Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

http://www.gsdl.com/assessments/finddisease/indigestion/bacterial_overgrowth.html
http://www.aboutibs.org/Publications/bacteria.html

Hello there,

I am posting 2 links about bacterial overgrowth and would just like to add my own personal story.

Having had chronic diarrhea for over 5 years now, I have had EVERY test going (well almost, the breath test mentioned in the article is what I plan to take and it will be the last test I do!). Having had a horrific bout of diarrhea this February and dropping to 41kg, I reached the end of my tether (we've all been there) and started doing my own research. I found some articles on Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth and decided to ask my gasteroenterlogist (incidentally I live in France and haven't had much success with doctors here) if I could try treatment. I had also had a stool test which had found blastocystis hominis (a parasite which is not meant to be harmful in most people but I figured that getting rid of it may help) so I embarked on a course of anti-biotics and anti-parisitic medicine.
I HATE anti-biotics and have always read how awful they are for the digestive system but I was prepared to take the risk. I often think that my problems started when I took my first course of anti-biotics here in France at the age of 25 without taking probiotics at the same time.

Anyway, the results?? Well, over ten days after treatment (followed by anti-candida drugs (fluconazole), I no longer have loose stools and if anything they are hard (pellet like- sorry to be so graphic). I go to the toilet every morning (and sometimes again in the day) and I have NO symptoms of gurgling, cramps, gas (well, not as much) etc.
SO FAR, (and it's still early days) I consider the treatment to have been a success. I have to also add that I have cut out all gluten and milk products (though I can tolerate hard sheeps cheese) and I no longer eat any sugar, apart from a bit of honey and one piece of fruit a day.

I don't know how many of you have had the D-xylose or lactulose breath test but I am certainly going to take in in a few months or so to moniter my progress. At the moment I think that there could be something in this bacterial overgrowth theory (and I have given both view on it in the links) and though antibiotics may have been the cause of all my problems, they may strangely end up being the cure too!

I'd welcome all your views and personal experiences,

Claire

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