Hi i am currently looking for a clinic to help me with my symptoms:

Been suffering from IBS symptoms for about a year as a half initially started as constipation but has now transitioned into:

- loose unformed motions (but not dihaorea however you spell it
- Incomplete bowel movements
- due to incomplete bowel movements I feel lethargic and constantly bloated
- weak urge to pass bowel movement

Been to see the doctor and referred to specialist for sigmoidscopy and mri scan and been through the normal protocol of more fibre antispasmodics below is list of things ive tried:

-mebeverive, buscopan, peppermint oil tabs (entric coated)
-yoga
-acupuncture
-colonics (as we spoke over the phone)
-recently taken york test and has shown the following igg reactive foods (cows milk, egg yolk/white, wheat, cashew, chicken, gluten, peanut, yeast) i elimiated these foods been about 11 days but no difference.
- coconut oil, oregano oil (tried for a week no difference so stopped)
- serotonin 5htp tried for few days no difference so stopped

My diet consists of rice, cooked veg and a protein source normally lentils, beans or fish and that is it with occasional chips.

Nothing seems to be working over the year and a half and interesting point is the only time I found normal movement was when I took apple cider vinegar, and next day I went fine, also the following day I went fine but then the problem returned. I thought problem maybe related to either acid in stomach so supplement with lemon in hot water but that didn’t work.

Few months on I thought Id try activia as I was desperate so I bought actimel and all the probiotics drinks from tesco although I didn’t get formed stools I found after few days that I was completely eliminating which got rid of the bloat but as usual problem returned few days after.

With regards to stress I don’t feel stressed, this condition is what Is making me stress really.

Tests that have caught my eye are the following not sure whether the metamatrix one is better seems to be testing more bacteria though:

GDX - Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis 2.0 + Parasitology (CDSA2.0+P)™ (£277)
www.gdx.uk.net/index.php?option=com_gpan...k=view&nav=doc&id=64

Intestinal Permeability Test (£94)
www.gdx.uk.net/index.php?option=com_gpan...k=view&nav=doc&id=67

GI Effects Complete Profile - Stool (unsure on price and has to be ordered by practitioner)
www.metametrix.com/test-menu/profiles/ga...ects?t=clinicianInfo


Right now i think i maybe suffering from leaky gut or sibo, anyone with expertise shed some light on this?

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your IBS and lack of results with treatments so far. All of us here have been in that situation at one time or another so you're in good company

The first thing I notice is that you only say "more fibre". Fibre is more complicated than most people realise. There are two main types of fibre - soluble and insoluble - and this is a particularly important distinction in IBS. Most sufferers find that insoluble fibre can be very irritating to the gut and do better by limiting it. Sources of insoluble fibre in the diet include brown rice and vegetables and fruit with their skins/peels and seeds retained. Take a look at this article for more info - An Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diet: Is There Such a Thing?

I also notice that you gave up on things quite quickly. The York Test identifies IgG reactions to food. IgG is a type of antibody that hangs around in the body for a long time so you will need to keep excluding the identified foods for considerably longer than 11 days to see major improvements (improvement is not gauranteed of course). Coconut oil and oregano oil are both antimicrobials and are usually used to help kill off Candida/yeast, undesirable bacteria, and parasites - again it will take far longer than a week for this to have a major impact. You need to be patient with these things. Try to do lots of research on how treatments you try are intended to help as you will find many need to be stuck to for prolonged periods to be effective.

Interesting that the apple cider vinegar and probiotic drinks both helped, at least at first. Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) and SIBO often occur together since one of the jobs of stomach acid is to kill bacteria high up the digestive tract. Leaky gut more often than not also occurs with SIBO or other gut dysbiosis - so you I think you have all the major pieces together.

The tests you mention would certainly be useful. I can't tell you which of the Genova or Metametrix stool analyses is the better unfortunately as I have only had the Genova one myself. For me that was very useful for pointing to problem areas in my gut. I would do that and the IP test and also consider urinary organic acid tests and a hydrogren/methane breath test for SIBO (the official way to diagnose it).

Good luck and please let us know how you get on and if you have any other questions!

Take care.

Hi

Thank you for getting back to me, yes i am aware of soluable fibre and insoluable fibre, i was taking psyllium husk but it didnt eradicate the problem am facing as its soluable.

ive got to make a choice this week as to where am getting tested either drs data, gdx or metamatrix there is a clinic in london called www.ibs-solutions.co.uk/ that use drs data.

or a clinic in befordshire www.holisticcoloncare.com/ that use gdx if you have any suggestions for me it would be very helpful as to which way you think i should progress. As i am desperate in getting to the bottom of this issue.

With regards to the igg test i am still on it and its been 2 weeks on the strict diet but i havent noticed much improvement.

please see here to compare the tests, the metametrix one seems more thorough but i cant find a clinican that uses this test:
www.metametrix.com/test-menu/profiles/ga...ects?t=clinicianInfo

www.gdx.uk.net/index.php?option=com_gpan...k=view&nav=doc&id=64

Thank you

Hi,

The Genova and Metametrix stool tests are very similar and provide pretty much the same information. The only notable difference seems to be that Metametrix now use a DNA-detection technique known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect anerobic microbes (which can't be cultured as they die when exposed to air/oxygen). However, I don't think this information is particularly useful in terms of treatment at the moment.

I'm not sure what Doctors Data do in terms of stool testing but they are a very good lab and highly rated by a lot of doctors I have spoken to or been a patient of.

From what you've told me you are looking in all the right areas to try to get to the bottom of your IBS symptoms so see what comes out of stool and IP testing and then you'll know the factors you need to address. The great thing about the stool tests is they provide information on gut microbiology, gut immunity, digestion, absorption and more. Definitely worthwhile doing when you have IBS.

I would also pursue getting a hydrogen/methane breath test, either through your GP, private clinic, or both, to confirm or rule out SIBO. Dr, Mark Pimentel in California has had a lot of success treating SIBO in IBS patients with specific antibiotics such as rifaximin, which only affect bacteria in the small intestine (leaving the colon untouched) and are not absorbed into the bloodstream.

Good luck!

hi maff,

youve been a great help!

1)you mention IP testing what is this exactly?

2)also i thought bad bacteria was anerobic so wouldnt this test be the one that is required?

3)do you know any private clinics in midlands i can get test for sibo? the GP have not been a great help for me and ive kind of lost faith in them?!!!

No problem, glad I have been of some help

1. Sorry, should have explained that! IP is just an abbreviation for intestinal permeability with increased intestinal permeability being the medical/research term for leaky gut, or leaky gut syndrome.

2. It's not as clear cut as that since SIBO is often thought of as growth of normal bacteria where there should not be such growth i.e. the small intestine. You're absolutely right though and the majority of bacteria are in fact anerobic. Having said that the Genova CDSA looks at levels of beneficial bacteria and many pathogenic strains and this, combined with the various other markers, can give a good idea of the state of the gut microflora as a whole. So I guess the conclusion would be that yes, the Metametrix test is more comprehensive, but the Genova CDSA or equivalent from other labs can still be very useful.

3. You're not alone losing faith with a GP for sure! I don't know of a private clinic in the Midlands unfortunately. However, most clinics/doctors who work in this area will use Biolab for such testing. Biolab is located in London but I have just discovered they are now offering a kit so you can perfrom the SIBO hydrogen & methane breath test yourself at home (I will be using this myself now!). The page you want to look at on the Biolab website is http://www.biolab.co.uk/index.php/cmsid__biolab_test/Breath_Hydrogen_&_methane_%28small_intestinal_bacteria%29

You could also always ask Biolab (and the other labs) about clinics in the Midlands

Let me know what you decide to do and keep me updated on your progress!