How to test for SIBO: What test you need and where to get it.

How to test for SIBO.   One of the most common questions I get.

Another would be how do I know if I have SIBO?   My answer?  Test for SIBO.

 

New to me and SIBO, I explain it here:  “What is SIBO and is it the reason you’re bloated?

 

If you suspect, but aren’t really sure, I can’t recommend doing the test for SIBO enough.

Especially if you’re trying to figure this all out on your own.

 

When working to heal your gut you’re either going to have to invest one of two things:

Time or Money.

 

Just like when I was starting my own online business.  I didn’t have a lot of money, so I spent a lot of time.

I don’t how many hours I invested into learning how to build a website!

The outcome?

A pretty okay website.  I was rather proud of myself.

But not overly proud of my website, you could tell it was done by an amateur, not a professional.

So then when I had some money I invested in a design expert and got a website overhaul.  I now have a website I am a gazillion times happier with.

And it was done in a week vs my two months.

And it was such a simple process (on my end at least!).

I wasn’t frustrated.  I wasn’t overwhelmed.

Awesome result.

I’m very happy I made the investment.

 

Time Investment

If you don’t want to spend money but will invest your time, the information is out there.

I share quite a lot here on my site, and in my newsletters.

And there’s others that do too:

Jason Hawrelak is one of my idols in the Gut World, he has a site called Probioticadvisor.com.

Dr Alison Siebecker is another, one of the original SIBO experts.

Dr Nirala Jacobi too, she has a podcast I love listening to, The SIBO Doctor.

And then I’m also a huge fan of fellow foodie Rebecca Coomes.   The author of the world’s first SIBO cookbooks.

 

If you’d rather invest your time in other things, I recommend investing in working with a SIBO expert.  Not just a digestion expert, ie a gastroenterologist, but a SIBO expert.

Effective treatment is way more than just following the FODMAP diet.

You’ll save yourself a lot of stress and frustration.   And you’ll almost definitely save yourself money in the long run too.

 

Save some money

But one way to save some money and eliminate some options is to test for SIBO before going to see said expert.

Because we’re going to ask you to do it.   I absolutely would anyway.

Studies show that up to 84% of people having IBS symptoms have SIBO as the underlying cause.   So if someone comes to me with bloating, constipation or diarrhoea, all of the above or any of the above I will order a SIBO Test.

 

Through consultation and asking specific and targeted questions there is A LOT I can figure out about what’s happening in the body without having to order a test.

Ie, if you’re talking a million miles an hour, slumping at 3pm, struggling to fall asleep, waking at 3am, then struggling to get out of bed in the morning I know your adrenals need some love.   I don’t need a test to tell me that.

 

Why it’s important to test for SIBO

But with SIBO, firstly you need to know for sure if it’s SIBO or not.

Then if it is you need to know what kind you’re dealing with, ie “hydrogen dominant SIBO” or “methane dominant SIBO”.

Important to know if SIBO or not, because if it is you need to be very specific and a little hardcore with treatment to clear it (herbal anti microbial and antibacterials).

If it’s not you have so many more treatment options available to you that you would otherwise have to avoid if you have SIBO.

 

Type of SIBO

And then with the type of SIBO (hydrogen vs methane dominant) your choice of herbal protocols would differ.   Ie Allimax is more specific for methane dominant SIBO, whereas Berberine containing herbs are more specific for hydrogen dominant SIBO.

 

Can’t I just go by symptoms?

You can do anything you like!   But I don’t recommend it.

I had alllll the classic symptoms of SIBO.

I looked 6 months pregnant within 1-3 hours after eating anything.

I would wake up with a flat stomach and have gone up a dress size by the evening.

I was pretty constipated, without help I would go 2 – 3 times per week (this was also partly due to the fact that I was pretty much surviving off chicken and eggs at that point.  They were literally the only things I could tolerate.  No fibre = no poop).

So with all that I had multiple food intolerances.

I was also extreeeemely fatigued.   I would crawl into bed every moment I could.

I had itchy skin too, but I put that down to my parasites!

You can read more about my story on my About Me page.

 

So anyway, I tell you this because if I had gone by my symptoms I would’ve assumed I had “methane dominant SIBO”.

(constipation is common with methane dominant SIBO, diarrhoea more so with hydrogen dominant SIBO)

But I didn’t!   My hydrogen numbers were off the charts.

And so from having done the test for SIBO I was able to tailor my treatment plan and get effective results (I cleared my SIBO within 3 months with a combination of fasting and anti-microbials).

 

How to Test for SIBO

I always start with the lactulose test (in some cases I might order the glucose and fructose as well, but I always start with the lactulose).

That’s lactulose, not lactose.  

Very different.

Anyone can order a test from us and we ship kits out worldwide.

You can order a SIBO Test from me here.

There's also a little online quiz on my website that you can do.   Will give you estimation of your likelihood of having SIBO. 

I recently presented a webinar on the method I use for treating SIBO, and talk about the top 3 things you have to get right if you want to successfully over come it.

…and how to do that without the stress, the overwhelm or the frustration…

“Bloated to Brilliant:  How to Naturally Beat IBS / SIBO and Start Feeling Better in 7 Days or Less.”

You can access the replay here.

 

So what to do if you want to know if you have SIBO?  Test for SIBO!

It’ll take away so many unknowns and you can plan your treatment accordingly when you have the result.

Again, anyone can order themselves a test kit directly from me: SIBO Test + Results.   Anytime anywhere.

Close

50% Complete

Two Step

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.