Majority of articles I have read and lectures I have listened to, stress how difficult it is to treat SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth). Healing SIBO takes a lot more effort than we all assume, therefore we complain when we realize we are in over our heads. I was in this boat a few months ago.I think that it is not that SIBO is difficult to treat, SIBO is simply different, not difficult. The American approach to ailments is โgive me a pill and make it go awayโ. SIBO does not work like that because if affects not only the small intestine, but other organs around it and it causes a long list of symptoms that may not seem related to it. So it is important to get out of the mindset that healing SIBO is difficult, because we do get what we expect. Rather, we should have a serious game-plan of how to heal SIBO. SIBO requires a full scale game plan that includes healing protocols for all parts of the body that are affected by the condition.
Personal experience:
I found out that I had SIBO in the beginning of 2017 after deciding to visit a naturopathic doctor because my regular doctor was not giving me answers to an increasing list of symptoms. All she did was order more and more blood tests and prescribe more and more medication each visit. When the naturopathic doctor found SIBO, I decided on antibiotics and followed those with 2 months of the fodmaps diet, an eating regimen that reduces the amount of foods that are purely absorbed in the small intestine. A few months later, I realized that my symptoms were returning and took another test that came back positive, only this time with both types of SIBO, methane and hydrogen. I realized that I needed to take a different approach to heal my SIBO. These are some of the mistakes I made the first time around.
1.Not prepared
- This means a lot more than you may think. If you thought mental preparation, you are right, if you thought financial preparation you are right, if you thought physical preparation, you are right. The biggest mistake I made when starting to heal my SIBO was not knowing what exactly I am getting myself into. I was not prepared for the effort that it required, I was not prepared for how much money SIBO healing protocol would cost and I most certainly was not prepared for the physical effects my body had while I was trying to heal the condition. Preparation is key.
- I was not prepared for the type of commitment SIBO healing was. I thought I would treat it once and it would go away. Little did I know, that this was a very long journey that required a lot of will and patience.
2.Get educated
The second biggest mistake I made was not knowing anything. I did not know what SIBO really was and what it really did to the body and what other parts of the body are affected by it other than the small intestine.
3.What else I had:
The third mistake I made was not know what other ailments I was suffering from. When I found out I had SIBO, I went head first in trying to heal it without considering that my body had more than one problem. I had issues with my health for a while and I very much wanted to find THE PROBLEM that would get rid of all the symptoms, discomfort and pain. When I realized that SIBO had most of the symptoms I was suffering from. I closed everything else off and focused just on SIBO. BIG MISTAKE. When SIBO was gone after the first treatment, I was better but not 100%, so began researching and testing what else I could have and BINGO, I found that I had H-pylori, which I have had a long history with, gastritis, and candida overgrowth. I then realized that each of these help the others thrive and to be able to fully heal my body, I needed to have a full fledged attack on all 4 at the same time and be mentally prepared for what is to come.
4.Listen to my body
- The fourth mistake I made was not have a relationship with my body. I simply did not listen or understand my body. I pushed and pushed and pushed and even when my body would give me signals and signs, I simply did not know how to interact or interpret those signs. I had been in a state of pain and discomfort for so long, I simply did not know how to listen to my bodyโs communication. It had been complaining for so long, I had to learn to listen to itโs grievances. This only happened after finishing the first SIBO treatment and knowing what living a semi-painless life meant. During this short period of time without SIBO, I was able to start listening, learning and understanding when my body did not agree with something.
Related Posts:
4 ways you MUST prepare for the SIBO healing journey.
5 things that helped heal my SIBO.
Discussion question: What mistakes did you make while treating SIBO?
