navigate and most never address reintroduction of “normal” foods. This leads many to think they are stuck on a restrictive, SIBO diet forever. That’s just not the case when you reintroduce foods correctly.

The Geyer Protocol is a 6- phase repair, restore and reintroduce protocol that walks you through a diet that systematically guides you back to eating a normal, healthy diet again, without the fear of SIBO returning.

PHASES 1-3: REPAIR

Phases 1-3 are the meat of the protocol. In these phases, you’ll be eliminating the food source of the bacterial overgrowth so that it dies off in the small intestine where it doesn’t belong and stay in the large intestine where it does. Along with this, we’ll also be focusing on healing the integrity of your intestinal lining that has been compromised due to this overgrowth. This is a fundamental part that is often overlooked in other SIBO programs.

PHASES 4-6: RESTORE AND REINTRODUCE

Phases 4-6 are when foods are strategically reintroduced into your diet to prevent GI distress and avoiding reactivated the overgrowth.  You don’t want to rush back into eating all the foods that have previously been avoided as they can cause severe bloating, gas, and pain. Nor do you want the SIBO to return! You’ve worked hard and don’t want to throw it down the drain. This phase is a critical part of your healing journey and should not be skipped. By the end of phase 6 you’ll be eating a regular, healthy diet again!

You’ve taken care of the SIBO, it’s time to reverse the damage it did so you can feel your best. The Geyer Protocol with 6 months of online coaching and phase-specific meal plans with done-for-you shopping lists is $349. This program was designed with you in mind. To make your life a million times easier, less stressful, and full of delicious food that is easy to cook and shop for. Getting healthy shouldn’t be miserable!

WANT TO GET IT TREATED BY A SIBO EXPERT?

SIBO is frustrating. Finding a local doctor who knows how to treat it correctly is even more frustrating. You can be treated by the SIBO Expert, Dr. MaryK Geyer, and get it resolved for good so you can feel better, faster.   TeleHealth Available.