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

t was around 6 pm one spring evening in 2008. I made turkey chili for dinner. I love spicy food. About thirty minutes after eating it, I was in excruciating pain, as if someone had reached inside me and twisted my stomach and intestines. The pain came in agonizing waves. A friend from church, who happened to visit, found me in agony 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 saw a gastroenterologist who did an endoscopy. I was diagnosed with gastritis, and 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 next year or two, I gradually reduced the dosage until I could manage with the lowest available over-the-counter dose of PPI.

However, the underlying issues weren’t addressed. In 2010, a different gastroenterologist recommended gallbladder removal 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, I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis (IC) after having painful bladder spasms and frequent, painful urination after they ruled out a UTI. 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 eat because of these diagnoses began to grow: 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 desperate to stop taking the PPI (and attempted to do so several times), but discontinuing this medication was super challenging due to its rebound effect. I recall the Summer of 2011. There was a shortage of the PPI I took. 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 (the rebound effect).

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 unbearable and would incapacitate me for a day or two, then it would take 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 possibly damage to 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 the symptoms and overcome my health conditions, I had to understand their underlying causes. My body was telling me something. I needed to interpret that message more effectively. I needed deeper investigation. What imbalances in my body led to these issues? What were the necessary steps to address them? What initially contributed to the imbalance? What triggered the flare-ups? I had to identify upstream drivers and get to the root causes.

My Breakthrough!

Reflecting on my days studying for a PhD in Holistic Nutrition in 2003, I vaguely recalled there was more that I could do. Back then, life's responsibilities took priority, and I didn't progress much in my 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 and finally succeeded in discontinuing the PPI in June of 2015 by using supplements that supported my gut lining. That success caught my attention.

In 2018, I officially began 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. That knowledge was exactly what I needed. I felt hopeful about improving my health. I had found a path to real solutions. At last.

I learned 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 followed the SIBO eradication protocol. I also used additional interventions from my training to restore my gut lining and reduce inflammation.

I now enjoy citrus and spicy foods (yes, including chili and jerk chicken). And I no longer need 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. No more (unreal) combination of Zyrtec, Claritin, Mucinex-D, Benadryl, and Flonase. And no more steroid shots.

Even though many downstream symptoms (IC, chronic rhinitis, etc.) were reversed after my first SIBO treatment in 2019, it took more than one protocol to eradicate it. Mine was a complex case. I had significant organism overgrowth with biofilm formers, including hidden Candida that never showed up on my stool test. The combination of repeat antibiotics for recurrent ear infections from around 2011-2013, blocking stomach acid (and the resulting low stomach acid), slow motility (due to mineral and nutrient imbalances), chronic stress, adrenal exhaustion, and lack of sleep during the peri-menopausal years did a real number on my gut health on many levels. The complexity of my own case gave me vital knowledge for working with clients who also have complex cases.

I shudder to think what my health would be like if I hadn't learned these approaches that have so transformed my quality of life and well-being.

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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