SIBO and Gluten Intolerance

[kl5]

Trying to figure some things out, and thought I would think out loud in hopes of getting some input! (And if this should be in the Allergies sub, I can go there...)

Basically, I eliminated gluten 2 years ago in hopes of fixing a lifetime of IBS-like symptoms, mainly bloating, gas, diarrhea, occasional constipation, etc. I felt immediately better and have been faithful to eliminating gluten since then (I also initially eliminated cow dairy, but added it back after 8 months or so to good results) and have never felt better. That is, until lately, when the gas and bloating are back, though not as bad as they used to be. I recently gave birth (in September) and have also had a terrible diet (sugar) since Thanksgiving. I have been assuming sugar was the cause, but why...? Which led me to suspect a small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). I ordered some Pharmax Intensive (thanks JaneS!) to see if that helps. Any other suggestions welcome.

But I wonder... if I have been dealing with SIBO all along, maybe cutting gluten help alleviate the problem but was not the cause of the problem? Meaning, if I "fix" whatever imbalance I have going on in my small intestine, could I feasibly add back gluten successfully? I know I sound like an addict, and I am not really. But life would be much easier if I could have the occasional "real" pizza!!!!

[sbgrace]

I'm going to suggest another possibility. A very significant portion of those with IBS symptoms are found to have either d. fragilis or b. hominus or both. Those are parasites. They can be treated (though reading online would make you think you can't..you can). Anyway, I know about these because my son had them. We did treat successfully. There are two labs which will find them and will also find any bacterial overgrowth and tell you what will treat in that case. Genova is a lab who will culture for those parasites (and more that might causing your symptoms). It's a culture and therefore things could be missed if a particular sample doesn't catch the bug. Therefore, you'd need to do two three day samples including the ends of the stool (where hominus particularly hides) and throughout to catch anything else to know you were clean. Metametrix is another lab that looks for those bugs (and bacteria, gluten issue, and much more) but they use a DNA technology which means one sample and a much higher likelihood of finding whatever is there (you would still do end of stool and throughout).

If you have either of those let me know and I'll tell you how to kill them. Most doctors misprescribe when treating them and that's why people think they can't be killed. Mistreating does make them harder to get rid of so do let me know if you have them (pm or email).

I would run Metametrix comprehensive stool test if you have a doctor who will order it. Metametrix might be able to tell you physicians in your area that have worked with their lab as well. Our insurance reimbursed us out of network but we did have to pay upfront so the cost is a downside. But it's a great test and then you'll know if you've got bacteria, those parasites, or something else.

The downgrade in carbs can make those parasites less problematic so increasing carbs over the holidays may have flaired the symptoms even without gluten. With the bacterial imbalances (my son has had that too) you often have to kill the bugs off first and then probiotics to keep them gone/keep from getting new ones. Probiotics aren't good at getting rid of things--they are more of a preventative. And they could make parasitic issues harder for some.

If you find something on that lab I'd tend to wait until I killed it off and then reintro gluten to see what happens.

[kl5]

sbgrace, thank you so much for your thoughts. It absolutely could be parasites. I think getting a stool test is a great idea and will help me figure things out before I start throwing things at the problem. I will put the probiotics in the fridge and study further! I am finally feeling confident that I can get to to the bottom (a-hem) of it and find a solution! And finally stop thinking so much about my digestive tract, because I've got better things to pay attention to!

<---------------------- (like him)

And if you don't mind getting into it, how did you get rid of your sons' parasites?

[sbgrace]

He's a cutey for sure--adorable!

My son was positive for b. hominus (and d. fragilis). I freaked myself out reading about them online as there is all this information about not being able to kill them.

The issue is that b. hominus particularly lives at least 20 days and likely more (I saw 28-32 days if I recall) in a cyst stage. In labs they can put those cysts in test tubes with antiparasitic medicines and the things are not affected in the least. The cyst for that bug is so hardy that it really can't be killed by anything. So...you have to do treatment longer than the cyst stage and long enough past that stage to kill the bugs in the next stage of development! If you go shorter than those even with a great medication you won't kill the bugs completely (you might beat them down but they will be back in full force soon enough) and you run the risk of being resistant. So for my son we picked the best (I'll be honest...the only I think) drug in the US to beat hominus and did it long--really long--like 32 days. Our doctor told me the prescribing information for this medication (Allina) says 3 days for hominus! That's why people aren't killing the bugs. They are using the wrong thing or the right thing for too short of a time. That's sad because if hominus is Alinia resistant I think it would be nearly impossible to kill. So long treatment of the right thing. My son tolerated it beautifully--no side effects from the med and no more parasites! We were very careful though to make sure we kept him from spreading during treatment (careful with stool, washing sheets, washing hands etc.) I didn't want him reinfecting himself or infecting the rest of us.