IBS is a not a diagnosis of a condition but a syndrome - ie a collection of symptoms. SIBO IS a diagnosis however with up to 84% of IBS being caused by SIBO. The only way to know if you have SIBO for sure is with a SIBO breath test. You can order a test with us here.

You cannot go off symptoms alone. The only way to know if you have SIBO for sure is with a SIBO breath test. You can order a test with us here.

The breath test is the best test for SIBO. Specifically the 3 hour Lactulose SIBO breath test that measures for both Methane and Hydrogen dominant SIBO. The Lactulose SIBO breath test can also be used to get an indication of Hydrogen Sulfide SIBO. The Lactulose SIBO breath test is more accurate than the Glucose breath test as the glucose is absorbed high up in the small intestine and so may not identify SIBO in the lower parts of the small intestine.

You can also do the Trio Smart Test which measures for Methane, Hydrogen and Hydrogen Sulphide dominant SIBO. This test is currently only available in the US.

A SIBO breath test can tell you whether you have SIBO and what type of SIBO you have (Hydrogren, Methane of Hydrogen Sulphide SIBO).

If you order through us, we will also be able to get an indication of whether you have Large Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (LIBO) or an undergrowth of good bacteria in the large intestine (often with similar symptoms to SIBO).

My preference is to start with the Lactulose test. The glucose is absorbed higher up in the small intestine so if the bacterial overgrowth is in the end of the small intestine, it could be missed by the glucose SIBO breath test.

The Lactulose is absorbed in the large intestine, so not only gives a more accurate indication of SIBO, but can also be used to indicate issues in the large intestine - an overgrowth of bad bacteria (LIBO) or an undergrowth of good bacteria. Often issues in the large intestine have very similar symptoms to SIBO.

If there is a funny result with the Lactulose SIBO breath test (a complete flat line) and the results don't indicate Hydrogen Sulphide SIBO, it is possible that the patient is a non-lactulose fermenter (very rarely). In this case my next step would be to do a Glucose breath test.

Yes. Absolutely. You can order a SIBO Breath Test to do at home. This test will tell you if you have SIBO and what type of SIBO you have. You can order a SIBO test through us here.

You can test yourself for SIBO at home with a SIBO breath test. It's important that you get the right interpretation of your test results: you can get your test results interpreted by us for just $50, or order a test with results included. 

In my clinical experience, the SIBO breath test results almost always matches up with the symptoms the patient is experiencing.

When the SIBO breath test preparation and the test itself has been carried out correctly, I find the SIBO breath test to be accurate.

You can order a SIBO breath test directly from us no matter where in the world you are. You can order a SIBO test with us here.

A SIBO test with us costs $289USD. It's extremely important that you get the right interpretation of your results so that you can get the right treatment and get better, faster. We offer test interpretations for just $50USD.

Your healthcare provider, doctor and naturopath can order a SIBO breath test for you. You can also order a SIBO test yourself. However, it is important that you have a practioner experienced in SIBO interpret your results as SIBO breath test results are often misinterpreted leading to the wrong treatment. 

You can order a SIBO test and we can interpret your results correctly for you.

Potentially, if they know about SIBO. 

No, a stool test cannot detect SIBO as a stool test only looks at the large intestine. SIBO is a condition associated with the small intestine.

The SIBO breath test is the preferred method to test for SIBO.

A blood test cannot be used to diagnose SIBO. The SIBO breath test is the best way to test for SIBO.

There is no urine test for SIBO. The SIBO breath test is the best way to test for SIBO.

It can cause loose stools for those sensitive to Lactulose. The effects should not last more than 3 days. 

The SIBO breath test can cause diarrhoea for those sensitive to Lactulose. It can also cause constipation because you are eating a low fiber diet in the preparation of the SIBO test. These side effects should not last more than 3 days.

For the SIBO test you can drink water, or one very weak black coffee, or plain chicken or beef broth (without bones) in the 1-2 days before the SIBO test. 

You then need a 12 hour overnight fast where you can not eat or drink anything. You can have very small amounts of water if you must.

During the SIBO test, do not drink anything (even water). If you must have water have only very small sips as water can affect your transit time and dilute the lactulose solution affecting your test results.

In the SIBO test preparation diet (1-2 days before the test), a rule of thumb is to stay clear of any drink with calories. These calories can feed the bacteria in your intestines and interfere with your SIBO test results.

Bone broth contains substances that feed bacteria and so can interfere with your test results. 

Ideally you should not drink water during the SIBO breath test. Drinking water affects the transit time of your test and dilutes the lactulose solution affecting your test results.

If you have to drink during the test, try and take only very small sips of water.

No, you can not eat potatoes before a SIBO test. Potatoes contain fermentable fibres which could give a false reading of the SIBO test.

No, you can not eat white bread before a SIBO test. Although white bread is low FODMAP, it can still cause gut irritation / inflammation which can interfere with the test results.

Ideally you shouldn't brush your teeth before a SIBO test as it can interfere with the test results. Instead rinse your mouth out with water.

No you can not chew gum the day before a SIBO test. Even sugar-free gum contains sugar- alcohols in them which can interfere with your SIBO test results.

No you can not drink coffee before a hydrogen breath test. You need a complete 12 hour overnight fast before taking the SIBO breath test. During this 12 hour fast, you can only drink (a small amount of) water if you must.

Coffee can affect your digestive transit time which can affect test results.

You should avoid all foods in the 1-2 days before a SIBO test except for the following:

• Baked or broiled chicken, white fish or turkey

• Eggs

• Steamed Jasmine / Basmati (but only IF you have already been eating grains)

• Clear chicken or beef broth (check ingredients – must be nothing else in it, esp no onion or garlic)

• Olive oil or coconut oil (1 tsp only for cooking)

• Salt and pepper

• Water

You are then going to fast overnight for a minimum of 12 hours. You can drink water during this fast.

On waking don’t eat or drink anything. You can rinse out your mouth, but I would avoid toothpaste.

Move around for at least one hour, but no strenuous exercise.

Then you can begin the testing-testing.

No you can not eat or drink anything during the SIBO breath test. Even drinking water affects the transit time of your test and dilutes the lactulose solution affecting your test results.

If you have to drink during the test, try and take only very small sips of water.

A high baseline hydrogen breath test could potentially indicate large intestinal bacterial overgrowth (LIBO) if the baseline methane levels are high.

High baseline hydrogen breath tests can also mean incorrect test preparation e.g. if the person consumed food / drinks in the 1-2 days before the SIBO test which contained fermentable fibres or FODMAPS.

If you test positive for SIBO, you need to do SIBO treatment using one of the 3 SIBO treatment protocols:

1. Antibiotics (not recommended)

2. Herbal antimicrobials

3. Elemental diet

Herbal antimicrobials are my preferred treatment option as antimicrobials selectively kill the bacteria overgrowth, whereas antibiotics are not selective and can eradicate your microbiome (including your good bacteria).

The Elemental diet is my third line treatment option. I only use this protocol when I have tried with the antimicrobials twice and still not gotten results. The elemental diet protocol doesn't fix the rest of your digestive system - it is only focused on removing the bacterial overgrowth. With the antimicrobial protocol, you can simultaneously remove the overgrowth and work on repairing the gut lining (leaky gut) ,improving motility, optimising stomach acid levels, and rebuilding a healthy microbiome.

You can find out more about my SIBO treatment protocol and courses here: 

If SIBO is left untreated, it can get worse (ie the bacterial overgrowth increases) and further impair the function of our digestive system.

If the digestive system is not working well, we can not absorb nutrients in our food properly and may get malnourished. We may get lots of inflammation in our digestive system and end up with leaky gut. If we have leaky gut, the inflammation can spread to the rest of the body causing symptoms such as skin issues, brain fog, fatigue, headaches, anxiety, depression, aches and pains and more. Unresolved inflammation is at the bottom of all chronic health conditions e.g. diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimers etc.

You can treat your SIBO with one of our courses:

• Fix Your SIBO - a 12 week do-it-yourself course

• SIBO Freedom - a group coaching program

You can test for SIBO in Australia by ordering a SIBO breath test directly from us and we'll ship to you within a week. 

If your doctor is familiar with SIBO, they can order a SIBO test for you. The SIBO test is not covered by Medicare however.

You can order a SIBO breath test in Australia with us here.

The SIBO test is not covered by medicare but if you have private health insurance it might be covered.

We work with insurance providers worldwide who cover naturopathic care. You may be able to claim back on a SIBO test and even naturopathic consults.