SIBO = Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth

In my opinion, “SIBO” might as well be a curse word, because that’s how I can best describe it from my experience.

That little bugger took 3 months of tests and doctors to even discover what it was! At that time it was not nearly as known as it is today. For me, it came out of no where and felt like a giant slap in the face (or shall I say, gut) because it robbed my body of processing nutrients correctly, caused immense pain and bloating after eating, gave me a nice dose of brain fog, AND was kind enough to zap my energy as if I was a frail old lady!

It started in my late twenties and it felt sooo unfair!!! To be young and in the prime of my life, yet, spending hours in bed (and no, not in that way). It didn’t matter what small (physical) task I would set out to do, my little body would decide it was time for a nap. Vacuuming my apartment… nap… run an errand… nap… make some dinner... nap. It was awful. To be in pain or feel fatigue was one thing- but the fact that I’m not someone who enjoys sitting still made this whole process even WORSE. I used to be an avid runner, gym go-er, and rarely at home… until SIBO decided to show up.

I decided to forgo traditional treatment when the gastroenterologist I saw wanted to do an invasive procedure on me and dump Prilosec down my throat. No offense to the drug (I’m not against them) BUT I am leery when I see posters of that specific brand aaallll over the small room I was in. Suspicious.

To make a long story short, I decided to trust in God for my healing and went the natural route. I ended up working with a gentleman that practices Chinese medicine and received herbs on a bi-monthly basis that I made into a tea. I would drink that tea after every meal. I pulled HARD on my faith in God. It was a bit of a struggle, because I felt like He had abandoned me. I knew this thought was a complete lie, because the Lord Jesus is good, and has helped me COUNTLESS times throughout my life. I kept believing, praying, and asking for others to intercede with me. Little by little (which felt like snail speed at the time), my stomach started to calm down. First, the pain became dulled… then the bloating decreased… acne started to slowly disappear… and I began to absorb nutrients again and gain weight and strength!

Side note: I never would have thought I would be HAPPY to gain weight (especially because of my past eating disorder) but oh how sweet the victory of healing is! I knew I was set free from my past bulimia (approx. 8yrs ago) but there’s something to be said about being confronted with a demon of the past… and completely squashing it, without even trying! :)

Anyways, back to SIBO. While I’m still not 100% healed, I’m so so soooo close. I have my moments and issues, but overall grateful for where I am at today. I can eat almost any food I want, I just need to be mindful of the portion size. I’ve also learned what food sensitivities I have, how my body reacts to them, and how long it takes for my body to feel “normal” (or calm) again. Before eating these foods I often weigh the pros and cons (I mean, is it even worth it?!) or I plan in advance how to avoid them.

Besides having faith to heal, one of the biggest takeaways I’ve learned is the power of our words. Throughout this journey I refused to speak in agreement with the situation’s “potentials”. What I mean by this is that I would not use phrases like “I am sick”, refer to it as a “disease”, or accept that this was my “new way of living”. I learned first hand that it’s true what the Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21

I say all of this to say, you’re not alone. It’s a journey that will test your mind, body, spirit, and relationships. Be strong. You’ve got this! You WILL overcome! Below is a recap of my findings, I hope it helps you.

WHEN DEALING WITH SIBO:

• Ask for help!
  Whether it be laundry, walking your dog, picking up groceries- doesn’t matter! Ask a friend, a colleague, a neighbor- don’t be shy. Any decent human being will be willing to help someone who is clearly in need and grateful for help.

• Give yourself grace.
  Now is not the time to be your type-A perfectionistic self. Don’t even try to function at your “normal” level. Your body is busy processing and needs plenty of rest, give yourself a break.

• Create a food log or diary.
  In the beginning stages it’s crucial to learn how different foods effect you. By recording dates of foods eaten you will be able to reference any corresponding factors (bloating, constipation, cramping, etc.) and it will also serve as a tool for your doctor.

• Take away ALL temptations.
  Now is the time to trash any foods that you KNOW you have no business having in your home. Out of sight, out of mind. I mean it! It’s sad, it’s hard, but it’s worth it.

• Be honest with your friends.
  This is a big one, and it plays alongside the temptation comment. Tell your friends about your eating dilemma and ask to not make food the center of your time together. A true friend would not want to see you struggle. Perhaps you attend events together, have a movie night, or make food at home that you both can enjoy? Friendship shouldn’t center around what you are doing anyways, it should be more about the personal connection. If this process causes you to lose some friends, well then, they weren’t really there to begin with.

• Find new forms of entertainment.
  As I mentioned earlier, I used to be very active physically, but couldn’t do so when I was at my worst with SIBO. I had to find other ways to entertain myself that simultaneously allowed my body to rest. I discovered a love for podcasts, reading, painting, and researching random things on the internet were quite fun for me!

• Introspection is an understatement!
  I know you know what I mean. Living with SIBO can feel incredibly lonely at times. I’ve found that journaling, praying, and even crying helped! It forces you to spend a lot of time by yourself (and if you’re an extrovert like me, that can feel incredibly painful!!). Take the time to feel into your emotions, process the pain, and learn about yourself.

• Remind yourself this isn’t forever.
  Write affirmations, inspirational quotes, scriptures- whatever you need to feel motivated… and post them around your home! Disregard how silly it looks, because you’ll be surprised how many times a day you will read it and believe it.