I’ve been taking this strain (BioGaia Protectis) for over a month now with 0 improvement (methane). I started at the end of a Rifaximin/Neomycin course which actually made me worse.

The product only has 10 million CFU. How is this possibly enough when most probiotics are at least, like, 2 billion? Should I take more capsules? For a methane spotlight strain this sure is disappointing.

I’m a 23-year-old male from São Paulo, Brazil.

Honestly… I feel completely lost right now.

I had a normal life until around 2018/2019.
That’s when everything started to fall apart.

After finishing high school, I started college — and that’s when I realized something was very wrong with my brain.

This is not just “brain fog.”

It feels like my brain suddenly slowed down drastically, and I entered a constant state of confusion.

Like everything I’ve lived, everything I’ve learned… just disappeared.

This feeling is 24/7.

• I forget words
• I struggle to understand simple texts
• I feel like I’m using only 30–35% of my capacity
• Conversations became difficult
• Even basic tasks (like adjusting the shower temperature) feel confusing

(And before anyone asks: I did not experience any trauma.)

Because of this, I had to drop out of college.

After that, I started working in accounting and, even with all of this, I managed to become a general manager at a firm that handles around 500 companies.

So… I know I’m capable.

The strangest part:

There are periods (a few days, sometimes up to 1–2 weeks max) where I suddenly go back to normal.

• My brain works perfectly
• My memory comes back
• My intelligence returns

It’s like nothing ever happened.

And then… everything crashes again.

And I stay like this for months.

I’ve never been able to understand what causes these “good phases.”

Other symptoms:

• Constant reflux (even with healthy foods)
• Burping food hours after eating
• Burning sensation about 3 cm above my belly button
• Strange feeling in my knees (not pain, but feels inflamed or “off”)
• Chest bone pain + cracking when stretching

On top of that:

I have tremors and muscle weakness.

If I try to hold a small object between my thumb and index finger, my thumb starts shaking.
The same happens with other fingers, especially during effort (like a plank exercise).

I also experience:

• Muscle spasms throughout my body
• Occasional numbness

I’ve had more than 5 panic attacks that sent me to the ER, where I needed sedative medication.

During these episodes:

• My senses become extremely heightened
• Even small noises make me anxious
• My body goes into a constant “threat mode”

Impact on my life:

I’ve always been a strong and determined person.

But after years like this… it started to break me.

By the end of 2024, I became more depressed from not being able to get better.

In 2025, I hit rock bottom:

• Deep depression
• Days stuck in bed
• No energy
• No motivation

And even then… sometimes I still go back to normal for short periods.

What I’ve tried so far:

• Eliminated inflammatory foods (gluten, dairy, sugar, alcohol, etc.)
• Seen psychiatrists and tried 4 antidepressants (currently on fluoxetine again, started 3 days ago)
• Seen a neurologist (MRI was normal)
• Seen multiple doctors — tests mostly normal
• Tried a huge number of supplements… honestly, I can’t even list them all. Probably over 100 at this point 😂
• Spent a lot of money and even went into debt trying to fix this (still paying it off)

The only clue so far:

A gastroenterologist diagnosed me with SIBO and IMO.

I followed the full treatment… and it didn’t fix anything.

My question:

Could all of this be coming from my gut?

Or am I missing something bigger (nervous system, vagus nerve, etc.)?

I’m not going to give up.

But right now, I really need direction.

If anyone has gone through something similar or has any insight… I would truly appreciate it.

(Important detail: all of these symptoms started at the same time, and I’ve been like this for about 6 years.)

Additional details:

• Age: 23
• Gender: Male
• Height: 180 cm (5’11”)
• Weight: 75 kg (165 lbs)
• Medications: Fluoxetine (started 3 days ago)
• Smoking: Yes (currently smoking cigarettes)
• Medical history: SIBO and IMO diagnosed
• Duration: ~6 years
• Location: Cognitive (brain), digestive system, muscles, chest

Hello everyone,

I’m a product designer currently speaking with people to better understand how food logging and symptom tracking could help improve communication with doctors and access to care.

If you manage a long-term health condition, or you’re experiencing changes in your health and planning to see your doctor, I’d really value hearing from you.

As a thank you, you’ll get free access to the app and the opportunity to directly influence how it’s built.

If you’re open to a short chat, please comment below or send me a message. Thank you!

I want to understand everything about micro biome and gut health. How can I understand those without specialized in that field?