Episode 16: All about SIBO with Dr. Sabrina Kimball, ND

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, or SIBO, is a digestive disease that is frustratingly common in sensitive individuals. I’ve had a history of this condition and talk about it in several of my blog posts. In this conversation, Dr. Kimball and I dig into all things SIBO. Consider this one of your go-to resources for understanding this condition.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• A bit of my story dealing with and healing from SIBO
• How Dr. Kimball became interested in and an expert treatment in SIBO
• How SIBO is a new diagnosis (15 year ago), which means that it’s still emerging. Some doctors don’t yet understand it or recognize that it exists.
• SIBO is a specialty and should be, in Dr. K’s opinion, because of how tricky it is to treat. The common frustrations when searching for treatment with SIBO
• What SIBO is
• The different types of SIBO, how they’re different and why they’re treated differently
• How or why SIBO occurs
• What treatment looks like and what people should be prepared for
• People need to be prepared for a four to six month treatment plan to start with, even for re-treatment
• The different treatment phases
• How diarrhea and mixed-type SIBO can often be treated in 4-6 months, while constipation type can take much longer due to complication factors
• How SIBO is tested for
• The recommended and researched diet for recovery – the low-fodmap diet is the only diet researched to be effective
• Monash University and their research on the fodmap diet
• What fodmaps are
• How to heal from SIBO if you have a pattern or history of disordered eating
• How recovery is approached for vegetarians and vegans with the low fodmap diet
• How important it is to have support moving through the healing of SIBO
• The different phases of healing and what they are, look and feel like
• Things to watch out for during the healing process
• Extra healing modalities that can help with treatment
• My article connecting SIBO, high sensitivity, connective tissue and the psoas
• Why we don’t want to be on a low-fodmap diet long-term
• How my pregnancy helped with my healing in the last phase of treatment
• Dr. Kimball’s take on using probiotics during treatment and healing
• Why SIBO is often confused for other conditions and the conditions that can show up alongside SIBO
• SIFO
• Factors that can lead to or make one more susceptible to SIBO
• The longterm prognosis of SIBO – what to expect
• How to look for good information on SIBO on the internet – the red flags
• Resources:
  • The SIBO Symposium in Portland
  • The IBS Symposium from Mark Pimentel’s group at Cedar-Sinai
  • Monash University Low-Fodmap App
  • Kate Scarlata – lists
  • A Little Bit Yummy Blog – recipes and more for low-fodmap diets
• The one thing Dr. Kimball would like you to know about having SIBO
• Where you can find Dr. Kimball – currently at The University Health Clinic, soon to be Meridian Medicine in North Seattle

Like this Podcast? Support it on Patreon!

This week, Dr. Kimball has resource for Patreon supporters – how to know if you should be tested for SIBO. Drop a couple bucks a month to unlock the reward!