My Gut Health Story: From IBS & SIBO to Real Breakthroughs

t was around 6 pm one spring evening in 2008 when I decided to enjoy some homemade turkey chili for dinner - it was very tasty. I love spicy food. However, about thirty minutes later, I was overwhelmed by excruciating pain, as if someone had reached inside me and twisted my stomach and intestines. The pain surged in agonizing waves. A friend from church, who happened to visit, found me writhing in pain on my living room sofa. Without hesitation, she rushed me to the hospital. There, I received painkillers and Mylanta and was discharged later that night.

My Gut Health Story - The Cascade of Diagnoses

A few weeks after my hospital visit, I consulted a gastroenterologist who did an endoscopy. The diagnosis was gastritis, and I was prescribed Protonix (a prescription-strength proton-pump inhibitor) to block stomach acid production. That class of drugs is often abbreviated as PPI.

Aware of the side effects of long-term PPI use, I was reluctant but desperate for relief. Over the subsequent year or two, I gradually reduced the dosage until I could manage with the lowest available over-the-counter dosage.

In 2010, a gastroenterologist recommended removing my gallbladder due to its “sluggish” function, despite the absence of gallstones. I was hesitant, and I sought a second opinion. During that visit, I was diagnosed again with gastritis and also Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). In 2011, the list grew as I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis (IC) after enduring painful bladder spasms and urinary difficulties. That same year, my primary care physician added chronic rhinitis to my health conditions. It seemed my health was deteriorating, one diagnosis at a time.

The list of foods (healthy foods) I couldn’t consume because of these diagnoses began to grow. I was unable to eat spicy foods (including jerk chicken – quite a significant blow, given that I’m from Jamaica), citrus fruits, tomatoes, kiwi, pistachios, and raw onions, among others. And I was still on the PPI and worried about the risk of nutrient deficiencies (and other complications) without stomach acid aiding in the absorption of essential nutrients and lowering the population of potentially harmful organisms.

I was eager to stop taking the PPI (and attempted to do so several times), but quitting this medication was super challenging due to its rebound effect. I recall the Summer of 2011. There was a shortage of the PPI I was using. I drove about 50 miles to find a store that had it in stock because if I stopped taking it, it would feel like my stomach was on fire (yes, the rebound effect is real).

As a Registered Dietitian, I effectively managed these conditions by avoiding certain foods. I'm aware that my symptoms would have been significantly worse if I hadn't been controlling them through diet. However, one mistake could lead to a flare-up (like the time I took a garlic extract; I remember that episode well). The flare-ups were harsh and would incapacitate me for a day or two, requiring about a week for my gut to return to "normal."

At one point, I was literally prescribed Zyrtec, Claritin, Mucinex D, Benadryl, and Flonase - they kept adding one after another to prevent recurring ear infections and clogging of my right eustachian tube. I also needed steroid shots to help keep the inflammation down. I later learned through genetic testing why my body was so prone to chronic inflammation, but that’s another story.

To eliminate these symptoms and chronic conditions, I had to understand their underlying causes. My body was signaling something, and I needed to interpret that message more effectively, requiring a deeper investigation. What were the imbalances in my body that led to these issues? What steps were necessary to address them? What factors initially contributed to the imbalance? What triggered the flare-ups? I needed to identify upstream drivers and get to the root causes.

My Breakthrough!

Reflecting on my days studying Holistic Nutrition in 2003, I recalled that there was more that I could do. At that time, life's responsibilities took priority, and I didn't progress much in my holistic nutrition studies, but I knew there were tools and interventions available to assist me. I just needed to dedicate time to get the training to apply the right interventions correctly. In 2014, I began exploring alternative methods to manage these chronic conditions and finally succeeded in discontinuing the PPI in 2015 by using supplements that supported and soothed my gut lining. In 2018, I officially started studying Integrative and Functional Nutrition, an advanced, evidence-based, systems biology approach to health and healing that focuses on addressing the root causes of chronic conditions. This knowledge and training were exactly what I needed, and I had new hope for improving my health. At last, I had found a path to real solutions.

I discovered that Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) was linked to various conditions, including IBS, chronic rhinitis, and interstitial cystitis. After realizing my symptoms matched many SIBO symptoms, I took a SIBO test, which came back very positive for methane and hydrogen. In 2019, with my new Integrative and Functional nutrition training, I began a SIBO-specific diet and adhered to the SIBO eradication protocol. I used additional interventions to restore my gut lining and reduce inflammation. I have not experienced another IC flare-up since then.

I can enjoy citrus and spicy foods (yes, including chili and jerk chicken). And there's no longer a need for bladder instillations with that steroid solution! (Which was a terrible experience, by the way). I've also noticed additional benefits from improving my gut health. For instance, I no longer feel overwhelmed by pollen in the spring, and the chronic rhinitis has disappeared. I may take one Zyrtec on occasion, but that’s it.

It took a couple of tries to eradicate the SIBO, though. I had significant overgrowth and biofilm formers, including hidden candida that never showed up on my stool test. That was another experience altogether, which warrants a separate post.

I am extremely thankful to have benefited from education and training over the years, beginning as a dietitian, then incorporating wellness coaching to support sustainable lifestyle changes, and now focusing on integrative and functional nutrition. I am both astonished and grateful for these gifts of knowledge and how my own body has benefited.

What Comes Next

This is the BEST part of it all. Now I can help you!

Are you ready to:

• Talk with someone who gets what you are going through?

• Get some answers as to why your body reacts to certain foods and seems inflamed all the time?

• Be more confident with knowing what foods trigger symptoms and what food you can safely eat?

• Take control of your health by getting to the root cause of your chronic condition/GI issues?

• Start giving your body the tools it needs to begin to heal itself?

• Clear brain fog, reduce inflammation, increase energy, improve your mood, get rid of bloating, or improve your metabolism?

• Have someone support you on your journey with genuine empathy?

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