Feeling stuck with possible SIBO + bad GI symptoms… anyone relate?
Hey guys, long-time lurker here. Made a new account for health advice not a bot.
I feel like I’ve been dealing with SIBO forever, but I haven’t been able to find anything that actually works. I’ve tried going the naturopath route, but it just got way too expensive so I had to stop for now.
I went to my family doctor, who referred me to a gastroenterologist… and honestly the experience was awful. I was in his office for maybe 5 minutes before he said he “doesn’t believe in SIBO.” I was shocked. When I tried to explain my symptoms, it basically turned into an argument and he brushed it off as mental health-related and said he’s not a pain doctor. I left feeling super frustrated and dismissed. Even the front desk interaction was weird — I showed up 15 minutes early and got questioned about it.
Symptom-wise, I deal with:
• Constant bloating
• Acid reflux
• Stomach pain (especially that empty, gnawing feeling)
• Bad breath
• A film on my tongue all the time
The breath/tongue thing is embarrassing — I literally bring a toothbrush to work to manage it. Does anyone else deal with that with SIBO or gut issues?
Also, random question — has anyone noticed cannabis making symptoms worse? I read it can slow digestion, so I’m wondering if that could be contributing.
Honestly just feeling stuck and not taken seriously. Would really appreciate hearing if anyone has had similar symptoms or found anything that helped.