Gluten sensitivity...or SIBO??

SnuggleSmacks

So, several people I know have been having some digestive upsets lately...lots of painful gas, fairly frequent bathroom trips after eating, that kind of thing. And at least one of those people has decided that she is "gluten sensitive" and must now very loudly proclaim her gluten sensitivity to anyone who will listen and talk incessantly about expensive gluten free breads and pastas. Fortunately, with other friends, cooler heads prevailed and other options are being looked at.

But it reminded me that once, I had these issues, to a very painful degree for years. I was nearly diagnosed with IBS because of it. I went on a low-carb diet for other reasons (getting hypoglycemia under control) and it completely fixed my problem, and I haven't experienced those horrific painful issues again, even after reintruducing carbs, and even eating seitan, which is pure gluten. So obviously, I'm not gluten sensitive, nor do I have IBS.

I started looking for what the issue could have actually been, and I stumbled upon SIBO...an overgrowth of beneficial or non-beneficial bacteria in the small intestine. Apparently it's an extremely common problem, and the cure is the SIBO diet...a low carb diet, which includes a few legumes. Exactly what I was eating for my hypoglycemia, and which fixed my digestive problems.

So my beloved and I have decided to experiment with the low-carb diet for a week, to see if it eases his digestive issues, and because I'm finally starting to feel the first twinges of those issues coming back (10 years later).

But it got me to wondering...how many people do you think believe they are gluten sensitive because they had these digestive issues and cut out wheat products, felt better, and assumed it was the gluten, when in reality it was this very common bacterial overgrowth?

BTW...that temporary diet 10 years ago also mostly fixed the hypoglycemia as well, which should not be medically possible, as far as I know, but I haven't had an episode of plunging blood sugar since. I wonder if that has to do with gut flora as well?

KHaverstick

Never heard of SIBO. For me, though, it's probably not the case. My issues with gluten are mostly severe joint pain, not GI issues. And I don't eat low-carb, just gluten-free, and it solves my problem.

JPW1990

I'm long term keto because of some bad food reactions, some digestive, some inflammation, but none are due to gluten. The symptoms I have just as easily come from foods which are gluten free, as well as some that aren't. I still have to go out of my way to explain it to people, because they just assume I mean "gluten free", especially if I'm dealing with someplace like urgent care or a hospital.

From there, I'd extrapolate that there are probably people who have been steered in the gluten direction when the issue lies somewhere else, just because it seems like the easiest answer.

mccindy72

It's become a craze lately, and people do tend to jump on the bandwagon. They are two different conditions, and two different diets. Myself, I have Celiac diseae, so I cannot have any contact with gluten at all, even to the point of cooking utensils, or kissing my hubs after he's eaten gluten. SIBO is a newer diagnosis that docs are just starting to recognize in a more widespread way, and using the FODMAP diet.
The problem is there are so many people that have decided that gluten-free is a diet option for weight loss or a 'healthy' lifestyle choice, it can create problems for those of us who need the safety of careful food preparation. Being asked "preference or allergy?" in a restaurant makes me nervous, because less care is taken if it's a preference; they just use a gluten-free product and don't cook in a special area or with special utensils or preparation.

SnuggleSmacks

mccindy72 wrote: »

It's become a craze lately, and people do tend to jump on the bandwagon. They are two different conditions, and two different diets. Myself, I have Celiac diseae, so I cannot have any contact with gluten at all, even to the point of cooking utensils, or kissing my hubs after he's eaten gluten. SIBO is a newer diagnosis that docs are just starting to recognize in a more widespread way, and using the FODMAP diet.
The problem is there are so many people that have decided that gluten-free is a diet option for weight loss or a 'healthy' lifestyle choice, it can create problems for those of us who need the safety of careful food preparation. Being asked "preference or allergy?" in a restaurant makes me nervous, because less care is taken if it's a preference; they just use a gluten-free product and don't cook in a special area or with special utensils or preparation.

Exactly. It reminds me of my fast food teenaged days when people would ask for fries with no salt just so we'd have to cook fresh fries...and then they would ask for salt packets to put on the fries.

Honestly, I can't imagine anyone choosing to be gluten free who didn't have to be, like those of you with celiac's...it can be VERY difficult to avoid, and is even in things you wouldn't think about, like soy sauce. So for those who are having issues, a diagnosis of SIBO would be by far preferable, wouldn't it? It's a restrictive diet, but it's temporary, and more often than not, you can go back to eating normally after a while.

I'm finding it difficult to plan out my week's worth of low-carbing just because I now have a kitchen full of pasta and rice. But I'm determined to be a supportive girlfriend, and I really think that it will do me some good as well, so I'm doing it.

liekewheeless

If going gluten free solves a problem (whether it's from actual gluten or some other part of the food you are avoiding), why not? But, getting an actual and accurate diagnoses if at all possible will help much more. There may be an allergy that doesn't include everything in the gluten group. Also, yes, gluten free products are more expensive, but why are you buying gluten free pasta? Or gluten free bread? There are a lot of other food options out there.

I was allergic to a lot of things for a long time, I just had to eat other things. So no pasta for me, no chocolate for me, no peanuts for me and no cake for me. I got lucky and can now eat these things in moderation. I know not getting to eat things you love sucks but it doesn't have to be expensive.

edited: I'm not referring to anyone specifically with "you", more of a general statement.

cheshirecatastrophe

I thought the cure for SIBO was antibiotics?

SnuggleSmacks

cheshirecatastrophe wrote: »

I thought the cure for SIBO was antibiotics?

The antibiotic of choice for this issue is rifaximin, which is prohibitively expensive, and not currently approved by most insurance companies to treat SIBO. It also has a high occurrence of relapse.

mccindy72

SnuggleSmacks wrote: »

mccindy72 wrote: »

It's become a craze lately, and people do tend to jump on the bandwagon. They are two different conditions, and two different diets. Myself, I have Celiac diseae, so I cannot have any contact with gluten at all, even to the point of cooking utensils, or kissing my hubs after he's eaten gluten. SIBO is a newer diagnosis that docs are just starting to recognize in a more widespread way, and using the FODMAP diet.
The problem is there are so many people that have decided that gluten-free is a diet option for weight loss or a 'healthy' lifestyle choice, it can create problems for those of us who need the safety of careful food preparation. Being asked "preference or allergy?" in a restaurant makes me nervous, because less care is taken if it's a preference; they just use a gluten-free product and don't cook in a special area or with special utensils or preparation.

Exactly. It reminds me of my fast food teenaged days when people would ask for fries with no salt just so we'd have to cook fresh fries...and then they would ask for salt packets to put on the fries.

Honestly, I can't imagine anyone choosing to be gluten free who didn't have to be, like those of you with celiac's...it can be VERY difficult to avoid, and is even in things you wouldn't think about, like soy sauce. So for those who are having issues, a diagnosis of SIBO would be by far preferable, wouldn't it? It's a restrictive diet, but it's temporary, and more often than not, you can go back to eating normally after a while.

I'm finding it difficult to plan out my week's worth of low-carbing just because I now have a kitchen full of pasta and rice. But I'm determined to be a supportive girlfriend, and I really think that it will do me some good as well, so I'm doing it.

I certainly wouldn't choose it (going gluten free). The smell of bread drives me crazy! And there is gluten in so many things that people don't think of..... as you mentioned, soy sauce, and broths, soups, any product with modified food starch.... It's a horrible game going grocery shopping or out to eat.

hesn92

What kind of issues does it cause? Does it cause constipation? I am having that problem and I've decided to experiment. I'm currently not eating dairy. It's cleared up my face (I have bad acne 99% of the time) so I may just stay off of dairy forever. I'll drink a glass of milk in a few weeks and see what happens

hesn92

But dairy doesn't appear to have any affect on my digestion

SnuggleSmacks

Here's from WebMD:

Excess wind
Abdominal bloating and distension
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Abdominal pain
When the overgrowth is severe and prolonged, the bacteria may interfere with the digestion and the absorption of food, so that deficiencies of vitamins and minerals may develop. Patients may also lose weight. Patients with SIBO sometimes also report symptoms that are unrelated to the gastrointestinal tract, such as body aches or fatigue. The symptoms of SIBO tend to be chronic. A typical patient with SIBO can experience symptoms that fluctuate in intensity over months, years or even decades before a diagnosis is made.


This is why my docs were trying to diagnose IBS, but I don't think IBS is curable with diet. I can't even say for sure it was SIBO, but whatever it was, it was debilitating, chronic, and lasted for years, and was completely reversed through a low-carb diet for roughly 4-6 months.

cheshirecatastrophe

SnuggleSmacks wrote: »

cheshirecatastrophe wrote: »

I thought the cure for SIBO was antibiotics?

The antibiotic of choice for this issue is rifaximin, which is prohibitively expensive, and not currently approved by most insurance companies to treat SIBO. It also has a high occurrence of relapse.

Thanks!

I am mainly familiar with SIBO via...communities attracted to the idea of a restrictive diet claiming it as a justification for said restrictive diets, and other people pointing out the antibiotic treatment. They do usually say it takes a couple of go-rounds.

I have IBS. It can be controlled through diet and stress management for some lucky people. You can either do a rolling FODMAP elimination diet under medical guidance, or figure out what your triggers are on your own and eliminate them. Or you can have Calvinball for guts, and the rules change every day...

SnuggleSmacks

Yeah, the few studies I've found on SIBO treatments seem to put long-term probiotics and diet about even with several rounds of antibiotics (because it seems to never take just one). The long-term repercussions and side effects of antibiotic use are a lot more serious than any possible side-effects of probiotics and low-carb, FODMAPS or GAP diets...so it might take longer, but overall the scales tip in favor of diet/probiotics.

ana3067

I eat gluten-free. I also eat high carb. No issues for me eating high carb. I'd rather continue being GF while eating higher carb and GF alternatives than eat low-carb lol.

SnuggleSmacks

ana3067 wrote: »

I eat gluten-free. I also eat high carb. No issues for me eating high carb. I'd rather continue being GF while eating higher carb and GF alternatives than eat low-carb lol.

It's a lot harder than it would seem. I'm used to eating pasta often, and rice moderately often. Potatoes and bread, not as much, but often enough to miss them. Still, it's only a week, and if it helps my sweetheart feel better, then it's well worth it.