Hello. I’ve shared my uncle’s issue before, but I wanted to provide an update. It all started about 14 months ago after he had a severe bladder infection. He was prescribed ciprofloxacin and took it for a total of 28 days since the infection lingered after the first round.
Strangely, a few days after finishing the antibiotics, he began experiencing stomach pain that he’d never had before. He used to eat anything without issues, but then developed constant heartburn. After going back to the GP, he was prescribed pantoprazole, which was his first PPI. Since then, he’s been on and off various PPIs, but they only temporarily alleviate the heartburn; once the medication runs out, the burning returns.
After researching, he suspects he might have SIBO since the antibiotics could have wiped out his good bacteria, allowing the bad bacteria to overgrow. Does anyone else think this could be the case? Have you had similar experiences?
In addition to heartburn, he’s had intermittent symptoms like abdominal pain, spasms, muscle twitching, increased burping and gas, difficulty gaining weight, and unexplained fatigue. He’s undergone ultrasounds, OGD procedures, and blood tests, all of which came back normal, leading him to believe it could be SIBO since these tests don’t detect it.
He mentioned his concerns to his gastroenterologist before, and while the doctor didn’t dismiss the idea of a bacterial issue, he focused on prescribing PPIs. For the next appointment, he plans to discuss SIBO and request a breath test. I’d love to hear any stories from those who have dealt with SIBO and how you managed to overcome it. He really wants to reclaim his life—he’s only 27, and this has been incredibly challenging, much worse than a cold.