Sign 4: Chronic Fatigue and Weakness
Aside from gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic fatigue and weakness are common complaints that can accompany IBS, particularly among those who have struggled for a long time with the condition without relief. The continuous interaction between food and bacteria in the small intestine, due to SIBO, can drain your body’s energy reserves as it fights to maintain the delicate balance disrupted by the overgrowth.
Nutrient deficiencies are also a culprit of fatigue. This can result in consistent fatigue and a lack of vitality, even after what seems like sufficient rest.
Related: How to Test Your Gut Function
Sign 5: Frequent Gas and Bloating
While not uncommon to IBS sufferers, gas and bloating that are especially frequent and get markedly worse after consuming probiotic-containing foods or supplements. The overproduction of gasses caused by bacterial fermentation in the small intestine—that usually shouldn’t be there—can lead to intense and stubborn bouts of gas and distension that do not subside easily.
Excess gas production happens after consuming carbohydrates which feed the bacteria in the digestive system. These bacteria then produce hydrogen, which feeds another type of microorganism in the gut, called archaea. These archaea then produce methane, further contributing to a bloating feeling (4).
For more on the link between gut bacteria and chronic digestive problems like IBS and IBD, read this post.
Getting Bacteria in Check with Your Functional Doctor
Modern lifestyles can make cultivating a healthy microbiome difficult. And what results is too much of, or the wrong type of bacteria in the wrong place. When left unchecked, this state of dysbiosis can lead to SIBO symptoms.
A functional medicine approach to SIBO includes eradicating overgrowth and preventing future recurrence.
Diet, lifestyle, and genetic factors all play a role in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome for IBS patients, and identifying and treating SIBO early is the best way to reverse dysbiosis and restore balance to your gut.
Digestive upset isn’t normal. If your gut is sending you distress signals, don’t wait to contact CentreSpringMD today.
Testing for SIBO
There isn’t one, singular test to diagnose SIBO, but your integrative doctor will most likely do a lactulose breath test or a hydrogen breath test. Breath testing can differentiate between the SIBO subtypes, which guide treatment plans (5).
SIBO subtypes include:
- Hydrogen-dominant. Hydrogen-SIBO shares many symptoms with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D).
- Methane-dominant. Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowths (IMO), previously called methane-SIBO. IMO most commonly causes constipation-predominant IBS symptoms (IBS-C).
- Hydrogen-sulfide-dominant. Patients with excess hydrogen sulfide (SIBO-HS) are more likely to experience diarrhea.
Breath tests look for the gasses that are produced by the bacteria in your small intestine. If you have SIBO, higher levels of these gasses will be present in your breath.
Other common tests used to determine effective SIBO treatment include blood tests and stool samples, which can indicate nutritional deficiencies or abnormal gut flora. Your doctor may also recommend imaging studies, such as an abdominal ultrasound to assess the structure and function of your small intestine.
Treating SIBO with Functional Medicine
Treatment for SIBO typically involves a course of antibiotics to reduce the population of bacteria in the small intestine, supported by dietary changes and lifestyle modifications designed to prevent recurrence. Your functional medicine provider will work with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Dietary changes, such as eliminating trigger foods and following a low FODMAP diet, as well as using antimicrobial herbs or antibiotics to reduce and rebalance the bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine are common.
Your doctor may also recommend supplements, such as probiotics and digestive enzymes, to support healthy gut function and promote the growth of beneficial bacteria.
How do you begin treating SIBO? Contact your functional provider.
The Key Takeaway
If you identify with several of the above signs, it may be worth discussing the possibility of SIBO with your integrative healthcare provider. Remember, finding the true cause of your IBS symptoms can take time, but being informed about conditions like SIBO can guide you towards the most effective treatment and relief.
