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Welcome! This website was created as a survival guide during our years of chronic illness and is still being updated and added to. Though our chronic illness is still ongoing it has improved vastly since we began immunotherapy treatments in 2020. We would like to share with you all the mistakes we made and the lessons we have learned so you can better help yourself during tough times and take control of your health. In order to heal the body & mind and achieve health, it's vital to be as well informed as possible.
The human body is vastly complex and it can take time to learn how to achieve and maintain a state of wellness and health through self-care and positive behaviours. We've tried to keep things simple - which is super hard when the body is mind-blowingly complex! - and make the more technical info as digestible as possible. We've tried to include all the info you might need on your healing journey, focussing 2 of the most important and overlooked areas; gut health and mental health.
We found that most of what we learned and share here applies to anyone wanting to achieve optimal health and wellness, whether you have a chronic illness or not. We share our own personal stories of our chronic illnesses: SIBO, hashimoto’s thyroiditis and T-regulatory cell imbalance on the Our Stories pg though our recommendations can be applied to most health conditions. We aim to help you to make informed decisions in your everyday life which will enable you to better manage and/or decrease your symptoms - and to start your road to recovery.
Don't forget that your body is completely biologically unique in all the world and your journey towards health will be as unique as you are. This is why we encourage you to be curious and develop self awareness throughout the healing process, and to make sure that the decisions you make are right for you. We recommend working with a health practitioner as they are professionals and can guide you in the right direction and refer you for tests which are an invaluable tool.
Wishing you full health & happiness,
the SIBO Twins x
So What is SIBO?
So What is SIBO?
So What is SIBO?
SIBO is a serious, chronic, highly complex and often misunderstood and misdiagnosed health condition which is becoming increasingly prevalent(1), along with other Autoimmune conditions (AI).
Chronic gut dysfunction leads to dysbiosis in the gut; both 'good' and 'bad' bacteria migrate from their normal habitat in the colon into the small
SIBO is a serious, chronic, highly complex and often misunderstood and misdiagnosed health condition which is becoming increasingly prevalent(1), along with other Autoimmune conditions (AI).
Chronic gut dysfunction leads to dysbiosis in the gut; both 'good' and 'bad' bacteria migrate from their normal habitat in the colon into the small intestine (SI). There they grow and feed on undigested food which they normally do not have access to. Once there, they can severely damage the gut barrier (integral to health) and wreak havoc on the body, causing a huge variety of diverse symptoms and serious health implications, some of which are listed to the right. We explore this subject on the Gut Dysbiosis/SIBO In Depth and Diagnosis + Testing pages.
Until recently, it was believed that the underlying cause of SIBO was simply due to mechanical dysfunction of the gut, the possible causes of which were unknown. It is now believed that some cases of SIBO could caused by a gut-specific autoimmune condition and others by oxidative stress which impairs GI motility(2), (3). Thus our understanding of the root causes, the complexities of the condition itself and methods of treatment is increasing.
The Symptoms
So What is SIBO?
So What is SIBO?
The Main SIBO symptoms -
Nausea
Bloating + Excessive gas
Excessive belching
Abdominal pain/Cramps
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Fatigue
Leaky gut
Brain fog
Poor immune function
Rosacea/Eczema/Rashes
Hair loss
Malnutrition
Weight loss
Depression
Joint pain
Muscle pain
B12 + Iron Deficiency Anemia
Autoimmunity (AI)
Candida, SIFO
The sheer range an
The Main SIBO symptoms -
Nausea
Bloating + Excessive gas
Excessive belching
Abdominal pain/Cramps
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Fatigue
Leaky gut
Brain fog
Poor immune function
Rosacea/Eczema/Rashes
Hair loss
Malnutrition
Weight loss
Depression
Joint pain
Muscle pain
B12 + Iron Deficiency Anemia
Autoimmunity (AI)
Candida, SIFO
The sheer range and diversity of symptoms can make SIBO a challenge to diagnose. But there are tests you can undertake, including those which rule out other AI + gut conditions.
Not all those with SIBO will experience all of the above symptoms. However, a combination of even a few of the above can be debilitating.
How You Get SIBO
So What is SIBO?
How You Get SIBO
The main culprits which can cause an AI/gut condition and thus, trigger SIBO include -
Excessive stress / Chronic anxiety
Nervous system or hormonal imbalance
Antibiotics
Gut Motility Disorders (this can be caused by numerous factors including food poisoning and antibiotics)
Malfunctioning Gut sphincters/ GERD
A poor diet - diets rich in suga
The main culprits which can cause an AI/gut condition and thus, trigger SIBO include -
Excessive stress / Chronic anxiety
Nervous system or hormonal imbalance
Antibiotics
Gut Motility Disorders (this can be caused by numerous factors including food poisoning and antibiotics)
Malfunctioning Gut sphincters/ GERD
A poor diet - diets rich in sugar and processed foods
SIBO is commonly associated with various conditions, such as(2) -
- Viral gastroenteritis, or a stomach bug
- Celiac disease
- Crohn’s disease
- hypochlorhydria, or low stomach acid levels
- Gastroparesis
- nerve damage
- Cirrhosis
- portal hypertension
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- certain gastric bypass procedures
- surgeries that cause strictures or adhesions
- Peritonitis
- Diverticulitis
Stop SIBO
SIBO - More Than Just a Chronic Gut Condition
As the SIBO/dysbiosis damages and degrades the intestinal barrier, gut and immune function decrease and in consequence, numerous internal systems begin to malfunction also, (such as the nervous and hormonal systems). This can lead to serious health implications - including secondary autoimmune disorders - and the resulting impact on the individual's quality of life can be dramatic, especially in chronic untreated cases(3). Explore Gut Dysbiosis/SIBO In Depth and the health complications on the Diagnosis + Testing page.
“...some researchers have suggested that people with IBS (this includes SIBO-sufferers!) have a quality of life that is lower than people with type 2 diabetes and even end-stage kidney failure.”(4)
STOPPING SIBO
There are 5 necessary steps to overcome SIBO. See the Healing SIBO page for full details.
Wellness, SIBO, AI + Gut Healing
*** Please note that although we have carried out thorough, in-depth, evidence-based research and have lived with SIBO for years, we are not medical professionals. Please seek medical advice before trying anything new to ensure that its suitable for you.