Sometimes the body heals naturally, resolving digestive issues without treatment. However, that is not how SIBO works. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth causes abdominal pain, bloating, nutrient deficiencies, and brain fog that can often appear as a co-infection of Lyme disease and other conditions. It can stick around until personalized, targeted treatment is received. Action is necessary to reclaim your health.
The body is a miraculous machine that can often heal digestive issues when they arise. So, when many patients are told they have Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, or SIBO, they hope that with time and maybe a slight change in diet, the gut will heal on its own. Unfortunately, the abdominal pain, bloating, and other digestive changes continue to persist—or worsen.
What most do not realize is that the longer they wait for treatment, the more complicated the condition becomes.
This article examines the reality patients face and whether or not SIBO can resolve on its own.
What is SIBO?
SIBO is a condition that can appear in people of all ages, including kids. It occurs when the bacteria found in the large intestine begin to overgrow in the small intestine, where they aren’t supposed to be. The result of this new settlement? An imbalance that can throw off the entire digestive system, including the way the body absorbs nutrients. Symptoms like gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain become everyday occurrences. And, eventually, signs of nutrient deficiencies begin to appear. This gut disruption can impair the immune system and cause chronic inflammation that may lead to a significant decline in life quality.
Are you suffering from SIBO? Like many others, maybe you have thought you had an intolerance to a certain food or perhaps an allergy. Maybe you or your doctor has considered it a case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS. Or, perhaps your doctor has dismissed or misdiagnosed you entirely.
As professionals who have treated many patients with SIBO, we want you to understand that it should never be ignored.
Will SIBO Resolve Naturally?
Most digestive issues do tend to resolve on their own. Every day, people experience common signs that something is going on in the gut, like stomach upset, gas, and diarrhea. And, they tend to disappear as quickly as they appear. So, it would make sense that the symptoms of SIBO would do the same, especially when you haven’t been diagnosed yet.
Here’s what you need to know—SIBO is not a momentary issue. Your immune system is not likely to fight it off as the bacteria take up residency in the small intestine. Without proper treatment by an experienced medical professional, patients run the risk of malnutrition or long-term gastrointestinal damage. Symptoms can become more persistent and much more severe.
But what makes this so different from other digestive issues?
Why Does SIBO Require Treatment?
Believe it or not, there are a few things that set SIBO apart from various other gastro issues that resolve or improve without medical intervention. Let’s take a look.
Functional Disruption
The foods you eat, as well as bacteria, move their way through the small intestine and down into the large intestine, through a process known as the migrating motor complex (MMC). When it isn’t working, well—that’s when things can start backing up. For instance, bacteria. SIBO just cannot go away when the system isn’t functioning properly.
Nutrient Fulfillment
The bacteria that remain in the small intestine are in luck, as this area of the digestive tract is rich in nutrients and partially digested food. In other words, they have everything they need to fully thrive. And, since the MMC isn’t sending it on its way, all that is left to do is flourish.
Underlying Conditions
SIBO is often found alongside other health conditions, like Lyme disease, Crohn’s disease, and hypothyroidism—even with scar tissue from old surgeries. What makes this so concerning is that doctors are often treating the disease without looking for or treating SIBO. And, well, it continues to grow and spread.
What’s more, the symptoms of the bacterial buildup in the small intestine are often thought to be due to the primary illness and treated as such. As a result, their root cause remains untreated.
The Importance of Proper Treatment
Although SIBO will not disappear on its own, some patients can experience temporary relief of symptoms, giving false hope. This is typically due to dietary changes. See, patients show up to their doctor appointments with complaints of gastrointestinal upset. The response usually includes a suggestion of cutting out certain foods, such as high FODMAP foods. In turn, the severity of symptoms declines.
The problem? You aren’t treating it. It’s like mopping up the water from a leaky pipe without ever fixing the leak. It may look dry for a short time, but the puddles will come back. And, do you know what happens when you leave SIBO untreated?
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Weightloss
- Chronic pain and discomfort from GI symptoms
Finally, because there is a direct connection between the gut and the brain, an overflow of bacteria in the small intestine is bound to affect the mind. Persistent systemic symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and mood changes appear.
How We Approach SIBO at Lyme Mexico
Gastro issues are common and most will clear up within a few days. SIBO is different. Without addressing it directly and getting to its root cause, the condition will linger and wreak havoc on your health.
At Lyme Mexico, we have seen how the right testing, treatments, and personalized care can transform the lives of patients. We have seen people show up at our clinic after suffering for months, even years, without any lasting relief from SIBO. And it is reflected in their declining health. Travel outside the country, such as outside the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, or New Zealand and find alternate treatments that will give you relief.
With the right care, relief comes. Life is no longer filled with bloating, pain, or unpredictable digestion, but rather hope for healing and the future.
Time is precious—don’t waste it waiting for your gastrointestinal issues to clear up on their own. Instead, reach out for the help you need to take back control of your body. If you or someone you love has been dealing with SIBO, contact us today for lasting relief once and for all.
Schedule a consultation and become a patient today.