FAQs about small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) - Online interview

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is when there's too many bugs in the gut, which produces symptoms such as wind (upper or lower), bloating and irregular bowel habits.

Here to provide further details about this uncomfortable condition and what can be done about it, is respected Edinburgh-based gastroenterologist Dr Ian Arnott. Watch this informative video to learn more.

00:00 What is SIBO?
00:32 What are symptoms for SIBO?
01:02 What are the causes?
02:06 How is SIBO tested for?
02:56 What is the difference between SIBO and IBS/IBD?
03:56 What is the treatment and how does life change afterwards?

[Ruktiet]

Dear Dr. Arnott,

Can I ask if you personally see certain specific food intolerances associated with diagnosed SIBO such as an intolerance to fermented foods or other foods which contain high amounts of biogenic mono- or diamines (hard cheeses, cured/smoked meat or fish, chocolate, tomato sauce, etc)? If so, does this improve upon treatment? I suffer from this and it’s completely ruining my life. It started after food poisoning, and I have anti-vinculin autoantibodies, which are a cause for the dysmotility in the small bowel, specifically the migrating motor complex, that you were talking about.

Thank you in advance.

[flukeskydiver]

Isn't it done with lactulose, not lactose?

[Hana-F]

I have been told that doctors don't use the breath test anymore as it wasn't very accurate??

[kumaralok]

What should be recommended if Rifaximine don't work for SIBO ?

[waygo]

With small microphones that we could attach to her shirt, no one should make a video without a small microphone attachment. Too much extraneous noise and echoing. Please invest in a good shirt attached microphone.