The Surprising Long-Term Effect of Food Poisoning
Heal Your Gut
Reclaim Your Glow
In this Newsletter:
➡️ What is SIBO, and why it’s often misdiagnosed
➡️ Signs, risk factors, and how it affects your body
➡️ My personal journey from confusion to clarity
➡️ Testing, treatment options, and what I’m trying next
A few months ago, I had no idea that one meal that led to food poisoning could still be messing with my body more than half a year later.
Back in February, I got hit with a rough stomach bug — and at the same time, I was taking antibiotics for something unrelated. I thought I’d bounce back quickly. But instead… I kept bloating, my acne flared up out of nowhere, and I felt sluggish no matter what I did.
I tried cleaning up my diet, adding probiotics, practicing mindful eating. Nothing worked. That’s when I remembered something I’d heard about years ago: SIBO.
So, I got tested.
And sure enough — the results came back positive.
At first, I was overwhelmed. SIBO diagnosis seemed very complicated. But now that I’ve had time to digest what it is and how it works, I’m optimistic — and I’m about to start my treatment under the guidance of my functional medicine doctor.
I’ll keep you posted on how it goes, but for now, here’s what I’ve learned 👇
🌱 What Is SIBO?
SIBO = Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.
It means too many bacteria have made their way into your small intestine — where they’re not supposed to be in high amounts.
These bacteria ferment carbohydrates in your meals too early, producing gas, toxins, and inflammation.
That can lead to:
Bloating
Constipation or diarrhea
Stomach pain
Fatigue or brain fog
Acne, skin rashes, or nutrient deficiencies
👉 Interesting Fact: SIBO very often goes undiagnosed for years.
⚠️ What Causes SIBO?
It’s not just about your diet. Here are some of the most common root causes:
Food poisoning: damages nerves in your gut that regulate movement
Antibiotic use: wipes out good bacteria, giving bad ones a chance to overgrow
Hypothyroidism: slows down gut motility
Chronic stress: high cortisol weakens digestion
Diabetes or blood sugar issues
Surgery scars or adhesions: can physically block intestinal movement
Low stomach acid or acid blockers
When your gut doesn’t move food and bacteria forward fast enough, bacteria can build up in the wrong place — and cause chaos.
🧪 How to Test for SIBO
The gold standard is a SIBO breath test, which measures gases (hydrogen, methane and hydrogen sulfide) produced by bacteria after drinking a sugar solution (usually lactulose or glucose).
You’ll blow into a tube every 15–20 minutes for 2-3 hours. The results show whether your small intestine has abnormal fermentation patterns.
It’s non-invasive — and super insightful.
That’s exactly what I did — and it gave me the clarity I needed to stop guessing and start addressing the root cause.
🔬 Why SIBO Affects More Than Digestion
SIBO isn’t just about bloating. These overgrown bacteria can:
Damage your gut lining (increasing leaky gut)
Trigger inflammation by releasing toxins into your bloodstream
Lead to fatigue, brain fog, restless legs, rosacea, and even mood issues
Your gut and other parts of the body are deeply connected — so when your gut is inflamed, your entire system can feel off.
💊 How to Treat SIBO
It’s important to work with a practitioner — SIBO treatment is personalized and can vary based on the type of gas (hydrogen, methane, or hydrogen sulfide).
Here are the most common options:
Antibiotics
For hydrogen SIBO, the standard is Rifaximin
For methane (IMO), usually Rifaximin + Neomycin
For hydrogen sulfide, protocols vary — antibiotics may not be as effective and often require other approaches
Fast-acting, but recurrence is common without deeper lifestyle and gut motility support.
Herbal Antimicrobials
These are natural compounds that can be just as effective as antibiotics over a longer course. Common options include: berberine, oregano oil, allicin, neem, and candibactin formulas. Supported by research and often better tolerated for sensitive individuals.
Elemental Diet
A medical nutrition protocol using a powder formula of pre-digested nutrients (amino acids, glucose, and fats)
No fermentable carbs = bacteria starve and die off
Taken as a total meal replacement for 2–3 weeks under practitioner supervision
Extremely effective — especially for hydrogen sulfide SIBO or cases where other treatments have failed
Can also be a faster option with fewer variables, but requires discipline
Dietary Support
Diet alone won’t eliminate SIBO, but it helps manage symptoms and enhance results
Options include:
Low FODMAP Diet – limits fermentable carbs that bacteria thrive on
SIBO Bi-Phasic Diet – phased version of Low FODMAP + Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)
Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) – removes complex carbs to reduce fermentation
These diets are typically followed during treatment and then expanded post-treatment with gradual fiber reintroduction to restore gut diversity
SIBO is a complex condition, and often no single treatment is enough. Antibiotics alone, diet alone, or supplements alone may not fully resolve it.
Lasting healing usually requires a holistic approach — addressing multiple factors like diet, motility, stress, gut lining repair, and root causes. This is why it’s so important to work closely with your doctor or a knowledgeable practitioner to design a plan that’s right for you.
👉 Important Note: This is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any decisions about testing or treatment. SIBO is a complex condition, and every case is unique — the most effective approach depends on your individual health history, symptoms, and root causes. Work with a qualified practitioner to find the right path for you.
🔄 How to Prevent SIBO from Coming Back
Relapse rates are high if you don’t address the root cause.
Here’s what helps long term:
Prokinetics (to keep things moving in your gut): ginger, motility-supporting herbs, or prescription meds
Stress management: meditation, yoga, breathwork
Gut-healing nutrients: glutamine, zinc carnosine, and probiotics (introduced carefully)
Proper chewing and meal spacing
🌟 The Good News: You Can Heal
Getting a SIBO diagnosis may feel overwhelming at first — I get it. But once you understand the root causes and follow a targeted plan, your body starts to recalibrate.
Right now, I’m prepping for the elemental diet phase with my doctor’s supervision.
I won’t lie — I’m a bit nervous. It’s a big change - no food for 3 weeks! But I’m also excited to finally give my gut a break and help restore balance from the inside out and finally forget all the symptoms I had for the last 6 months.
👉 Open Invitation: If you have any questions about my journey with SIBO, or just want to share your own experience, feel free to reply to this email — I’d love to hear from you.
If you’ve been struggling with mysterious gut issues, IBS that never really gets better, or symptoms like bloating, acne, fatigue, and brain fog — talk to your doctor and consider testing for SIBO.
It might just be the missing piece.
Warmly,
Viktorija 💛