Yes, it's very possible to have SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) for years, as it often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for extended periods, leading to chronic symptoms, and even after treatment, recurrence is common, sometimes within months, especially if the underlying cause isn't addressed. Some people struggle with SIBO for decades, cycling through treatments without a permanent fix until the root issue, like gut motility problems, low stomach acid, or structural changes, is identified and managed. Facebook +5
How long does SIBO last? It depends on the amount of bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine. You may start to feel better within a few weeks of treatment. But you may need several months of treatment before SIBO goes away.
SIBO is a typical example of a hidden cause that can go undetected for years, even though the symptoms are severe. Those suffering from unclear digestive problems should therefore also consider SIBO, especially when classic IBS therapies do not help.
SIBO commonly results when a circumstance — such as surgery or disease — slows the passage of food and waste products in the digestive tract, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. The excess bacteria often cause diarrhea and may cause weight loss and malnutrition.
Is SIBO curable? Treatment options for SIBO are effective, but the symptoms can recur. Being vigilant by continuing to treat the underlying cause may help reduce or prevent the recurrence of SIBO.
But even after treatment, some people's symptoms don't completely go away. For others, symptoms improve, but return again shortly. Since many people experience recurrent SIBO, be alert to a return or worsening of SIBO symptoms such as: Abdominal pain.
A recent meta-analysis cited a sensitivity of 42% and specificity of 70.6% for the lactulose breath test compared with a sensitivity of 54.5% and specificity of 83.2% for the glucose breath test.
5 Causes of SIBO
SIBO testing and diagnosis
Diagnostic screening testing may include imaging (CT, MRI, X-ray) of the abdomen and bowel to evaluate for dilated loops of bowel and screen for any areas of narrowing of the bowel causing decreased motility through the intestines.
Unfortunately, the symptoms of SIBO mimic many other gut issues because of the bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. The symptoms look a lot like different issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and celiac disease.
Symptoms of SIBO may include:
During the procedure, a doctor can examine the lining of the small intestine for signs of inflammation, infection, or other abnormalities that may indicate SIBO. However, it's important to note that endoscopy itself cannot definitively diagnose SIBO.
Naturopathic management of SIBO will involve the use of herbal antimicrobials (e.g. oregano oil, Phellodendron), prokinetic agents (e.g. partially hydrolysed guar gum), and a low fermentation diet, i.e. low FODMAP.
SIBO is also known as blind loop syndrome. A breath test or small intestine aspirate and fluid culture can diagnose SIBO. Blood, stool and imaging tests may also be used. Treatment for SIBO usually includes antibiotic medications and nutritional therapy.
Location and Nature of Abdominal Pain
SIBO pain location is usually in the upper abdomen especially around the epigastric area and left upper quadrant. People experience cramping pain that grows more severe after finishing their meals.
If you have SIBO, you may want to consider reducing or avoiding the following high-FODMAP foods:
The hydrogen breath test is a simple medical test that measures hydrogen gas levels (HO2) in the breath you exhale. It's used to help diagnose common digestive problems, including SIBO, IBS and lactose intolerance.
Conclusions: Colonoscopy does not produce SIBO. Preparing for colonoscopy influences the level of expired H2, it reduces the number of intestinal bacteria, probably trough a mechanic effect or by inflating air during the procedure.
“Although uncommon to most people, SIBO is one of the more common conditions GI specialists think about when patients have bloating and changes in their bowel habits,” says Jill Deutsch, MD, a Yale Medicine gastroenterologist. “SIBO can cause diarrhea, and some types of bacterial overgrowth can lead to constipation.
The presence of SIBO is detected in 33.8% of patients with gastroenterological complaints who underwent a breath test, and is significantly associated with smoking, bloating, abdominal pain, and anemia. Proton pump inhibitor therapy is a significant risk factor for SIBO.
1. Starve the SIBO bacteria with diet. One suggestion is to starve out the overgrowing microbes by removing all the starches from your diet, and treat the overgrowth at the same time. You may find your symptoms reduce as you cut down on fibre.
Conclusions: COVID-19 significantly increased the risk of SIBO, particularly within the first 12 months post-infection, across various age groups and, notably, in association with certain chronic medications. Clinical vigilance and targeted management strategies are recommended to mitigate long-term GI consequences.
Antibiotic therapy
For most people, the initial way to treat bacterial overgrowth is with antibiotics. Doctors may start this treatment if your symptoms and medical history strongly suggest this is the cause, even when test results are inconclusive or without any testing at all.
Smoking raises and exercise lowers hydrogen concentrations and is therefore not allowed during the test. Glucose12,13 or lactulose14 are the most commonly used substrates for diagnosis of SIBO whereas the different sugars tested for carbohydrates malabsorption are given to detect these disorders.
Both IBS and SIBO share many of the same symptoms. These include loss of appetite, abdominal pain or cramping, abdominal bloating, nausea, an overproduction of gas and alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea. People with SIBO may also have vitamin deficiencies, despite eating a balanced diet.