I have suffered with SIBO for a very long time. I had the bloating, diarrhea, pain, weight loss and it even affected my ability to do every day functions. I was finally diagnosed with SIBO about 3 months ago. A wonderful Nurse Practitioner decided to try me on a drug called CARAFATE, it has worked for me where nothing else has. I can now eat a much wider variety of foods and have gained over 3 lbs in the past month or so. If you have this condition, I urge you to talk with your doctor about Carafate.

In college I took a lot of antibiotics for sinus infections which created an environment for SIBO. I had it for 10 years before being diagnosed. 1 round of antibiotics for SIBO and then Align everyday has me feeling great!

Kefir caused my SIBO. I started drinking kefir after hearing about all of the benefits of probiotics and that kefir was the best source since it has so many strains. Well, my life has not been the same since. I have NEVER had such digestive issues in my life before kefir. Now I am lactose intolerant and cannot eat certain veggies. I am dehydrated all the time from all the bathroom visits and I am malnourished and cannot gain weight. Worst decision I ever made.

I have struggled with constipation for most of my adult life, but had finally found help from eating Activia yogurt. Since Activia helped, I added Align capsules to my regimen. 9 days after starting Align, I developed severe high blood pressure and very rapid pulse (130 bpm). I ended up in the hospital for cardiac tests (all negative) and was diagnosed with severe GERD. The acid reflux was awful, I could hardly eat and lost 15 pounds. I had to take 4 Prilosec a day just to survive. After negative ultrasound, CT scan and upper GI scope over the span of 4 months, my GI doctor did the test for SIBO and it was positive. I took Xifaxan for 2 weeks with great relief, and I continue to improve. However, I have tried eating Activia twice since then and quickly develop high BP and rapid pulse! I am convinced that Align caused my SIBO, and I tell everyone I know that Probiotics are not safe for everyone, and I those who tend toward constipation should not take Align.

I don't know what caused my SIBO. I have an autoimmune deficiency: multiple sclerosis (neurological), and fibromyalgia. I've also suffered IBS for many years with all the symptoms that have kept me at home for years. In 2010, I was diagnosed with SIBO, gastritis, and told I do not have gastroparesis, but my digestion is very slow.

Antibiotics over the course of one month created an environment for SIBO to flourish. First my stomach enlarged. My pyloric valve was very swollen. My abdomen was very bloated and air kept getting stuck. From April to September with no treatment, my intestines became fully involved with SIBO. It took two weeks with xifaxan and long-term probiotics to stop the symptoms. It took five months to get the swelling out of my intestines.

I began developing SIBO issues 8 years ago. I avoid all sugars and most foods. The only foods I can tolerate are: tuna, salmon, tilapia, cod, extra lean beef, chicken, roasted almonds, butternut and acorn squash, green leafy vegetables, (e.g. kale, collard greens, etc.) and certain spices. Anything else causes either sleeping problems or IBS problems. And dicyclomine works a lot better than Xifaxan for me. But I want to reduce the amount of antibiotics.