Hello,
I will describe my story so far, and if somebody has any recommendations, I would gladly listen to them. I should also mention that I have never been officially diagnosed with IBS.
I think my first symptoms started around 2012 with bloating, abdominal discomfort, gas, and digestive issues. Sometimes it was worse, sometimes better.
In 2017, I decided to visit a functional practitioner who was trained by the Chris Kresser Institute. I did a SIBO breath test and a comprehensive stool test.
The SIBO test was considered borderline positive. There was a double peak visible, but it was not very pronounced — only about a 9 ppm increase. Methane levels were low throughout the entire test. The practitioner told me this did not require specific SIBO treatment because the protocol itself would already address these minor imbalances.
The stool test showed:
- Mild dysbiosis
- Low lactobacilli (1+, should be at least 3+)
- Presence of enterobacteria, which he believed were the main cause of my digestive issues
- No fungal overgrowth
- No parasites
- Digestive function was otherwise good
- Secretory IgA was slightly elevated, which he said was a normal immune response against pathogenic bacteria
- Short-chain fatty acids were normal
- Occult blood was found in the stool, which he said was unusual
He explained that occult blood can sometimes occur with severe intestinal infections, parasites, inflammation, or possibly irritation/wounds in the stomach or esophagus. He recommended repeating the stool blood test and possibly doing a colonoscopy if it remained positive.
He also told me that Enterobacter is very resistant and difficult to eliminate.
The protocol he gave me for 30 days included:
- Interfase Plus
- Prescript Assist
- GI Synergy
- Grapefruit Seed Extract
- Lauricidin (optional)
After that:
- Ther-Biotic Complete
- Full-spectrum prebiotics
He also recommended:
- Betaine HCL
- Digestive enzymes
- B-complex
- Vitamin C
- Omega-3
I also did a DUTCH hormone test, which was normal.
I completed the protocol and took all the supplements. Sometimes I felt better, but other times symptoms came back again. During that period, I was not on a strict diet. I generally ate whole foods and at one point tried the AIP diet, which maybe helped a bit, but it was too restrictive for me to continue long term.
I also did a “leaky gut” test, which came back quite positive. He told me I definitely had increased intestinal permeability. According to him:
- LPS (lipopolysaccharides) from Gram-negative bacteria were the main issue
- There was damage to the intestinal lining
- Zonulin and occludin markers suggested increased permeability between intestinal cells (“tight junction” dysfunction)
He gave me two options:
- Retest bacteria and reset gut flora from scratch
- Try a more intensive probiotic/prebiotic treatment
I chose the probiotic/prebiotic route, but honestly, I don’t think it helped very much.
All of these tests and protocols were done in 2017–2018.
After that, I wanted to repeat a comprehensive stool test, but the practitioner stopped working, so I was basically on my own.
Over time, I discovered that onion and garlic are major triggers for me. I was also still consuming a lot of dairy products during that time. I have eaten almost no gluten for years and generally maintained a fairly healthy diet consisting of:
- Gluten-free grains
- Tubers/potatoes
- Vegetables
- Eggs
- Dairy products
- Fruit
Very little processed food.
I also saw public GI doctors and had standard medical testing done:
- Gastroscopy in 2023 was mostly normal
- Biopsies were normal
- No celiac disease
- Mild chronic inflammation was noted
- Ultrasound was normal
Blood tests in 2026 showed:
- Mild microcytosis
- No anemia
- Iron was sufficient
- Liver function normal
- Kidney function normal
- Electrolytes normal
- Blood lipids normal
- Thyroid hormones normal
- Folate and B12 normal
I also did a lactose intolerance test, which showed strong lactose intolerance.
The previous year was extremely stressful mentally, and around September I started burping excessively. This lasted until around March/April this year, but has now mostly stopped. Recently, however, I have been experiencing more bloating and gas again. I also think I may have developed anxiety.
I go to the toilet regularly, so I do not have constipation, and I rarely have diarrhea, although my stool is sometimes quite soft. I have never experienced pain during bowel movements and have never noticed visible blood in my stool.
At this point, I feel confused about what is actually legitimate and evidence-based anymore. I am wondering:
- What additional testing should I do with a GI doctor?
- Should I do any more functional medicine testing?
- Is there any value in repeating comprehensive stool testing (they cost around 750€)?
- Should I finally try a strict low FODMAP diet?
- Could stress, anxiety, and the gut-brain axis be playing a major role?
I would really appreciate any recommendations or thoughts from people who have dealt with similar issues.