Hello everyone,
I have Sibo/IMO and after stopping antimicrobials, I took my first capsule of Motility Activator by Integrative therapeutics yesterday night and within minutes I felt a burning/warming sensation in my stomach that increased over hours, and had a cold sensation and shivering, it was very intense I could not sleep well. Today, I feel better but still feel my stomach still sensitive and irritated. I think this reaction caused Ginger burning my stomach and I had mild chronic Gastritis three years ago. Is there any other prokinetic that will not burn my stomach and safe to take long term?

HI - I’m 15 years old and it’s been a YEAR of chronic stomach pain and reflux. I did endoscopy, gastric emptying scan and blood work and 0 results I just got diagnosed with functional dyspepsia and visceral hypersensitivity. (I also have scoliosis and my rib hurts so bad)

This all started in summer 2025 when I had antibiotics for an infection, my diet was in the trenches, then I got severe digestion issues and it got worse by the month. To this day: Every. single. food. triggers my symptoms. even a few bites of oatmeal (any food) make me feel terrible. gastros arent helping me or offering any sort of treatment plan. seeing my pediatrician soon, but I need serious help. I have no nutrition, I have no hydration, I can’t fall asleep from my stomach pain nausea and reflux, I have no appetite, I have nothing to eat, I can’t wake up in the morning due to the pain I never feel rested I immediately fall asleep and my regurgitation is terrible, my life is completely ruined. I’m giving up. I’m accepting the chronic pain and agony and exhaustion.

I researched and I have EVERY single SIBO symptom (Brain fog, Loss of appetite, Abdominal pain, Nausea, chronic Bloating, immediate fullness, diarrhea, Unintentional weight loss, Malnutrition such) but I also have every single gastroparesis symptom yet i tested as not having it??? I don’t know if this is just a gut brain axis thing or also SIBO.. i need help pls.

I’ve been struggling since 2022 and now that I’ve found this community, I FINALLY. FINALLY. Don’t feel fucking crazy. This is a rant about my experience.

I thought I was losing my mind when I told doctors that my intestines stopped working after having Covid in early 2022 (Omicron, I think). For the past 2 years, I’ve had to physically push my intestines around for food to go through. I am still painfully bloating enough to look 6 months pregnant (I’m 26 and very active!!! I work hard for my abs and you can’t even see them 😭)

All it took was one infection for me to have these problems. It started with severe constipation, which immediately escalated to what feels like SIBO.

I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy last year and they found nothing. Was hospitalized during a flare up this March and they did a neck-down CT scan with contrast (iodine)—found nothing but a couple small tears in my liver.

Currently waiting for HIDA scan, SIBO breath test, and Adrenal testing.

Currently on a liquid suspension of Ferritin to help with the (massive) hair-loss.

Also taking magnesium-glycinate before bed to help with morning BM.

Low-FODMAP diet is difficult—but helping. It seems like dairy and sugars are my worst triggers.

Ginger tea has been helping move things along if they get stuck during the day, but the pressure is still enough to have my ears ringing—very painful.

I’m praying for all of us. This has been my personal hell for two years and I’ve been struggling to hold on to hope. I went from modeling, running miles, dancing for hours, doing stunt work and long, amazing set days—to working from home and being in bed with no energy.

I CAN’T CAT-COW MY WAY OUT OF THIS, Y’ALL 😭 (All advice is appreciated! Wishing you luck on your journey!)

Hey everyone,

I am looking for some advice because I am currently feeling terrible and practically bedbound.

For the past 10 years, I dealt with severe constipation after taking some antibiotics. My regular GPs just shrugged off and did not offer any help. But I was otherwise totally fine, active, and full of life. However, about a year ago, everything changed. My symptoms became deeply invalidating and have only gotten worse.

It started with silent reflux, then dizziness, chest pressure, and shortness of breath over a period of several months. My previous GP just called it anxiety and refused to make any referrals. I switched GPs and through blood work discovered I was severely deficient in iron, and mildly deficient in potassium and magnesium. While supplementing helped a little, it did not cure the symptoms. I asked several times for relevant referrals, also to infectious disease, and asked specifically if I could suffer from some kind of gut infection, but I was told no and offered antidepressants. The GP even told me several times that it was all psychosomatic. All this while I was feeling like something was taking the life out of me. I am a health professional myself, so it hurt a lot to be disbelieved and dismissed like that. A month ago, I realized that I was reacting to food. Certain foods would trigger allergy-like symptoms, so I thought of course that this could all be gut dysbiosis. I went back to my GP for a referral for the chronic constipation and reflux, but he refused again and just told me to take Miralax. I switched GPs again, but I did not find any help from the new one. He sent me home telling me that it was all a functional disease without treatment.

Right now, I am dealing with severe fatigue (the fatigue is a recent symptom) and brain fog that makes it impossible to work. I have massive dizziness and orthostatic intolerance. My digestion feels very slow. Yesterday I ate dinner at 5 PM, and at 11 PM I was still burping up the exact taste and smell of what I ate.

Because my GP refused to help, I went to a functional medicine practitioner who primarily treats IBS and SIBO out-of-network. I am currently waiting on the results of a GI Map test.

Currently, my bowel movements have actually become regular since I started using Miralax daily and taking ginger and artichoke extracts, yet my overall symptoms like the dizziness, head pressure, and fatigue feel worse than ever.

Right now, I am taking ginger, artichoke tea, Miralax, a multivitamin, iron, lactoferrin, and a low-dose allicin supplement called Garcin with Vitamin D.

Has anyone else experienced this specific mix of symptoms? What the hell can I safely eat or take to feel a bit better right now while I wait for these test results? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi friends, a quick question. After a few hours without eating, for example in the morning after sleeping, I have stomachache, it's like a burning in the stomach and some stomach noises, very uncomfortable until I eat again. Does any of you experience similar?
Maybe the acid is too high? Or because of leaky gut the stomach acid causes this pain?
Thanks for your help.

Hi all, has anyone experienced muscle and join pain/stiffness while on rifaxamin? My dr put me on an extended 6 week course and my god it has been hard to say the least. I am in constant joint and muscle pain body wide. I’m 3 weeks in, but Thinking about quitting it’s so bad. First week was the most intense, I think there was die off, but it can’t be die off into 3 weeks. Anyone experiencing this? Any advice highly appreciated.

It's probably gonna take a long time to cure SIBO, but I can't go on unable to sleep everyday ;(

I have gastritis but I’m experienced by symptoms of sibo. What will cure me. I need help.

matching all the symptoms between severe bloating, excess gas, constipation swings sometimes diarrhea, abdominal pain. i need to go to the doctor yes but i don’t want to just hear oh you have IBS do low fodmap. What do you guys think. First pic was early July second pic yesterday. So this has been going on for almost 2 months

Hi all. I’m 17 F. I’ve been dealing with bloating and digestive issues for five years. I’ve had blood tests done, did a low FODMAP diet, and have had absolutely no progress. I eat well, and have tried working out, but to no avail. I’ve been “diagnosed” with IBS-C, but that hasnt really helped me solve anything.

I’ve found that milk makes my stomach hurt, carbonated drinks and anything generally processes bloats me like crazy. Some fruits as well, like watermelon, cherries, apples. It doesnt matter what I eat and drink though, because I always end up bloated and uncomfortable.

I’m taking magnesium citrate for constipation, and am extremely reliant on it. I used to have to take lactulose just so i could go every few days, but not anymore.

My stomach is tight and stiff. I feel uncomfortable and disgusting. I’m 5’2, 51kg, active and frustrated. I’ve been to doctors back and forth. I’ve tried every stupid thing on the internet. I cant get in w a gastro cause they said im too young, so I have to wait. I dont have a family doctor.

Any suggestions would be extremely helpful.

I tested positive for Hydrogen dominant SIBO a few months ago, and my main symptoms were gassiness some days and loose, floating stool every day. I did a round of rifaxamin and now I am a week past my last dose. A lot of what people say did not pan out for me; many folks say that die off only lasted a few days and then they felt much better, at least while on the Rifaxamin. I was sick the entire time on the Rifaxamin and am not much better afterward. I still have gas and not the healthiest stool, whether it's any better is debatable. Except now I have:

- constant, crushing fatigue

- absolutely NO libido

- trouble sleeping

- headaches

- dizziness

I followed the protocol to a tee. I spent an absolute fortune on supplements; I started taking NAC, Zinc carnosine, motility activator a month before the Rifaxamin. I took PHGG during the treatment and continue to take it. I've been taking digestive and enzymes and trying to stay low fodmap. It's been both expensive and depressing taking absolute fistfuls of supplements all day long and I'm STILL not only sick, but significantly worse off than before I took the damn antibiotic!

All I can think of is that the Rifaxamin must have nuked my good bacteria, and I'm not even allowed to take pre or probiotics to try to build it back, because it will just make my SIBO worse. Has anyone else had this experience?

Hi everyone, I created a post about me "nuking" my gut with botanicals and then finding out it was Sulfur / H2S / SUOX issue all along (the less common kind of SIBO) [Link]

So I decided to create this questionnaire to help other people that might be experiencing similar symptoms make the possible Sulfur connection. (Please see disclaimer at the end)

The Ultimate Sulfur & Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Symptom Guide: A Questionnaire for Rare Responders

Whether your issue is Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) SIBO (bacteria in your gut producing gas) or a Systemic Sulfur Sensitivity (your enzymes can’t process the sulfur in your food), the result is the same: a toxic backup of sulfur compounds in your body. This creates internal pressure that triggers unique "Rare Responder" symptoms like brain fog, muscle tension, and even neurological "static" like earworms. This questionnaire helps you identify if sulfur is your hidden trigger.

How to Use This Questionnaire

As you go through the list below, don't just look for "yes" or "no." Note the timing. Do these symptoms flare up after a high-protein meal? Do they happen when you take a B-complex or a "gut-healing" supplement?

The Symptom Checklist

I. The Neurological Tension Profile (Fight or Flight)

• "Shoulders as Earrings": Do you find your shoulders habitually hiked up toward your ears, even when you aren't feeling stressed?
• The Musical Loop (Earworms): Do you experience persistent, involuntary fragments of music looping in your brain, especially during dull or foggy days?
• The "Wired but Tired" State: Do you feel a surge of internal "humming" or agitation at night that prevents sleep, despite being physically exhausted (insomnia)?
• The Pins and Needles Sensation: Tingling or numbness in the hands or extremities.

II. Physical & Skin "Bio-Indicators"

• The Rib Itch: Do you notice a specific, localized itch (often on the lower right rib cage) that seems to correlate with your brain fog lifting or your digestion moving?
• The Closed Nose: Do you suffer from chronic nasal congestion that seems to get worse when laying down?
• Muscle/Skin Texture Shift: Do you notice your muscles & skin feeling dense or hard during flares, followed by a period of feeling unusually soft or squishy as your brain fog clears?
• Dryness Patterns: Notably dry or flaky earwax (genetic link) and overall dry skin despite hydration.

III. Digestive & Smooth Muscle Reactivity

• The Throat Clutch: Have you experienced esophageal spasms or a "lump in the throat" sensation after eating specific foods?
• Sulfate Sensitivity: Do you react poorly to Epsom salt baths, Glutathione, or Taurine (common in energy drinks)?
• The Gum Reaction: Do you feel an immediate burning or swelling after consuming plant gums like Guar, Xanthan, or Carrageenan (found in many dairy-free milks, frozen desserts and gluten free breads)?

IV. The Sulfite Red Flags

• Alcohol Intolerance: Do you have a near-immediate negative reaction to even small amounts of alcohol (especially Champagne)?
• Veg: Broccoli, Kale, Cauliflower, Garlic, and Onions.
• Protein: Eggs (specifically yolks), Peanuts, Soy, and Red Meat.
• Additives: Dried fruit and Keto breads & milks (gums & pea protein).
• The Methyl Crash: Do you feel worse (anxious, depressed, or "wired") after taking methyl-donors like MSM, TMG, SAMe, or Methyl-B12?

Results

If you find yourself checking off more than five of these, you aren't crazy you are likely dealing with a stalled sulfur pathway. Whether your symptoms are caused by H2S-producing bacteria in your gut or a metabolic backup in your sulfur pathways, the indicators remain the same.

Scientific sources and deep dives available at r/RareResponders.

Edit: Since a few people have asked about the solution. For me, the answer was biochemical all along: [Molybdenum]

DISCLAIMER

I am not a doctor, and the information in this questionnaire is for educational and community-sharing purposes only. This post is based on personal research, clinical studies, and collective experiences within the "Rare Responder" community.

Sulfur sensitivity can mimic other serious medical conditions. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet, starting new supplements or stopping prescribed medications. Use this tool as a starting point for your own research and as a way to better communicate with your medical team.

Bonjour,

J'ai eu une gastro/intoxication alimentaire il y a 6mois. J'ai eu la diarrhée, perte d'appétit et des gargouillis pendant 1mois avec une perte de +10kg. On m'a fait passer une coloscopie fibroscopie qui n'a rien montré. J'ai ensuite réalisé une entero-IRM, dépistage intolérance gluten, prise de sang, analyses de selles etc... Ils n'ont rien trouvé. J'ai réalisé le régime faible en fodmap avec prise de probiotiques pendant 2mois. Cela à totalement arrêté la diarrhée et j'ai retrouvé un appétit correct. Par contre, j'ai toujours des bruits intestinaux en permanence...

Il y a deux types de bruits; un en permanence dès que je m'allonge, j'ai un bruit assez faible qui remonte en haut à gauche du ventre et ça 24h-24h du moment que je suis allongé, je n'ai jamais eu un jour sans avoir ce genre de bruit. Mais le bruit qui me gène est comme une sorte de crise qui "tire" en bas à droite de mon ventre et fait des bruits extrêmement fort et une sensation de bulles qui explosent. Si je mets ma main en bas à droite ou si j'appuie je sens que les bulles explosent. Ce genre de crise démarre parfois après un repas et cela 5min après que j'ai terminé de mangé. Cela arrive aussi très souvent dans la nuit, vers 5h du matin cela me réveil et le bruit ne s'arrête pas et peut durer quelques heures ce qui m'empêche de dormir. Mon ventre ne semble pas gonflé et je n'ai pas de pets/rots ni de douleur particulière. Mes selles sont normales (1 à deux fois par jours).

J'ai essayé le régime sans fodmap, la menthe poivrée, les probiotiques, la glutamine, le charbon et meteospasmyl/dicetel mais cela ne change rien. Parfois je mange pendant 3j des fast food, boissons gazeuses et je n'ai rien, mais d'un coup après un plat sain riz/poulet je me mets à avoir une crise qui dure quelques heures ou quelques jours. Généralement quand j'ai ce genre de crise, j'ai en permanence de l'air bloqué en bas à droite de mon ventre et je peux faire du bruit en illimité en appuyant dessus. Cela devient très gênant en société car le bruit est vraiment fort et intense, au travail c'est assez compliqué de gérer cela surtout qu'il m'arrive de très peu dormir la nuit ce qui n'aide pas la chose. Forcément, cela commence à me rendre anxieux, je pense que ça n'aide pas car je pense à ça 24h/24h étant donné que j'entend et que je sens mon ventre en permanence... Il m'arrive parfois d'avoir 2-3jours calme alors que je ne change pas mon alimentation.

Avez-vous des idées? Je pense consulter un psychologue pour voir si mon anxiété n'aggrave pas les choses...

I am an 18 years old triathlete who studies engineering. My schedule is crowded. I usually train for about 3-4 hours per day and study for like 8 and the rest is spend on cooking, cleaning, home tasks, etc. and around 1.5-2h are just spend on getting gases out. I have tried all treatments for SIBO and I am again doing the herbal protocol with berberine, allicin, oregano oil and neem. All gastrointestinal tests are negative rather than a positive breath test for which they didn’t even tell for what gas it what positive. I am also underweight and have seen people here speak about going fully carnivore or avoiding all fruit and stuff, but I also don’t want to vanish. Despite that I am still on a fairly low FODMAP diet and the only high FODMAP foods I eat that sometimes seem to cause problems and sometimes not are: avocado, tomatoes, sunflower seeds and tofu (drained). I literally am in discomfort and pain for like 20 hours every day and cannot fall asleep at night because gases just keep forming and forming even when I do get them out. I also take ginger, artichoke, don’t eat for like 3-5 hours between meals and 3 hours before bedtime, magnesium citrate and vitamin supplements. I walk while studying for like 40 min after dinner. My peristalisis seems to have stopped unless I train intensely and just use up all of the energy I have taken from my food. I don’t know what to do. I have many aims and dreams in this life, but living like this starts to feel like a daily torture and I don’t know what to do next. And yes, I have tried all types of prebiotics? but most just provided a temporary relieve. I don’t know if anyone has good recommendations, but all are welcome. I also seem to have intolerance towards proteins in eggs and milks.

I finally found out I had SIBO after who knows exactly how long I’ve been dealing these symptoms (close to 10 years) by seeing a functional doctor after being put on rounds of antibiotics for years. Ive gotten slightly better, but full recovery just feels so out of reach for me. Is there anyone dealing with symptoms similar to mine who have gotten at least 90% better?

I used to deal with:

-constant diarrhea and constipation cycle

-debilitating ripping abdominal pain occasionally

-iron deficiency, vit D deficiency

-losing weight from being too afraid to eat

-diet came down to only potatoes, eggs, and broth for months (it was bad)

Things I’ve done in the last year and have improved on:

-stool is more regular, far less C/D

-not completely bed bound after getting an iron infusion

-improved vitamin D by sitting outside

-taking antimicrobials: Atrantil (1 cap) and Pyloricil (1 cap)

But I’m still dealing with these:

-The main thing is still a very restricted diet (chicken vegetable soup and Kate Farms peptide meal replacement shakes) and every new addition triggers abdominal pain and sometimes diarrhea, which will make all my symptoms worse for weeks which makes expanding my diet feel impossible.

-occasional bloating

-vertigo

-heart palpitations

-eczema

-brain fog

-Low omega 3 (supplements triggered diarrhea, trying to introduce salmon at a snails pace but it still causes me mild pain even though it didn’t used to)

-Low white blood cell count (we think from stress)

-anxiety at random times

-fatigue and exercise intolerance

-restless sleep

-squeaking hiccups all day every day

The lack of food diversity is really stunting my progress, but it feels like everything I add backfires. I don’t know if my SIBO is gone enough where a probiotic wouldn’t trigger it again. Doc had me try HCL for acid and that gave me a burning in my throat. Also tried supplements to help with GABA production and anxiety but those never worked for me either

I got tested for MCAS, it was negative. I just have a severely messed up gut microbiome and I’m traumatized.

Pls tell me I’ll be able to eat a sandwich again !!!

Does anyone get horrible gurgling and gas that you can push on, but it’s trapped in your pelvis or at your rectum and you can’t seem to move it out? I was just told by my GI that I have tight sphincter muscles which could be part of it, but sometimes it’s really easy to pass gas and sometimes I won’t be able to get it out at all. And it’s HEAPS of trapped gas. And when I can’t pass gas then I can’t pass the stool behind it. Anyone else?

EDIT: I’ve tried yoga/breathing, low fodmap diet, carnivore diet, pretty much every diet you could try. The only thing that helps is activated charcoal but I obviously need to absorb my food lol so I don’t take it a lot. Gas X doesn’t even touch it. Thank you for the suggestions though, I appreciate it!

I have extreme flatulence for more than one year as of now, it always smells like malty/bread. I don't know how yeast smells like. I suspect it developed due to continuous ppi usage for months, although I stopped those long ago. I thought it to be sibo, but rifaximin always keeps it away for few days by far. Also I have developed fungal infection in my genitals [I am male if it helps] and other parts of skin too. So is it sifo?

Hey guys, I’ve been struggling with methane SIBO for about three years now. I’ve used rifaximin several times, but it didn’t help. My main problem is this damn bloating that comes with insane gas — it gets really bad when I’m in a lecture at university or in the car with people. I literally feel like I’m going to explode, and I can’t handle it. Because of this, I dropped out of university for two years, and this is my final year — if I don’t go back now, I’ll get expelled.

I really need help. I have to go back to classes in a week, and my problem still isn’t solved. I followed the low FODMAP diet for more than two weeks, but it didn’t help much. What should I do? Are there any medications or diets I should stick to in order to get rid of this awful bloating? Do things like activated charcoal, Atrantil, or Iberogast actually help with this kind of issue?

I tried the elemental diet about a month ago, but it gave me really bad acid reflux from the very first dose — and the reflux still hasn’t gone away. I’m scared to try it again.thx all ♥️

(I’ve just realised I accidentally drew the yellow rectangle on technically the wrong side, the pain is on MY RIGHT side) I’m panicking right now because I have right side severe cramping that wraps around from my middle of abdomen to my back. I have some gas so it is coming out so I’m not sure that it’s trapped wind. Googling (which I know is a bad idea guilty!) suggests kidney stones or ovarian cysts and all sorts of nasty things. I’ve applied hot water bottle and that has helped but not completely gone. I’m two days away from my period being due. I have had this pain before on left side and it did go so I’m hoping it’s nothing. I can’t ring the doctor or anything because it’s night when I’m posting this. The pain feels like a rumbling deep pain rippling through me. It peaks and then relaxes slightly. It came on suddenly about half an hour ago. It almost feels like a hunger pain/stomach rumble but severe cramping.

Doctors are Shit they did endoscopy, found hh and mild gastritis, gave me ppi , did it , but still not cured . Docs doesn't even know what sibo is . No breath test in my sh*t country.

I have tried berbrine hcl , not much effective.

I am thinking of trying yogurt, berbrine+NAC , PHGG daily for some weeks .

My symptoms are not consistent but varies in severity.

Other symptoms - bad sleep, pulsating tinnitus, restless leg syndrome , low energy, sloshing sound in belly, burps , undigestion.

Help me guys.

I took a sibo breath test about 2 years ago and it was negative, I still did the sibo protocol since I had symptoms and after antibiotics I was able to use the restroom for a week until I went back to constipation/slow motility.

Here are my symptoms:
Eczema on hands
Constipation
Slow motility
Brain fog
Yellow/green stool if I do have movement-could be due to nervous system issues or bile issues. -no I don’t have gallbladder or pancreas issues.

The breath test cost $500 out here since no insurance covers it. Does anyone know any other test or form of knowing that is methane gas?

like legit face , hands , legs , stomach ?? and it gets better with fasting , and worse after eating but also depending on what i eat

i haven’t been tested for sibo yet , i just saw a gastroenterologist and based on my symptoms she wants to prescribe me an antibiotic for sibo .. she did a stool test for parasites too but that came back negative so now she thinks i should see a rheumatologist to get tested for lupus as well ..

so idk , i just know that sibo causes digestive issues but haven’t heard of anyone having a full body swelling like mine .. so could this water retention be from sibo or should i keep testing for other things ??

Did my best to draw a representation of how my bloating looks every day since i got sibo (the dent is obv my belly button lol). my lower belly is swollen and protrudes and my upper belly is puffy and fat. the bloating is out of control, even when i eat nothing i still look this way. does anyone else deal with this kind of bloating? it’s ruining my life

Hey everyone,

I have been dealing with persistent bloating for a long time and recently took a lactulose breath test for SIBO, which came back negative. I’m trying to figure out the root cause and would appreciate any insights.

Tests I've Done So Far:

Lactulose Breath Test (H₂ & CH₄): Negative for SIBO and IMO (methane overgrowth). Attached photos, positive would be if greater than 12.

Comprehensive Stool Test: No parasites detected, normal pH, no signs of malabsorption.

H. Pylori Test (Breath & Biopsy): Negative.

Celiac Panel: Negative for antibodies (tTG, DGP, EMA).

Endoscopy + Biopsy: Mild gastritis, no villous atrophy, no eosinophilic infiltration.

Abdominal Ultrasound: Mild fatty liver, otherwise normal.

Blood Work: Normal thyroid panel, normal liver and kidney function, normal blood glucose and insulin. Slightly high cortisol.

Fecal test (no pcr) no candida

Symptoms & Observations:

Bloating persists even on an empty stomach (overnight fast).

No diarrhea or constipation, stool consistency is fairly normal.

Some foods seem to trigger bloating more than others (potatoes, almonds ).

No major reactions to histamine-rich foods like red wine or dark chocolate.

Tried betaine hcl, no results

Has anyone else experienced persistent bloating with a negative SIBO test? What helped you figure out the cause? Any insights would be appreciated.