If you’ve followed the SIBO protocol and the bloating still returns by afternoon, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken. There’s another explanation that may finally make sense.
The “I-Did-Everything-Right” Frustration
You did the antimicrobial protocol. You restricted the foods. You followed the plan, maybe more than once.
But the bloating, the discomfort, the sense of something being off—it’s still there. And it’s deeply frustrating.
This is something we see every week. The issue may not be what you’ve done—but what’s been missing from the conversation.
When SIBO Is Not the Full Story
What SIBO Is
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) refers to an abnormal presence of bacteria in the small intestine. It can happen when something interferes with normal motility, gut structure, or immune function. According to recent international and Spanish consensus statements, SIBO should be suspected primarily in people with:
- Gastroparesis or other diagnosed motility disorders
- Abdominal surgeries, especially resections or adhesions
- Immunodeficiencies or GI structural abnormalities
- Long-term use of opioids or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
What It Isn’t
SIBO is not the default explanation for bloating, discomfort, or constipation—especially when no clear risk factors are present. And yet, many patients are placed on aggressive protocols without meeting clinical criteria or being given other possible explanations.
When that happens, treatments may offer only partial relief—or none at all—because the true condition has yet to be named.
The Overlooked Diagnosis: IBS
This is where Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) often comes in.
IBS is one of the most common digestive diagnoses, yet still one of the most poorly explained. It doesn’t show up on endoscopy or standard lab tests—but that doesn’t mean it’s “in your head.” It’s a real, measurable condition rooted in a disruption of gut–brain communication.
The Core Drivers of IBS Include:
- Heightened visceral sensitivity (gut nerves firing too easily)
- Altered motility patterns, even with normal gut structure
- Gut–brain signaling changes that amplify pain or urgency
- Nervous system reactivity shaped by stress, life events, or trauma
We work with patients every day who say, “No one ever explained it this way before.”
And often, that clarity alone marks the beginning of relief.
The Flare Loop: A Self-Reinforcing Cycle
Here’s the pattern we see again and again:
- A flare begins—bloating, pain, constipation, urgency
- Alarm sets in: What did I eat? Do I need another cleanse?
- Restriction follows: fewer foods, more supplements
- Tension builds: the body tightens, symptoms return
- Fear increases—and the cycle deepens
We call this the flare loop—and breaking it takes more than another protocol.
Where Real Progress Begins
Progress doesn’t come from more elimination or stricter protocols. It begins with a shift in understanding—and a different kind of support.
For many patients, things start to change when we step out of the loop of treating symptoms in isolation and begin looking at the bigger picture: the gut, the nervous system, and the patterns that keep them locked together.
This isn’t a quick fix or a one-size-fits-all answer.
But there is a way forward—and it usually starts with being heard, understood, and finally shown how all the pieces fit together.
If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of protocols that only partially help—or make things worse—you’re not alone. There’s a different approach, and we’d be honoured to walk it with you.
