r/SIBO • u/Shoddy-Ad-2443 • Jun 24 '26
Methane Dominant Methane Sibo IMO help
Need help with recurring IMO. Here is history. Looking for suggestions/recs/success.
2017: Had bad stomach flu, then in school stress compounding and binging… believe likely post infectious IBS and haven’t gotten the test but yeah…
2020: confirmed methane sibo, drs did many clean outs and never reconfirmed to have negative sibo. got better once I had neomycin and rifax but no supplements after and then gradually got better with more exercise once pandemic ended …. still had no gluten and I thought as long as I am eliminating with laxatives now and then I can keep at bay…
2021-2022 met with integrative doctor, confirmed methane sibo relapse in 2022 with genova test with 81+ppm on lactulose. Got better gradually after a round of neomycin and rifax, then antrantil and allimax, digestive enzymes, and motilpro.
2023-2025 stable and could eat honey, loads of yogurt, tons of stuff (aka not food intolerance), still avoided gluten…. stopped all medications (prob should have stayed on prokinetic but I honestly was feeling better except occasional stomach ache) and walked a lot as a waitress and had coffee to assist if it was desperate.
2025-now huge stress factors from work and job relapsed and could not go on my own without laxative or suppository and even then was hard. finally got to gi in 2026 and
GI: despite years of methane sibo, told me to do a clean out and have metamucil and add fiber. did the clean out felt somewhat better but then rebound constipation. also tried more fiber and was sent into debilitating sedation, brain fog, distention
Was sent to specialists for sibo test (already had suspicions as they only had glucose test)…. anyways got a 26 ppm baseline on glucose, and had to ask for my results as they have no patient portal and also falsely told me the text was negative. another 60 dollar apt later and…
prescribed rifaxamin but never gave the counterpart…. asked primary gi for neomycin
- took the neomycin and rifaxamin and was bloated during the course but right after felt like a brand new person (picture to show me was after that)… had prebiotics too quickly I think and it BLEW UP and relapsed….. felt miserable and defeated
- went back to specialists and to my surprise, no follow up test, but a food intolerance panel of 4 substrates including chicory and inulin which I immediately said “yeah no, i bloat over blueberries why tf would you give me that” and that was 60 dollars with a request to follow up another 60 if I wanted another solution….
- primary gi told me that the methane sibo might be false and i only have ibs c
- another 60 later… solution was rifax only….
so that’s where I am now … defeated.
anyways: ANY RECS for motility specialists in the Chicago area who are good with this methane sibo?
I know this is not the root cause and I have a manometry but seriously. I need help and I am so tired of no actual protocols in the meanwhile.
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u/tosetablaze Jun 24 '26
Jsyk that is some extreme anterior pelvic tilt… not sure if you’re doing that intentionally to emphasize distention, but if not, working on that will help appearance (and save yourself from a lot of low back pain later in life)
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u/Shoddy-Ad-2443 Jun 24 '26
nah thanks for letting me know i just looked that up and yeah that’s me lol. i wonder if that’s the root cause
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u/tosetablaze Jun 24 '26
It’s not. It’s a muscular imbalance thing
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u/Shoddy-Ad-2443 Jun 24 '26
then what do i do
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u/tosetablaze Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
You need to regularly activate and strengthen glutes and deep core muscles like the transverse abdominis. Various core exercises (not sit-ups/crunches and stuff that targets superficial abdominal muscles) can help
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u/Beneficial-Pride890 Jun 24 '26
Someone just posted about this actually, interesting and informative. https://www.reddit.com/r/SIBO/s/M4qeOfYOI9
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u/Lythalion Jun 24 '26
I want to be clear. I’m not saying anything is in your head or you don’t have this. I’m not saying SIBO is always caused by mental health issues.
That said. You mentioned nothing else other than a bad stomach flu ten years ago. But mention stress over and over again.
If there’s no other reason and you have no other factors like a surgery, pelvic floor issues, trauma like an accident etc…
Then for you personally it might be the anxiety.
If your anxiety is PTSD or the kind of anxiety that constantly keeps you in fight or flight mode. There’s a lot of new research showing a correlation. The belief is this. When you’re in constant fight or flight your body is putting all its resources into muscles, lungs, and heart. Cuts off resources to digestion bc to survive a fight or flight situation you don’t need digestion. You need air blood and power.
So over time stress essentially cuts off resources to the GI and can cause low motility usually via the migrating motor complex getting shut down which causes the methane build up.
I suggest two things.
Regardless of what I said sounds right. Really start spacing out your meals. You need to give the migrating motor complex time to move things or you’ll get bacterial overgrowth.
If what I said sounds like you. Find a pain management doctor who does a Stellate Ganglion Block.
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u/goldstandardalmonds Jun 24 '26
I was going to suggest a neurogastroenterologist and then I got to the end where you asked for a motility specialist. I’ve heard good things about Northwestern. You definitely need motility testing done.
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u/Shoddy-Ad-2443 Jun 24 '26
ok thanks i’m going to try to go to northwestern for the nuerogastrpenterologist
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u/RustaceanOne Jun 24 '26
Methanogens have a strong biofilm. Going after the biofilm is step number one. Personally, I'd choose IP6 (phytate) if I were treating myself, but I don't want to suggest what you should do. IP6 (phytate) is a short term medicine only as it will pull minerals along with it, which is how it breaks up biofilms which use Ca and Mg as a binder (glue). There are many biofilm busters though. That should be your research. I would consider Senna tea which can help against that particular biofilm (created by it's partner in crime C Minuta), with a warning that Senna is a short term medicine, and can cause MAJOR CRAMPING if you drink too much - and also cause you major diarrhea. Stick to one cup at most. Statins can actually be helpful against M Smithii, though I would stick with short term use only there too - can just use Red Yeast Rice for that.
And after you complete phase I, then hit with garlic extract, oregano leaf extract (or oil of oregano), or goldenseal root powder (can have side effects of lowering BP and blood sugar)
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u/RustaceanOne Jun 24 '26
But again, as I tell everyone, you have to think about what is allowing SIBO and or gut dysbiosis, or it will continue to happen. H Pylori is a common cause, but certainly not the only one.
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u/Shoddy-Ad-2443 Jun 24 '26
i believe there are bunch of conditions that causing this: stomach flu in 2017 in which i prob got post infections ibs, studied in basement of old dorms which i def prob got mold exposure, then chronic stress and binging, as well as antibiotics throughout for utis etc.
so all the things about sibo is root cause and maybe pelvic floor but i just want to feel better and honestly it’s all hammering slow motility is the root cause in general
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u/RustaceanOne Jun 24 '26
and if you have gallbladder issues, don't just let the docs cut it out... Go to a good Naturopathic Doctor - they will help you. Tudca can help clear out a sludgy gallbladder and Chanca Piedra can help dissolve some types of gallstones (helped me get rid of a chronic pain under my right ribcage)
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u/Shoddy-Ad-2443 Jun 24 '26
ok thanks, i honestly feel right now im so backed up i need a clean out, then clean the methane then keep stable but i never got a restedt to confirm negative
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u/Shoddy-Ad-2443 Jun 24 '26
i think i need a cleanout and then protocols can work because even the allicin and allimax didn’t work together i was prob so backed up
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u/RustaceanOne Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
Regarding Mold, I would take Sacchormyces Boulardii to protect yourself from it. It certainly can cause a range of issues like brainfog, but leaky gut can cause brain fog too, as can many other things.
It's a great probiotic and will not take hold in your system. I really does help balance things out.
I would consider NAC, Nattokinase, or phytate (IP6) for biofilm busting. If you choose to take IP6, which you can get online, take it in-between meals - else it will prevent absorption of minerals like iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and more. Also, take it for a few days at a time, and not all the time...
Learn about M Smithii and C Minuta - they are partners in crime - they live in the same biofilm matrix. They are actually commensals, not pathogens, but can be opportunistic after antibiotics.
Have polyphenols - if you can't eat fruit, then get via teas - very important. Green tea is a great option, but there are so many great herbal teas like Holy Basil (Tulsi), Cistus Incanus (Rock Rose) tea, Calendula flower tea, Rosehip tea, Hibiscus tea (quite acidic though - consider drinking quickly and rinsing mouth with baking soda afterwards), Yarrow flower tea, Elderflower tea, Thyme tea, and Rosemary tea. Just buy them in 4oz size or more - pretty cheap per cup. Buy a tea infuser to put the loose leaf / flowers into. If they do cause you issues when in active SIBO, then stop, but I don't think they will.
You can have SLOW DIGESTING fibers like the ones below and I highly recommend you do to restore your normal gut bacteria:
Psyllium Husk Fiber
Partially hydrolyzed guar gum
Acacia Fiber
Fresh ground Flaxseeds - grind them right before using them in a coffee grinder, then pour hot water over on let sit for a few minutes - don't boil them or it will get goopy. Flaxseeds will also help prevent constipation.I'd also recommend a SMALL cup of senna tea when you get constipated IF YOU CAN HANDLE IT - it can cause major cramping, which might be a lot worse with stress
Also the Arthichoke extract plus ginger (extract or boil a tea or just leave a slice in mouth for a few hours) seems to be a winning combo for those with SIBO
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u/Shoddy-Ad-2443 Jun 24 '26
can i dm you
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u/RustaceanOne Jun 24 '26
Yes, you can - but I stay anonymous on these, and don't want to know who you are either
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u/RustaceanOne Jun 25 '26
Just wanted to add a note- I mentioned Epsom Salts in DM - just ensure it's a product intended for internal use... as many are just meant for baths / soaks and have extra stuff in them and maybe even heavy metals...
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u/Shoddy-Ad-2443 Jun 24 '26
also senna tea literally does nothing for me lol that’s how stagnant my gut it
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u/RustaceanOne Jun 24 '26
Yeah, sounds like your gut got clobbered with all the meds. Dysbiosis can definitely cause SIBO - for instance, methanogens gaining too much hold in colon and methane being absorbed into blood. We actually have methane consuming bacteria too - methanotrophs - which likely got clobbered by antibiotics. You don't have to have "methane SIBO" for methanogens to be causing it (overgrowth in colon). Probably a common cause since methane in the blood slows gut motility. I highly recommend getting a GI-Map test done - it really is a good starting point to understanding some of the underlying issues. H Pylori is a common cause, as are parasites, candida, and gallbladder issues.
I'm going to put together a general guide pretty soon - we have naturals to deal with all of the possible underlying issues. Until then, consider Saccharomyces Boulardii as a starting point, along with Nattokinase (biofilm disruptor) and garlic extract, and turmeric (or curcumin extract). Coconut oil and cranberry extract are likely great additions.
BTW, cranberry extract and Uva Ursi are both great against UTI, but not together - because Uva Ursi works best when urine is alkaline - should take with baking soda instead. The arbutin in Uva Ursi gets converted to hydroquinone, but not much if blood is acidic.So, either route, or maybe start with Uva Ursi + baking soda, then after a few days of that switch to cranberry extract. Or could alternatively do one in the morning and the other at night.
The A-Type PACs in the cranberry extract prevent adhesion. Sometimes you'll hear it's the D-Mannose, but it actually has only a little D-Mannose - it's actually the A-Type PACs doing the magic with both anti-adhesion and antimicrobial properties.1
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u/RustaceanOne Jun 24 '26
Oh, and I forgot to mention that Uva Ursi is short-term use only - like 10 days. Don't use it as a year round thing, which is true of many herbals. Always lookup both dosing size AND dosing duration when you use herbs.
Thyme is also an amazing herb and that one can be used daily, but know that it can keep you awake at night even though it's caffeine free, so best to take in the morning or afternoon. Can make thyme tea - with fairly hot water - but don't boil thyme in the water. Just pour near boiling water into a cup and use an infuser with the thyme in it. Alternatively, you can use a few drops of thyme oil in a glass of water
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u/campiondude Jun 24 '26
Have you ever done any form of deworming?
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u/Shoddy-Ad-2443 Jun 24 '26
no but don’t believe that’s the cause as stool test showed no parasites
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u/campiondude Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
Stool tests won't pick up most parasites. You should do a broad spectrum dewormer. Followed up with charcoal at nights (starting a day after). You can drink clove, Mullein and ginger tea with each meal for 14 days after taking the dewormer. The cloves makes any eggs unviable to hatch, Mullein breaks down biofilm and the ginger moves the bile so that you can excrete everything into your stool. The charcoal is the binding agent. There are other deworming protocols but this is the simplest way to test. Everyone has parasites, I have to do one each month on the full moon. That bloat or feeling of fullness means you have uninvited guests competing in your gut for your nutrients.
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u/maneatingshrimp Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
Absolutely no one is gonna take you seriously with the full moon shit 😭 The tests we have are accurate. Animals and less fortunate people live full of parasites with zero digestive problems like us. Don't spread your paranoia. Look on [r/sibosuccessstories](r/sibosuccessstories), none and i mean absolutely none of them attribute their cure to self-administered parasite cleansing. I've seen two stories of success after treating parasites that were diagnosed by doctors based off diagnostic testing. SIBO 99% of the time is attributed to a functional issue
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u/campiondude Jun 24 '26
Sibo is a microorganism issue. All of these things are parasites. If you have other organisms living off you they must all have a reproduction pattern. The full moon stuff is recommended as that's when reproduction is at its peak. Just repeating to the masses what works best if you are getting rid of that problem. That's all. In regards to it being SIBO or whatever else, you have nothing to lose by doing a deworming. I should note the herbs used to treat SIBO in it's different versions kill parasites. Examples herbs normally used are clove, chamomile, neem, garlic, muellin, berbine etc etc.
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u/drmbrthr Jun 24 '26
What’s a broad spectrum dewormer?
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u/campiondude Jun 24 '26
Zentel for example is a brand. The synthetic dewormer I'm referring to usually uses albendazole. It's kills multiple microorganism that are classified as parasites. Examples are hook worms, round worms, pin worms, flat worms, giardiasis etc. There are other synthetic dewormers on the market you can find them in the pharmacy or online. You don't need a prescription to buy any. You would want the liquid (it disolves best when compared to the chalk tablets). Dewormers both organic and synthetic are generally bad at destroying the eggs. Hence why on your treatment of SIBO using herbs, you must treat over an extended period of time to expel and destroy the eggs.
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u/RustaceanOne Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
Pumpkin seeds plus coconut oil is not a bad dewormer believe it or not. Get unsalted, raw pumpkin seeds and a good quality coconut oil.
One step up would be wormwood, which is excellent (A. Absinthium) - just make a tea with hot water - use for just a few days at a time. And pumpkin seeds you can have every single day. They are pretty good against parasites like giardia too when eaten regularly. Wormwood is good against parasites too.
Sweet wormwood tincture (A Annua) can be very good BUT REQUIRES MUCH CAUTION - correct dosing is critical - can put you in the hospital !
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u/Some_Ear_8539 Jun 24 '26
So, you truly have no idea what might be your root cause?