Naperville Integrated Wellness

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Many people contact our office to get information about and seek treatment for SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). In addition, a lot of people are interested in the root cause of SIBO.  This article will provide you with the information you need to know about SIBO and what can cause it.

SIBO is a common problem that an experienced functional medicine doctor will be very familiar with. I have successfully treated many patients with SIBO but the key to successful treatment is discovering why it is happening.  This will allow for the most efficient and effect treatment.

WHAT IS SIBO?

With this condition, there are simply too many bacteria (and possibly yeast) living in your small intestine. You should have very few bacteria in the small intestine; they should instead be living in your large intestine (colon). You absorb your food/nutrition in your small intestine. This is how your body is nourished; you get “fed” here…you should not be feeding bacteria in this location. Sure, the bacteria love to set up shop in your small intestine because they can get access to so much more food this way. The problem is, they should not be there, and their presence, feeding and activity is causing the symptoms you may be experiencing.

what is the root cause of SIBO

 

HOW DID I GET IT?

What are the root causes of SIBO?  There are several reasons for SIBO to develop. The problem can arise above the small intestine in the stomach, below the small intestine in the large intestine or in the small intestine itself.

What is the main cause of SIBO?

Problems from above… this would be your stomach. If you are taking medication that reduces stomach acid or if you simply are not producing enough stomach acid or enzymes, then you are setting the stage for SIBO to occur. Healthy levels of stomach acid kill bacteria and other microbes that are entering your body with the food you eat. If you don’t have enough acid, you will have a constant flow of microbes entering your small intestine.

Problem from below… another cause of SIBO is a poorly functioning ileocecal valve. This is a “one way door” leading from the small intestine into the large intestine. If this value is not functioning properly, large numbers of bacteria can migrate from the large intestine into the small intestine. Problems with this valve can occur with gut neurological problems, certain foods, or intestinal surgery.

Problems in the middle… this would include the small intestine itself or the pancreas. Your pancreas produces large amounts of digestive enzymes that are pumped into the small intestine to aid the breakdown and absorption of the food you eat. 3 major groups of enzymes that are produced by your pancreas include:

Amylase: this helps you digest carbohydrates.

Lipase: this helps you digest fat.

Trypsin: this helps you digest proteins.

Your pancreas also makes large amounts of sodium bicarbonate which neutralizes the acid that comes from your stomach.

If you have a leaky gut (which is a leaky small intestine) then you will also be more susceptible to SIBO and poor absorption of nutrients.

HOW DO I FIX SIBO?

What are the treatment options for SIBO?

Ok, so how do you fix SIBO? The way you fix it is by discovering how you got it in the first place! The standard medical approach is to take antibiotics that kill the bacteria in your digestive tract. Unfortunately, this does not address why the bacteria were in the small intestine in the first place. Having a consultation with a functional medicine doctor would be a good first step. 

Below are some of the most common symptoms of SIBO:

  • Abdominal discomfort
  • Bloating and abdominal distention
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Gas and belching
  • In more severe cases, there may be weight loss vitamin deficiencies.

SIBO Functional Medicine Doctor

A SIBO doctor who is a functional medicine doctor is the best place to seek out treatment for this condition.  Your treatment plan will include an investigation into the common causes of SIBO along with a targeted approach to eliminate the cause of the problem.  The treatment will ensure we look to the root cause of SIBO.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SIBO

  • What are the first signs of SIBO?

The symptoms of SIBO are nonspecific and generally include bloating, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue and weakness. These symptoms can be caused by a variety of problems. Make sure your provider is looking for both SIBO and other conditions that may be contributing to what you are experiencing.

  • What kills SIBO naturally?

There are non-prescriptive agents that may assist in the treatment of SIBO. Often this will consist of a cocktail of botanicals that are known to be effective against the bacteria that are the root cause of the problem.  Seek out a qualified professional to help you identify the culprit and create a comprehensive formula to treatment.

  • How to know if SIBO is regressing?

The most effective way to be sure you have eradicated the problem; you should have a qualified professional run appropriate testing both before and 4 weeks after you complete a treatment protocol. Remember, it is important to identify the cause, or you may find that the problem will resurface, creating the same or worse symptoms than you had in the first place.

  • What is SIBO vs IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)?

SIBO and IBS often have similar symptoms. IBS is a functional disorder that may be present along with SIBO.  SIBO can be identified with testing as it is a bacterial condition of the small intestine.  IBS can be an underlying cause of SIBO and therefore the two can be present simultaneously.

  • SIBO and stool – what are the warning colors for SIBO stool?

  • What is SIBO vs IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease)?

To confirm IBD, invasive procedures like a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy need to be performed.  These tests will identify the presence of inflammation in the digestive system.  Since SIBO is a condition of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, a SIBO breath test is commonly performed to confirm a diagnosis.

  • Should I take a SIBO test?

Not all tests are reliable for diagnosing SIBO. They may be helpful but may also take you down a path that may not be right for you. An experienced functional medicine provider can identify and treat the cause of your problem rather than just diagnose you with a condition.

Why I don’t test for SIBO.

You can do a SIBO test; this is typically a breath test that measures the levels of hydrogen and methane in your breath. I don’t order this test simply because you can usually diagnose SIBO by consultation and instead of doing tests that identify the reasons or causes for SIBO.

Another reason I don’t order the breath test is because they often come back negative or equivocal (which means maybe you do and maybe you don’t have SIBO and the only way to “confirm” you have SIBO is to kill the bacteria and see if your symptoms go away.

What I’m saying is that with consultation and then ordering tests that identify causes of SIBO, you have causes to work with. Simply doing a test that might give you a diagnosis of SIBO does not provide causes or solutions.

The way you fix SIBO is discovering the root cause of SIBO, and fix what you find:

Once you determine what has permitted the bacteria to thrive in your small intestine, you can then start fixing the problem.  

Keep in mind that your problem may or may not be SIBO so I would advise you to seek out the advice of a qualified medical professional who will take a thorough medical history AND do appropriate lab and functional testing to get to the root cause of your health condition.  This will allow for time saving effective treatment.  If you are looking to understand the root cause of SIBO, we recommend reaching out to schedule an appointment today!

The purpose of functional medicine is: 

Understanding how the body works, knowing how and where to investigate health issues, knowing what to look for, understanding the significance of what is found and creating a plan of action to reverse and correct the root cause the health problems.

My wish for you…health, happiness and a better quality of life! 

If you would like more information about functional medicine and integrative medicine or Dr. Borkowski, go to napervilleintegratedwellness.com

Do your own research, inform yourself and ask lots of questions. When collecting information, you MUST consider the source. There is no shortage of false, misleading, outdated, profit-driven and utterly biased information in healthcare today, even from the most respected sources and organizations. 

This approach to healthcare is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease. This article is for information purposes and is not a substitute for professional healthcare services. Contact our office for more information.

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