The post that so many of you have been waiting for… for I don’t know…. A YEAR maybe? I’ll be honest: I’ve been putting it off a bit, trying to finish first things first (like finishing the 2nd cookbook that comes out next month!!, planning the entire book launch, writing new meal plans, having a baby, navigating motherhood, etc).
But also because there’s just so much to this story and healing journey, that it overwhelms ME to even try to capture it all. So, grab a cup of tea or matcha or mushroom coffee (or whatever bevvie of your choice). You do you. Just cozy up, my friend.
Because I’m going to take you behind-the-scenes with my journey (and ultimate healing) of SIBO: small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. It’s something I never expected to talk about, but I casually mentioned it one day on my weekly Q + A on instagram stories last year, and since then, the requests to talk more about it have kept flooding in.
And when I was going through it (2 years ago now), I just kept searching and searching to find cures, solutions and to read about other people’s experiences. And I never found much.
1) because the term “SIBO” is a relatively new diagnosis. There is not a lot known about it. And 2) the typical way it’s treated is still about treating the symptoms. Not the WHY behind it: why it happens in the first place. And that’s always my own goal with any problem or health situation– getting to the root cause so I can heal things there, and using as many natural sources of healing as possible along the way to do so.
So whether it’s a case of SIBO itself, or some other health issue that needs healing (that’s a bit more off the radar to find answers), I hope that this helps. Even the process of it, overall. Of patience. Of trust in your body. Of being kind to yourself through the process. Of listening to your instincts. And of doing what you can physically first, and with food, and then diving into layers that are much deeper (if needed).
At this point, I’m no stranger to solving my own health things as they come up in my life (auto-immune triggers, a sudden onset of hypothyroid conditions, gluten intolerance, PCOS diagnosis, etc), and I’ve started to notice some patterns of true healing that I’ve been able to apply to most situations where not a lot is known about the cause. And instead of feeling sorry for myself (the thoughts of: why me? why is this happening? I’m the healthiest person I know, yada yada), I’ve now come to realize that these are my divine assignments sometimes. That has always given me peace, and patience even when I’m IN it. That maybe, if I figure it out, and piece things together, I can help someone else through it.
So. SIBO. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. It means too many bacteria are in your small intestine (not your large intestine, where they belong).
Symptom include: very extreme bloating, especially after eating (envision looking 3 months pregnant every time you eat). Probiotics and fermented food and drinks make it worse. Wine and carbonation makes it worse. And some of the healthiest foods (vegetables especially) can make it worse. It also usually means terrible digestion. And even more sensitivities to a lot of different foods.
I remember when I first heard the word and heard it described, I thought– oh, yeah. That’s 100% me. Wait– other people have that, too? I thought I was the only one. I’d been living with it for so long that it just kinda felt normal. I thought that’s how my “system” was… although when I thought about it, it did kinda get in the way of me feeling my best. I just didn’t even know other people had the same thing. It was a relief.
But add in some life stress– planning a wedding at the time, getting married, running a business full time, looking for a house, and pretty soon, those little symptoms were getting harder to ignore. Every night after dinner I felt terrible, no matter how healthy the dinner was. At first I’d think– ok maybe it’s because I had grains tonight? Or that little bit of cheese on my roasted veggies? Maybe it’s the dairy?
But soon, I realized it was happening no matter what or how clean I ate. Eat a meal, bloat until I looked pregnant. Repeat.
(This is such a weird thing to say, but when I finally DID get pregnant, honestly it was 6 months until the feeling of that big of a belly was foreign to me. SIBO had me well practiced.)
I remember a moment a few months before our wedding when I was eating super clean and working out everyday (nothing crazy, and not to lose weight, but just being intentional about eating foods that made me feel my best). But nothing was shifting. Nothing was changing on my body or energy how it usually did when I cleaned up my act even more.
I specifically remember trying on wedding dresses and still having a bloated stomach even though every other area on my body looked healthy and normal.
That was my first instinct that I should look into things more.
I researched a bit about the term SIBO, and started reading how people “got rid of it.” All of it entailed rounds of antibiotics, no wine, and a very, very strict diet of what to eat and not eat.
But then, also– we were getting married in a vineyard, and I knew that I wanted to just enjoy everything about both the day and that season of life– so I put it on hold until after the wedding.
But later that Fall, it became apparent I had to do something about it. Things were so bad that I was now needing a little coffee every day to get my digestion going. The bloating was next level. And my energy was tanking. I’d wake up every morning feeling heavy and sluggish, and it was making it hard to work.
Every afternoon by 4pm I had to change out of my jeans and into yoga pants because my stomach was so bloated and uncomfortable. It was affecting my work, my energy, my mood, and my confidence as a woman, ya know? Therefore, it was time to do something about it.
I also knew that the gut is where your heath starts. If it’s off or struggling, then your whole body, brain, neurons, and cells are too. The gut is the second brain, so they say, and it made me so sad to think about it not doing well. My health was at stake here. And that’s something to mess around with.
I also knew that a few years down the road, we would start talking about having a family, I knew I wanted to make sure my body was as healthy as possible before then, as strong as possible, and as functional as possible too.
First steps:
First things first, I booked an appointment with my naturopath. I knew there was a breath test you could do to identify if you had SIBO or not. There were technically 2 kinds of SIBO: high methane or high hydrogen. One made things slow down digestively and one made things speed up.
I did the test, and sure enough, it was confirmed. With one of the highest numbers she’d ever seen (high methane). Welp. My instincts were right (noted, always listen). High methane was also the harder of the two to treat.
What came next:
- Changing up the food immediately, which I knew was coming. And the most obvious place to start. Enter the strict diet: a low-FODMAP diet. FODMAP stands for Fermentable, Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols, which are basically carbohydrates and sugar alcohols that can ferment in the large intestine and can result in abdominal bloating, pain, and bad digestion.
- High FODMAP foods are things like garlic, onions, brussel sprouts, all stone fruits (peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, apricots, beans, lentils, dairy, honey, etc). More on this below.
- A round of traditional antibiotics, paired with digestive enzymes & liver support.
Normally these are both things I try to avoid if it’s at all possible: strict diets and antibiotics, that is. One messes with your head and makes you miserable, and the other can mess with your gut and overall immune system. But in the right circumstances of course, they can be necessary. For me, that means when all other options have been looked at first. Unless I’ve done everything else I can think of first, and fully researched all the options.
Which I had.
And at the time, there really were no other options.
I’d heard about herbal antibiotics, but in talking to my naturopath, she let me know that while they were less “intense” on people’s systems, they could also take months to be on, and they don’t always work… and sometimes because you’re on them longer they can be just as damaging.
She suggested going more intense at first, trying to kill the bacteria in the small intestine and letting them know they were not being encouraged to grow there (and hoping they’d get the hint to take up root in the large intestine where they belonged). We wanted them out of the small intestine.
So, I did. Low-FODMAP life it was, and a round of antibiotics. And, truth: I’m a positive person, and it takes a lot to get my down. This phase I was going through wasn’t what you’d call fun. In fact, I kind of felt depressed. Food– creating it, dreaming about creating it, cooking it, etc, is my life. It’s my business, too. It’s my identity. And above all of that, it’s a huge source of joy and creativity for me. So the lack of freedom and fun, and the additions of even more restrictions food wise, it felt like it took me down a few notches of happiness.
Mentally too, it felt exhausting to learn a new language of what I could and couldn’t have.
The thing with SIBO is that it’s not just taking out unhealthy foods to be healthier (as like was the case when I went gluten-free, it just eliminated a lot of packaged stuff, and the grab-and-go and the mindless stuff)– but you are actually taking out very healthy, real, and clean foods, too.
Things like broccoli, avocado, kombucha, brussel sprouts, celery, cauliflower, soups with garlic and onions in the base, quinoa, nut milks, honey, maple syrup, apples, peaches, plums, yogurt, all beans and lentils, hummus, etc. YEAH, hi. Just all of my favorite things and all my staples.
(Side note: I know now that this is usually where problems can start– when you eat the same things over and over and over again. Our bodies need a wide variety of things to not develop sensitivities to them).
And with any big orientation in things in your daily life, it can feel overwhelming in the beginning: you feel nervous, like you have to look everything up, and it kind of puts you on edge, worrying and thinking about food way more often than you’re used to. It’s just the brain learning something new, but it’s tiring! The same happened when I went gluten-free.
So, now I was gluten-free, pretty much dairy-free (butter only), garlic/onion free, soy free, egg free, and now FODMAP free too (which felt like it took the food I was eating and reduced it down to 10 foods total). For a food blogger, lover, and cookbook author… woo wee. It was a little rough to wrap my hands around.
And as someone with a past in very restricted eating and having no joy and a bad relationship to food… well, I was nervous about reducing down to so few things.
But, as always, I knew that I was in charge of my experience. I was in charge of my mindset. And feeling sad about it isn’t going to make it any easier. So, I tried to have the best possible attitude as I started out, as I do with most things– like, OK no problem, this is just temporary and for healing, and soon I’ll be back to normal.
I tried to make it fun and challenge myself to come up with as many low-FODMAP recipes as possible and rise to the occasion and try new things. For a while, food was purely my medicine, and about healing, which was also a nice thing to be reminded of. That kept me going for a while.
And at the same time– it made me thankful that this is what I do. I could figure it out. And in fact, having these constructs lead me to a lot of the recipes that are coming in cookbook #2 (coming out this November). It made me get even more creative with things.
MONTHS 1-5
That first month passed… and then another. And… I wasn’t feeling any better. As the weeks went on, I started to feel a little discouraged and resentful. And like I was missing out on so many things I loved. It’s one thing when you give things up and you can see the benefits or at least feel so much better. This wasn’t the case.
I began researching– trying to find any and everything I could to see if there were any other things that worked for other people. What I found: almost nothing. SIBO was a tricky beast, it seemed. There wasn’t just a quick fix. And there were almost no resources out there.
Over the next few months, I ended up doing 2 rounds of antibiotics and 4-5 months of low-FODMAP eating overall. It helped, I think. Slightly. But I still wasn’t feeling great. So I just did the best I could– to keep modifying and making stuff at home that seemed to go easier on my system, and just doing the best I could when I was eating out/with others, the best I could.
It meant a lot of white rice (it’s the easiest food to digest and therefore the most gentle when you’re healing), a lot of sauteed greens and cooked veggies, more fish and meat than I was used to, and looooots of soup (made without onion, garlic, and celery).
Vodka cocktails too instead of wine (less sugars, less sulfites, less “stuff” going on). I became a vesper girl, instead of a rose girl on date night for a while there.
But slowly, it felt like this way of life was becoming more than just a temporary thing, which wasn’t ideal. I started to feel discouraged.
I kept thinking that there had to be another way. So, I kept researching. Kept trying to learn as much as I could about the gut, gut bacteria, and if any other people struggled with what I was going through. I tried the herbal antibiotics for a few months, and adding in various supplements to help under the advice of my naturopath doctor (biofilm disruptors, even more digestive enzymes, etc).
I did liver detoxes. Colon hydrotherapy. Coffee enemas. And kept reading and trying anything that promised slight help.
MONTHS 6-8
The limited food choices were becoming my normal, but emotionally and relationally (food is involved in so many parts of our lives! Imagine date nights, dinners at friends houses, etc), energy wise and vibrancy wise, I was feeling drained and just not on my A-game.
One day, I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, and Dr. Steven Gundry was being interviewed. I’d never heard of him, but he’s an OG in the health and physician world, and he had a new book out called The Plant Paradox.
He was talking about something I had never heard of: lectins in food. And at first I kind of rolled my eyes. Great. Another “diet” to confuse people and make them fearful of real foods. More “good” foods and “bad” foods. More things to eliminate. BUT… he was talking about inflammation of all kinds: autoimmune cases. Cancers, even. Mysterious symptoms and health conditions that don’t really have a known reason… I kept listening.
It tuned out that lot of the higher lectin foods were ones I was currently eating. Aka all the low-FODMAP stuff.
Case study after case study, when all else wasn’t working for people and they adopted this more lectin-free life, they healed.
Well, why not try just one more thing?
Lectin-free. Well then. Let’s go.
So I started scooping out the seeds of my tomatoes and cucumbers (one of the things he talks about in the book). Making the switch mentally from low FODMAP to low LECTINS. And just tried to do so with the grace and patience for myself– I could always go back if I wanted to, but why not try anything that had a slight promise?
And truthfully, a new set of YES foods felt so refreshing. I could add in some of the big things I loved and missed. Tomatoes. Hummus and/or beans if it was sprouted or pressure cooked (hello new purchase of an instantpot). Celery for soups. Cheese! (As of recently, I think Dr. Gundry released a cookbook too– I haven’t seen it, so I can’t speak to the ease of recipes or what’s in there, but it could be a good resource to start with).
Mentally and emotionally I felt better and like I could participate in life things more. And in my kitchen too.
And you know what? It helped. A lot. Like within a 6 weeks or so I noticed that a few things were getting less intense symptom wise. My energy was slooowly coming back. I could do this.
But, even with a lot of improvement, my SIBO wasn’t fully gone.
So I knew there must be more to the story. In the past, whenever I’ve gotten to this point– of fully covering my bases on physical stuff, I know there’s a whole other thing to start looking closer at: my emotional and energetic body.
It can hold so much stuff that we’re not even consciously aware of.
It was time to start digging in there, even though there was nothing consciously I could think of that would be blocking me in any way.
So, I did my thing: started asking myself better questions while I journaled to see if I could come up with anything that could be getting in the way of my healing. Nothing. I went to more yoga. Nothing really there either.
But I kept staying aware and curious about it, and started looking for some other healing methods I’d never tried before (breathwork, reiki, medium readings, etc).
So when I heard about Gabby Bernstein’s spirit junkie masterclass live in NYC (yup, the one that I now lead a group through every June), the timing felt just right. Why not? I went for business inspiration because she’s always been a long time inspiration for me in that area, but deep down I wouldn’t have minded more healing powers myself, esp at that time.
I’ve told this story before, about sitting in the auditorium and just not really sure why I was there (amongst the tarot card readers, physic mediums, healers, etc). But this part I haven’t: on the second day during one of her deeper guided meditations on business, she was asking us to feel where we felt resistance it in our body. Was it the heart? Third eye? Head? Our throats?
All of a sudden, my answer was so clear: mine was right on my upper stomach, like a tight little ball. My small intestine.
Before I knew it, I just broke down in tears. Like REAL HOT BIG tears that came streaming out of my face, in the middle of a huge crowd. I let it. It actually felt so good.
Without going into the specifics of why– the point is this: it was an emotion that was something totally unrelated– about why I could be blocking myself or playing small in my business, that I then felt in my small intestine. Like, WILD. The connection.
And then (after I went to the bathroom to clean up the mascara streaming down my cheeks), I felt so calm. It was like a release. Something had been stuck there, for who knows how long, waiting for my attention.
My stomach didn’t feel as crazy.
But that night too, I felt better. I thought maybe it was a coincidence.
And then, the next day too. To my amazement, it wasn’t just a short term thing. Something had shifted for me.
My SIBO symptoms became noticeably less.
I knew there was some connection– and something deep down that was energetically holding me back and blocking me… which manifested itself as SIBO.
When I got home, I booked a appointment ASAP with my breathwork energy healer, to further uncover anything else that was there.
I did, and more tears. More realizations. And way more healing that happened after.
But within a few weeks, it was gone. SIBO, gone. After almost a year and a half of trying everything I could think of.
Healed.
I tell you all this because it’s so true. Maybe because you’re dealing with your own version of healing, in some capacity, or know someone who is. But this much I know is true: no matter how aware or “healthy” we are, we can all get out of alignment. And here’s the key: especially when things are busy or stressful and we are in GO MODE. Our bodies can hold on to things emotionally and energetically that we may not even know about, that can keep us stuck or blocked– and if left unaddressed, can manifest in all kinds of physical ways.
And that if we don’t slow down, have times set aside for quietness and care, if we don’t have time to listen to our instincts and intuition, it will keep showing up until we finally want to look and deal with what’s really going on. And it can all be happening without us even knowing about it, which is so fascinating.
Now I’m a full believer that anything weird or off that’s physical happening in our bodies, is usually a sign that something emotionally or energetically might be blocked too or in need of some attention. For me, at least that’s proven to be the case.
It took a good year and a half, but it hasn’t been back in 2 years now. Call it a coincidence if you want, but I know it’s true (for me). It’s all connected: your physical body, your mental body, your spiritual body, and your emotional and energetic body. They are ONE thing, and when one part gets off balance or out of whack (and stays there for a while), the rest can easily get thrown off or tired out and overworked.
So, sorry, if you were reading this post in hopes of a quick fix, this is not that.
There wasn’t a magical one thing that changed everything. It was the combo, and ultimately the journey of covering ALL the bases that helped for me. I know everyone is different, but I hope in sharing my own experience and story that it inspires you to find your own path and methods.
Let’s RECAP:
Take-aways/things I now know/what I would tell my best friend if she came to me tomorrow for help:
1. There’s no getting around it: SIBO is usually caused by stress. Being in GO mode. Even if your body doesn’t “feel” stressed or you don’t recognize it as such (ha, me to a T). If you have a lot on your plate, there’s a chance your body, your adrenals, and your nervous system are indeed being stressed. Thus, the importance of having stillness in your life, ways to emotionally process things (like journaling, a team of healers, float tanks, infrared saunas, massages, and other practices that help quiet the mind, etc), and having daily rituals and practices that help you tune in. More on the importance of rituals and daily practices are coming in the new book, so make sure you’ve ordered your copy. It’s truly all connected to our food, which is what I explain.
2. With food– even more proof that having balance and a lot of variety in what you eat is KEY. Looking back now and in talking to so many more people about it, SIBO is becoming more and more common. I’m not a doctor, but I’m fairly certain that there is a correlation between high fat/low carb diets and SIBO because of the natural lack of fiber (from whole grains and fruits that are usually lacking). In prepping for our wedding, etc, I wasn’t eating any grains and very rarely fruit, because it felt better on my body at the time. But I think I took it a little too far. A little more balance and variety would have been good. I don’t think it has to do with this factor alone, but I think it was a contributor. Yet again, proof that “diets” that cut out entire categories of food are never sustainable, and can be in fact even detrimental to our bodies over time.
3. A little wine and chocolate in your life never hurt (when done mindfully), but when your body is compromised or trying to heal and is stressed out, these things can make it worse. I’m not saying to go extreme and have none, just to reduce it and be more aware of it. These are also two foods/things that people consume more of when stressed, so it can be a endless cycle if you’re not aware of it and processing your emotions in a healthy way.
4. Find a great naturopath. And then find great healers too. And/or therapists too. You’ll need both approaches most likely. And neither one hurts to add in, and often complements and speeds up whatever process your body needs.
5. Don’t be a victim or have a victim mentality. That only delays whatever healing could happen. Stay as positive as you can, see the lessons and gifts that you are being presented with, stay trusting, and above all, believe in your body’s capacity to heal. Manifest it. Meditate on it. Create intentions of being well and not identifying too much with something being “wrong.” Take time to talk to your body, with care, and infuse it with good energy everyday. I know it sounds crazy but it WORKS.
Was this helpful to read? It’s true, it took me so long to write and formulate my thoughts, so I truly hope that it can help even just one person out there. Has anyone else dealt with SIBO? Please chime in and let us know below if you’ve come across any other great tools or resources along the way. I always want this space to be a wealth of resources and inspiration, no matter what you’re going through, and sharing is the only way we speed up the process for each other. Let us all know below!
Love this post? You’d love the cookbook then too. And psst, did you know the 2nd book comes out this Fall? Check it out here. And be sure to check out the seasonal meal plans (or the new easy DINNER ONLY plan) if you want even more help and resources to make REAL FOOD a more simple, joyful and intentional way of life!
First of all thank you for sharing your story. Unfortunately so many are suffering with SIBO, some unknowingly, and it is very inspiring to hear a success story.
I have been trying to heal from SIBO for a year now. I have made a lot of progress, but just as you went through, even after progress my body is still not fully healed. It is so frustrating to try diet after diet and supplement after supplement, feeling like you are doing everything right and still not seeing the results you want. I never thought much about the emotional side of it so I really appreciate you bringing this up. That it’s not all physical healing that needs to be done. I have not yet tried a lectin free diet so I will definitely be giving that a go as well.
One thing that helped me tremendously was incorporating HCL pills into my daily routine. That is when I noticed a huge difference and was able to start adding in so many foods that previously bothered me.
Looking forward to hearing others’ suggestions and stories!
Thank you again Sarah 🙂
Oh my gosh. This was such a great post. THANK YOU so much for baring your soul and sharing your journey. I am inspired!
Sarah – This hit me like a ton of bricks: “…especially when things are busy or stressful and we are in GO MODE. Our bodies can hold on to things emotionally and energetically that we may not even know about, that can keep us stuck or blocked– and if left unaddressed, can manifest in all kinds of physical ways.” Oof, you nailed it. I’ve been searching for an explanation for a physical symptom/pain, but I’m beginning to see now that there may be a more holistic reason that I need to explore. You truly have a way with words and I’m so grateful you share your story with the world, thank you!
Thanks Sarah, you gives me hope! I haven’t officially diagnosed with SIBO but I suspect that is what I am having. It’s developed after a severe food poisoning about 3 weeks ago. I will got see my doctor again and hope to get it tested. Anyway, I believe in mind/body connection and healing. I have been very stressed these day at home and at work and this make take toll on me. I used to have chronic back pain and after I stopped suppressing my anger, my back pain is very minimal now. I hope this will be the same for my gut issue. Also I realized, I had less symptoms when I was out and about (kids activities or shopping) so maybe stress does make my symptom worse. I will try meditation and doing other activities to relieve the stress. Thanks again for writing this post :-).
Thank you, think you so much this was so helpful I think I’m suffering from iSIBO too. I am just like you I went to a holistic doctor tried everything and anything went gluten-free eat only soups no sugar no yeast no sweets I don’t drink alcohol, i don’t drink coffee nothing it’s helping .
I have moved from Germany to the United States 22 years ago hoping to connect with my mom which turned out not to be the greatest idea I stayed here and always was home sick and unhappy until today . Thank you again for the article, now I know what I need to do in order to heal my stomach and intestinal problems.
Thank so much
A.R.
Sarah, everything you’ve described is exactly what Julie has been dealing with for years. She’s gone gluten & dairy free (still is) and nothing seems to work. She’ll wake up and feel terrible, eat a larabar feel terrible, eat a banana feel terrible, drink water feel terrible and the list and examples could go on. You’ve given her a great roadmap and a feeling of hope that other people have these same feelings/symptoms and there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m so glad I keep receiving your emails and updates. A new cookbook will soon be in out kitchen. Thank you, Shawn
Makes a lot of sense. My ‘SIBO – never diagnosed but, having undergone Right Hemi Colectomy ? who are you kidding. Anyhow my SIBO was highly noticeable under pressure. I have learnt to take deep breath, long baths and calm my mind and this has led to immediate improvements. My Religion and Spirituality has also brought a similar experience, a release of sorts.
Thank you for this, worth every read.
Thank you Sarah for sharing your journey! I’ve dealt with SIBO twice, and both times it was very linked to my endometriosis. The endo disease was creating so much inflammation and stress in my body, not to mention emotional and mental stress from dealing with chronic pain and reduced quality of life. I had good results from using antibiotics, coupled with herbs to promote gut healing (the one I use has chamomile, peppermint, rosemary, etc.). I didn’t follow a true low-fodmap diet because I knew that the stress of a strict diet would be counter-productive for my body, but I have slowly moved to a low-gluten, low-dairy diet and have discovered certain high fodmap foods that I don’t do well with (apples, pears, too much onion). I also recently had my second endometriosis excision surgery (Pacific Endometriosis and Pelvic Surgery Center in Gig Harbor for anyone local who’s looking for a specialist) and my digestion is already so improved, it feels like a miracle. I think a lot of people are living with SIBO but don’t know what it is or have had doctors dismiss it as IBS, same with Endo. So happy that you found healing!
This has given me some hope where I thought there was none. My doctors have all but abandoned me, telling me that I just need to manage my symptoms and that there is no cure. Deep down I’ve felt that’s not true. I’m out of balance, all I need to do is get back in balance. But finding the right things has been hard, especially when money is tight. I’m on the low fodmap diet now and it has reduced my symptoms massively but I’m not seeing the changes I want to, my energy is still low, digestion is still off (although no pain now). I wonder if I of stay on the diet now or not. Its nice to be pain free for the first time in 8 months but I know I’m missing a lot of the nutrients I need to stay healthy in the foods I’ve had to cut out. I also think it might be increasing my sensitivity to some foods that are triggers for the sibo which is the opposite of what I wanted it to do. I’m going to have acupuncture to try and release the emotional blockage (that I’ve been aware was there but struggling to tap into), so hopefully that will help. Small steps. Trying to remain positive is like smashing your head against a brick wall when you are in pain every single time you eat. I can’t say I’ve been too successful at that up to now but I keep trying.
I loved reading this! I have been dealing with SIBO myself for about one and a half years. It was prompted by a breakup, being in nursing school, and grieving the loss of a dear friend. It was so bad at one point that I couldn’t keep any food down for several months. I have been working with a naturopath for the past 6 months, and although it has helped a lot, I have felt that something is missing. The herbal antibiotics help while I am taking them, and then I start from square one when I stop. Interestingly enough, while I was on summer break from school my symptoms were quite minimal (so not surprising right?!). I truly believe this SIBO is tied to my energetic body and there is somewhere I need to be ready to release for my healing to truly begin. This post of yours was perfectly timed so thank you.
I loved when you said ” So, I did my thing: started asking myself better questions while I journaled to see if I could come up with anything that could be getting in the way of my healing. Nothing. I went to more yoga. Nothing really there either.” I found this incredibly real and relateable. I am inspired to dive in to my spirit and energetic body to let go so that I can begin to truly heal.
Thank you for your story. I’m dealing with SIBO too. My story is different, as I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis, pulmonary fibrosis and other problems. I’ve had symptoms for years, but I’m living on Steroids!
I tried Embrel, and had some relief, but not enough to get off the steroids. At the same time, I got off of Zyprexa, which was prescribed for sleep. I didn’t do my due diligence in researching this awful med, prior to taking it. The withdrawal was/is a Nightmare! A few weeks after stopping it, I was prescribed Humira. My life fell apart! I thought I was dying, and the SIBO flared to the point where I cannot leave the house! I’m going constantly! Food has become my enemy, and it has increased the withdrawal symptoms too.
I cannot eat. I either can’t stop going, or cannot go at all.
I’m using Oregano oil, but still no effect, at least no positive ones.
I’m lost. I’m angry and very discouraged. My emotions are not helping, but it is what it is.
Any advice would be appreciated.
As someone who has been struggling for a while to get back my health, I’ve looked into so many different diets and tried many and haven’t seen any big improvements and have felt discouraged and gave up so many times. However I will say I have read Dr Gundrys plant paradox and his longevity paradox books and am starting on that journey. It seemed like his take filled in all the gaps and missing pieces I had from so many other wellness. I highly recommend you read those books and hopefully find them useful. I’m sure you are going through so much and I hope things turn around soon for you.
Thank you fir sharing your SiBO story. I’m happy to hear you have healed and are moving forward . I, too, am struggling with SIBO. My journey started with food poisoning which created a downward spiral with parasites and SIBO. I’ve been addressing both the mental and physical symptoms with SIBO. For me the gut/ brain connection has wreaked havoc in my life. You are so right that stress plays a MAJOR role . I never thought of myself as a depressed person but this dysbiosis/SIBO has brought up a lot of emotional issues I thought I had worked through. I wholeheartedly agree with you that the mind/ body connection is critical in managing and healing this . I am presently working with a therapist, energy healer, and doing a lot of heart/brain coherence meditations. I believe it is imperative to look back and tie into what you were experiencing in your life when the digestive symptoms
started. I would bet the majority of people struggling with this condition have an emotional component to it.
It is so easy to fall prey to the victim mentality. I’ve found this is dangerous headspace . We have to catch ourselves when those thoughts occur. We need to treat ourselves as we would a loved one. Show compassion and kindness to ourselves. I’ve recently just realized that if we can embrace where we are and not resent it, we are much more likely to let go and heal.
Every word you wrote…rings true with me, too. Thank you. Couldn’t believe I fell upon your article. It felt like you were writing down exactly what has been swimming around in my head for a long time. I recently found Dr Steven Gundry, too. Amazing : )
Thank you, again…
Hi Sarah, I have a very similar story — who are the healers and naturopaths you worked with? I live in seattle (we actually went to UW together same year and know you through friends..)! Also where do you go for infrared sauna? I’m working with a dietitian but I haven’t yet had the sibo breath test. If you could do it all over again, what would be your step by step and who would you have worked with? Thanks so much for any information you can share.
Thank you, it’s like I was writing my own story, the difference is that I’m still with SIBO.
PHEW a breath of fresh air is what this was!! I couldn’t agree with you more. I live by the quote “If you feel there’s no way out then how did you get in”. I believe that if we give the body what it needs ie healthy food/balanced diet, sleep, happiness, mindfulness, love, exercise, our body has EVERYTHING it needs to heal itself. And thats speaking from a two time kidney transplant recipient! Ive learned to surrender all of it to the universe and let my “problems” guide me. But sometimes I get caught back up in the research and diets and tests that I start to really lose it, but this brought me back so thank you! I’m reading Gabby’s book right now “The Universe has your back” for anyone looking for inspiration on a deep level.
Amazing! I’ve found myself on a very similar SIBO path years ago… now reoccurring with increased stress etc. Very encouraging and helped me know I’m on the right path- trying to find balance-mind, body & spirit! Thank you!
Hi Sarah, I am so glad to have finally come across this article! I think I might have SIBO which started shortly after the lockdown period this year. It’s so hard that just when I want to embark on a new chapter of my life by taking dating seriously and then eventually settling down and want to do so many amazing things, this issue is just eating away at my self esteem !
My symptoms is only bloating and nothing else. I tried a round of Rixafimin, and then a traditional 7 day ayurvedic cleanse (I am from India) but it came back after 20 days post the cleanse. Now seeing a professional gastro who has put me on some probiotics and things to aid my stomach acid production.
Also I started a regular practise of yoga and meditation to stay calm and heal whatever stress thats affecting me !
This article ends my search for what can heal me! Thanks a lot Sarah!
I suspect I’ve been dealing with a mild case of SIBO since May. My husband and I have dealt with two miscarriages prior to this and tried to start IVF in April until covid smacked us hard. We were put on hold. Then my only child, my 12 year old cat passed from renal failure. He kept me focused with his routine of meds for two years and once he was gone in May I came down with BV, yeast infections, cracked molar, cracked mouth guard, abdominal pain so sharp I thought it was appendicitis – you get the picture. Every two weeks I’m plagued by something. This week – ingrown toenails and in 2021 braces at 38 with a perfectly good tooth extraction. So needless to say my therapist, Accupuncturist, and PCP #4 (the others all told me I was a hypochondriac) and nowy GI have been supportive. I just met with a naturopathic and am waiting on my breath test results. I tried xifaxan and my pain moved to below my right rib. That pain and fluffy to peanut butter stools are my only symptoms so I’m also awaiting a gallbladder functionality test. Colonoscopy and upper GI all normal. Biopsies were normal. We live in a tiny tiny apartment while we embark on year 3 of house hunting after moving states to my home state. Stress is an understatement. IVF has been put on hold which I believe is MY root of my stress and being motherless even to my poor kitty. I want to run as my stress relief but the toenails are not allowing me too. I reorganize my apartment all of the time to make it feel bigger and boxes piled high are not helpful. I hope I can be rebalanced despite constraints so I can have a family one day.
Thank you for sharing your story! Well done! I am currently in SIBO treatment and you have given me lots of food for thought beyond the diet piece.
I cried reading this—I could relate on so many levels. Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I am so stressed by the food restrictions as I live food. I grow a variety of foods in my garden and so enjoy eating it freshly harvested. Cooking is one of my creative passions. So many of my staple foods are now on the avoid list and it is unbearable. I am not feeling better after 6 weeks on restricted diet and antibiotics. I did however feel better during one week while doing a course in spirituality and creativity. That says it all.
SIBO may be caused by Lyme disease. I had really crazy reaction to bacillus subtlis DE111. There are really bad bacteria involved.
Thank you very much for the personal experience. I for one really believe in the mind body connection and how hidden emotions can cause physical symptoms, because it is how I got over my excruciating back pain and ‘back injuries’ that doctors told me would keep me off sports (it no longer does). I have been dealing with horrible digestive symptoms and attributing it to antibiotics courses I had to take (and it could be partially that). I know stress plays a role, but this was a very nice and important reminder how emotions can manifest physically, I hope to pay a closer attention to my emotions while I’m healing myself
Would you say to take probiotics when trying to heal it or to stay away from them?
I’d stay away from them 🙂
Makes a lot of sense. My ‘SIBO – never diagnosed but, having undergone Right Hemi Colectomy ? who are you kidding. Anyhow my SIBO was highly noticeable under pressure. I have learnt to take deep breath, long baths and calm my mind and this has led to immediate improvements. My Religion and Spirituality has also brought a similar experience, a release of sorts.
Thank you for this, worth every read.
Hi thanks for this , so true we need to manage our mental state , also have SIBO, since a child and I didn’t know because this was my normal, being bloated is normal for me even after drinking water. My skin has been ravaged by it and I been trying to get to the bottom of it. Well I’m on meds and antibiotics same as you , I hate antibiotics but I know it’s necessary in this case, on a low fodmap diet and I’m managing my mental state and I’m starting to see a difference I would say I’m 40% there. It’s amazing what stress can do to our bodies. Happy healing to everyone
This brought tears to my eyes. I stumbled across this article and couldn’t for the life of me tell you why I chose it over the other google hits. But I love every word you said and how honestly you said it…I am going through so much of what you experienced, even getting into following Gabby in the past months, and now reading Joe Dispenza’s work on placebo/nocebo, healing myself emotionally and reconnecting spiritually, listening to my ‘gut’ and body…but the universe aligns and I think, 6 months into the same diets you’ve been trying, I really needed this reinforcement right now. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Good information. Just curious tho, when you started all the healing methods, did your diet/supplement regimen fall off completely, or were you still taking some supps and avoiding certain foods? Were you tested for SIBO after you felt better to make sure it was gone, or only based on how you feel? Have you ever had a flare up of SIBO since? I have hydrogen dom SIBO and it is also very hard to get rid of. Thank you for your article and any feedback to my questions you may have.
This is just what I needed to read right now. You’ve helped me tremendously. Thank you so much. I hope you are well!
Hi nice story I’m 52 yr old logger never had problems or illness in life then one day my voice was bit crokey so finally rang doc and he said viral infection gave me antibiotics but it was as found out later silent reflux and the antibiotics then blew my stomach cause me to ha e gastritis so they gave me more antibiotics and made it worse I was burning fit 9 months lost weight could not eat had had every test known to man all clear but it causes me anxiety stress and so much worry as couldn’t work all docs can’t find nothing wrong but I’ve been in so much pain tryed different diets but like you say in your story when I relax about it it seems to get bit better xxx
Yes, this is an important post. I’ve yet to try energy healing in particular, however I’m convinced our belief in our ability to heal our bodies is key. Addressing disease/infections as “foes”simply feeds the negative energy and slows healing.
This isn’t suggested nearly enough with regard to SIBO or other stress related IBS. I think things are slowing changing for the better as case numbers are climbing. Many more GPs are becoming familiar with SIBO, rather than lumping it in with IBS.
This article is so helpful. I was diagnosed with SIBO in 2014 and it has now returned. I’ve done it all… or so I thought. My next endeavor is emotional healing as you have stated. I think it’s best to find what works for you. I would say I had zero awareness of my emotions up until 3 years ago. Now I am aware and am trying different things. Next is the Emotion Code by Dr. Nelson. I’ve leaned that there is no silver bullet, but an approach that addresses the spirit, mind, and body together is the best approach.
I’m dealing with this right now. Thanks for sharing! The first round of antibiotics didn’t work, the second helped get rid of a lot of symptoms like feeling overly full after a bite of food and sharp pains in my stomach, but created a new one where my throat feels tight and like I can’t swallow food now if something triggers it. And I’d never had any food intolerances, but they all hit me like a ton of bricks 6 months ago, and even now I still can’t have dairy, gluten, soy, vanilla, chocolate, wine, spicy foods. All the conflicting diet advice is so frustrating, and I definitely was relating to what you said about it taking up so much brain space what I can and can’t have all the sudden. I could literally only eat oatmeal for a month over the summer though and lost a lot of weight so I’m grateful I’m stabilized now at least.
This was a good article and I could tell it took a lot to bring all your thoughts together. It is true that there is not one plan that works for every person’s body, situation and symptoms. We all have to find what works for us. I appreciate that you emphasized that stress relief is integral to healing the gut. My naturopath recommended an adrenal supplement and I wouldn’t do without it now. If I run out and forget to get more, I feel the anxious feelings start taking hold. I make sure that I find time most days for my exercise plan, which includes stretching, yoga and long walks with my dog down my country road.I did the SIBO diet for 3 months last year and did get rid of a lot of my symptoms but have noticed some came back now that I have allowed not so good foods back into my life. So I am planning to restart this week and am going to try a neem supplement along with the Atrantil I currently use. I also found intermittent fasting really helped my system – one meal a day is what I prefer. Now I have to come up with some recipes because I forget what I ate. Lots of arugula salads and I remember inventing a meatball stew with carrots and tomatoes. One good side effect was that I lost the extra weight that had been plaguing me for a decade without counting calories. I ate until I was full and never starved. Some weight has come back now that sugar, gluten and dairy has come back to my life. Ice cream tastes so good but sure bloats up the tummy. I guess I can go back to making my coconut milk fruit sorbet. My husband will eat it up if I don’t hide it in the freezer.
Thanks! Sound advice,I have a really no SIBO story(don’t we all) a (now 62 year old guy,never had a really sick day in his life, that weighed 74 KGs a year and a bit ago was tablo front squat 35KG kilo dumbbells for reps,oh doing a 1 hour HIT class would barely break into a sweat
Then along came SIBO (and 7,000$ in failed treatments) loss of 12% of my bodyweight in 2 months.
And you what? 18 months along the track getting ill has been an epiphany.
Dare I say the best thing that ever happened but that’s another long story.
Thanks for your poswt.
THANK YOU for this. I’ve been treating some form of gut problem on and off for about a year and a half now. I was treating candida and the discovered I had SIBO- I was doing so much better on the elimination diet for a few weeks but then couldn’t get through the day on the energy I had/lost SO much weight..so went on a food binge/frenzy most nights for a few weeks through pure frustration. I realised I was emotionally eating again and hadn’t quite realised how much the restricted diet had been affecting me emotionally too..
I’m currently in a bit of a FuNk and needed this little boost/motivation to work on my energy and old behavioural patterns/beliefs in deeper ways. Thank you and I am so happy you managed to come out the other side better than before. These things can totally be a blessing if we choose to listen can’t they. Jo x
Looking for help with sibo
Sarah, your story is my story. Every single thing you’ve experienced, I can relate to, and you give me hope that some day I’ll have my SIBO (and my STRESS) under control. I have always known the importance of the mind-body connection in theory, but putting in practice has been a struggle. I was exposed to some nasty chemicals and heavy metals while deployed to Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. With an incredible team of consisting of a functional medicine doctor, a naturopath, and a nutritionist, I am happy to say after over 10 years of struggling with auto-immune disease (Anklosing Spondylitis), inflammation, SIBO, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, etc., I am feeling MUCH better. Of the 20+ metals and chemicals that I believe triggered all of this (along with my stress), I’m now down to only 3 that my liver is working hard to eliminate. Most of my symptoms are gone, except the SIBO remains right along with my stress (you’re absolutely right that they go hand-in-hand). My plan now (once the final three metals are out of my system) is to follow a low-FODMAP/low-lectin diet for a week followed by an elemental diet for two weeks, and then back to a low-FODMAP/low-lectin diet for another week or so as needed, then gradually add foods back in. I’ve seen really good reviews on the efficacy of an elemental diet (80-84% effective), so I’ll try to keep you all posted if that might be another option instead of the antibiotics (since I tried those once and it didn’t help…perhaps another round would have done it). My functional medicine doctor warned me it tastes pretty awful and is expensive, but agreed it was effective so long as followed with resetting the vagus nerve through FSM. Just thought I’d share in case others were experiencing similar issues. I also found the most success on managing my stress when practicing mindfulness with a trained counselor/therapist. Had I been able to continue instead of moving duty stations, I do believe it would be second-nature by now and I could do it without assistance. Anyway, thank you for sharing your story and giving me the place to share mine. If you know anything more on the elemental diet I’m about to try, please share!
Thank you. My sweet 15 yo child Willow has SIBO and we have done the SIBO diet for 6 weeks with not much change. I know it’s linked to the brain and stress. We have just introduced meditation and she loves it. They also visit a therapist biweekly which seems to help. Thank you for sharing your experience.