Endo Belly and IBS Awareness Series: Understanding The Endometriosis Belly, Part 3 - SIBO Symptoms

 So, before we get started today, I wanted to let you know that I’m currently off on annual leave, one of my goals this year was to take more time off – well, to basically time off, rather than working through until Christmas! 

And so, the episode you’re hearing today is a replay of a past episode. As it’s IBS Awareness Month, and because so many of us with endo have IBS, I wanted to share with you my most foundational, actionable and informative episodes on endo belly, IBS and SIBO – so every week you’ll get two episodes on this theme, to help raise awareness and to provide you with some actions.

Now because these episodes are old, I may not refer to some of the resources I provide on the endo belly, so I wanted to remind you of the services I provide. So, to start with, I have plenty of other episodes on the endo belly, I have a course called The Endo Belly Course which is specifically for anyone with endo who really struggles with IBS, endo belly or SIBO (here’s the waitlist; I work with 1 to 1 clients; especially those with endo belly or SIBO, and I have lots and lots of articles on Endometriosis News and Endometriosis Net about these topics. And of course, I also   have my Instagram account, which is chock full of SIBO and endo belly info, for those of you wanting to learn more.

Lastly, if you feel you need a little extra support, I am currently running a free Endo Belly Challenge. The challenge ends on April 18th, but if you sign up before May 2nd, you’ll still be able to access all of the challenge, and catch up – and for anyone who takes part, you’ll be invited to a private, free Q&A call with me at the start of May, where you’ll get to ask me all your endo belly questions.

Okay, so without further ado, let’s get to the episode:

The endometriosis belly, the endometriosis tummy, the endo bloat, the endo belly, the endo pooch - whatever you call it, you know what I’m talking about.

That weird phenomena where your belly suddenly decides to make you look six months pregnant, not only is it uncomfortable, sometimes painful (especially if you have adhesions), it can also affect us emotionally - whether it’s about our self-esteem or because it plays on our fears around fertility.

But what is endometriosis bloating? What causes it, and what can we do about it?

In this series of episodes, I’m going to be diving into all the above and more, and really exploring the role that gut health has in endometriosis.Today I’m talking about SIBO - Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth.

SIBO is a very common gut health condition, in fact, research has shown that 60-70% of IBS cases are actually caused by SIBO. To add to that, endometriosis is a risk factor for developing SIBO, so for those of us with endo and even with IBS too, this is a condition we want to be aware of.

• SIBO is an accumulation of of bacteria and archaea in in the small intestine.

• SIBO can cause damage to the small intestine and can cause malapsorption, nutrient deficiencies and intolerances.

• The symptoms of SIBO are bloating, fullness, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, gas, burping, GERD or acid reflux. SIBO can also cause symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, headaches, rashes, swelling and nasal congestion.

• There are three types of SIBO: hydrogen, methane and hydrogen sulfide type SIBO.

• Hydrogen sulfide type SIBO can also cause additional symptoms such as bladder pain, bladder frequency and urgency, generally feeling unwell, worsening food intolerances, histamine sensitivity, sulfur smelling gas, body pain, tingling and numbness in the hands and feet and worsening symptoms after Epsom salt baths and sulfur containing foods.

• Hydrogen type SIBO tends to cause diarrhea.

• Hydrogen sulfide tends to cause diarrhea but can cause constipation.

• Methane tends to cause constipation.

• Both hydrogen and methane together can cause constipation or diarrhea, or a mix of both (so sometimes you’re constipated, sometimes you have diarrhea).

• Methane and hydrogen sulfide together can cause either or both.

• All three types together can cause either or both.

• Key signs of SIBO are symptoms, low B12, low ferritin, vitamins A/D/E/K deficiencies, low omega 3 levels, sometimes low albumin; leaky gut symptoms, and conditions such as interstitial cystitis, psoriasis, restless leg syndrome, rosacea, and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Key causes to look out (there are many, but most relevant to our community) are endometriosis, abdominal surgery (inc. laparoscopy), chronic stress leading to slow gut motility, low stomach acid and low digestive enzymes, food poisoning and hypothyroidism.

If any of the above sounds like you, listen to this episode and be sure to tune into my follow up episode where I talk about SIBO testing and treatment.

A huge thank you to my tutor Dr Allison Siebecker for her SIBO Pro course, which has provided me with the information and training to be able to share this with you today.

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Sign up to The Endo Belly Course wait list here.

 On March 28th I am running my second Endo Belly Challenge! In this 4-week challenge, you will learn the first steps to identifying the root causes of your endo belly and the initial tools to heal your swelling, gut issues and abdominal discomfort. Every Monday, you'll receive a new email with a little bit of endo belly education and an action to implement that week! This challenge is perfect for anyone who experiences abdominal swelling/bloating, gas, constipation, nausea, diarrhea/loose stools, acid reflux, indigestion or stomach cramps with their endometriosis - and it's entirely free. You can sign up here.

My cookbook This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast is out now! Get 28 anti-inflammatory, hormone friendly recipes for living and thriving with endometriosis. Order your copy here.

If you feel like you need more support with managing endometriosis, you can join Your EndoLife Coaching Programme. A 1-to-1 three month health and life coaching programme to help you thrive with endometriosis. To find out more about the programme and to discuss whether it could be right for you, email me at hello@thisendolife.com or visit my website.

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