Dealing with SIBO: Any advice?
in Health ·
steeljackal7 said:Has anyone done SIBO testing in Chicago lately? Google keeps suggesting the Amruš Clinic. Does anyone have experience there? I'd love to know about pricing, if it actually helped, what the test is like, etc..
Hi there. I was at the Amruš Clinic recently for a GI consult and a SIBO test.
I've been dealing with gastritis and then IBS for years now. A few months back, my gut pain got really intense for almost two months, which is why I finally went in. After going through my history and some questions, the doctor at the clinic concluded it was post-infectious IBS. He ordered a bunch of stool and blood work. Everything came back clear, except for SIBO—specifically an IMO (intestinal methanogen overgrowth).
The test costs about $60 and takes two hours. You just drink a certain liquid and blow into a tube every 15 minutes. That’s pretty much it.
After reviewing everything, the doctor suggested taking Duloxetine 4 for 4-6 weeks before a follow-up. The idea is to manage the pain and influence serotonin, since 90% of it is produced in the gut. Honestly? I wasn't thrilled about starting that, especially since the pain had already subsided.
But when the pain flared up again recently, I went back to him. I asked how we could treat the actual cause instead of just masking the symptoms. He then recommended a combo of antibiotics (rifaximin + neomycin) along with the Duloxetine.
Has anyone else tried this specific combination? I haven't started yet. I'm thinking about getting a second opinion before I dive in.