SIBO – Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Testing and Consult
Price: $679
This is a Breath Test that measures both Hydrogen, Methane and Carbon dioxide
What are the Symptoms of SIBO Overgrowth?
- Abdominal cramps
- Abdominal bloating
- Diarrhea
- Gas (flatulence)
- Excess Fat in feces- Stool Floats
- Stool has Oily appearance.
- Weight loss
- adverse reaction to Starches, grains or other carbohydrates
- adverse reaction to probiotics
- Features associated with micronutrient deficiencies (Vitamins B12, B6, B3,B1, A, D, and E, iron,)
FAQs About SIBO Breath Testing
No. This is a cash discount and includes a consultation with Dr Hagmeyer.
This is a Breath test. This Test can be done in the comfort of your own home
Web results are posted within 7-14 business days. Our office will notify you when test results have been reported.
You will be emailed a confirmation from the lab. Within 3-5 business days, you will receive a test kit that you will take to the lab with you.
Yes. Dr Hagmeyer will review the test result with you. Each test comes with a post-test review/explanation.
One we have placed the order for the test we are unable to issue a refund.
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Gas
• Abdominal Distention
• Cramping
• Abdominal Pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Skin conditions
Learn More About SIBO Breath Testing
About SIBO
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition characterized by an abnormal increase in the number and/or type of bacteria in the small intestine, a region that typically contains fewer microorganisms compared to the large intestine.
This bacterial overgrowth can disrupt the normal process of digestion and nutrient absorption, resulting in a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, including bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, gas, belching, nutrient deficiencies, weight loss, and fatigue.
The causes of SIBO are varied and often include impaired gut motility or movement of intestinal contents, anatomical abnormalities in the digestive tract, certain medical conditions like diabetes, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and effects from prior abdominal surgeries.
Breath testing is a critical diagnostic tool for SIBO, as it provides a non-invasive method to measure the levels of hydrogen and methane gases in the breath following the ingestion of a sugar solution such as lactulose or glucose.
These gases are produced by the bacteria in the intestine during carbohydrate fermentation.
The importance of SIBO breath testing lies in its convenience and non-invasive nature, making it accessible for patients either in a clinical setting or at home. It aids in guiding treatment by specifying whether SIBO involves methane-producing bacteria, which would influence the treatment approach.
Additionally, it helps in identifying malabsorption syndromes that can lead to nutritional deficiencies if not addressed.
Breath testing is also valuable for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment over time. Proper preparation for the test, typically involving dietary restrictions, is crucial for accurate results.
Consulting with a Functional Medicine Practitioner is essential to ensuring the correct use of this diagnostic method and obtaining an appropriate treatment strategy.
SIBO Check List? Symptoms of SIBO You Need To Be Aware Of:
- Skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, Rosacea
- New allergies, food sensitivities, and food intolerances
- Digestive symptoms, including bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or bowel irregularity (which are often diagnosed as “irritable bowel syndrome” or IBS)
- Candida overgrowth
- Irritable Bowel Diseases, such as Celiac Disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Hashimoto’s and rheumatoid arthritis
- Depression and anxiety
- Hormonal imbalances, including PMS and estrogen dominance
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Migraines
- Brain fog
- Asthma
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Difficult weight loss (despite eating healthy)
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
What is a SIBO breath test, how does it work?
Simply put, you follow a preparation period to ensure you are able to measure the true level of bacteria in your gut and not what you are fermenting from your last meal or what your last lot of antibiotics, probiotics or even exercise did to your gut.
Then, you drink a sample of either a lactulose or glucose solution and breathe into a collection bag in a specified way so we know we are collecting lung air and not the air in your room.
These breath tests are taken at specific times, usually every 20 minutes, throughout a three hour period on your testing day and each time you deposit the air into a labelled, timed sample vial until you have completed all the vials. Then, you send the vials to the lab to be analysed.
Why Is it Important to Test for SIBO?
The aging of the population has increased the incidence of bacterial overgrowth. A recent publication by M. Pimentel, E.J. Chow and H.C. Lin has suggested a link between IBS and bacterial overgrowth. In this study, over 78% of the 157 patients with IBS tested positive with the hydrogen breath test.
This is an important development for people that suffer from IBS because bacterial overgrowth can be successfully treated.
Linking bacterial overgrowth with IBS makes sense because it relates to the frequent IBS complaint of bloating after eating. As the bacteria ferment food, gas is released into the small intestine, causing painful bloating and other symptoms.
In addition, patients are at potential risk of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth with the following clinical conditions:
- Fibromyalgia
- Cirrhosis
- Immunodeficiency syndromes
- Chronic pancreatitis
- End stage renal disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Short bowel syndrome
- Celiac Disease
- Radiation enteritis
- Long-term treatment with proton pump inhibitors
What are we looking for in results exactly?
The two gases being measured are hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) as well as a score of the two combined. Most people are predominantly hydrogen-producers, but 30% of the average population are methane-predominant, hence the need to look for both.
Methane is often seen in people who have constipation. I assume this might depend on the type of diet people have and how they ferment food individually.
Many labs, certainly in mainstream medicine and, I’m told, some pretty well-known highly-regarded ones, still use hydrogen-only machines, which would mean they could miss a load of SIBO sufferers!
We’re essentially looking to see if the hydrogen, methane or a combined score is too high at specific times that relate to the small intestine. Labs do sometimes score these differently, so it depends on the lab being used.
For hydrogen, a positive result for SIBO is usually >20 over baseline figure within the first 90 minutes.
For methane, a positive result for SIBO is usually >10 over the baseline figure at any time. However, the experts believe that anything over 3 if the symptoms fit could be seen as positive.
How Did I Develop SIBO?
1. Low Stomach Acid
Stomach acid activates digestive enzymes and kills pathogenic bacteria. Low stomach acid — which can be caused by frequent antibiotic use, a diet high in processed foods, or a natural decline with age — can lead to microbial overgrowth, and is therefore a greater risk for bacteria entering the small intestine and causing SIBO.
2. Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
Any medical condition that affects the gut’s muscle function can lead to SIBO. Type 2 diabetes, Thyroid disease, prior bowel surgeries, leaky gut syndrome, and long-term celiac disease can all increase your risk of developing SIBO
3. Dietary Factors: Alcohol, Gluten, Refined Sugar
One study showed a much higher rate of SIBO with moderate alcohol consumption, compared to people who don’t drink alcohol at all (According to sources online, moderate alcohol consumption is considered one alcoholic bevy per day for women, and two per day for men
Stuides show that even moderate consumption of alcohol causes SIBO.
The first reason is that alcohol has been shown to damage small bowel mucosal cells, which can decrease the muscular contractions of the ileocecal valve, which keeps the contents of the large and small intestine separated.
Secondly, both alcohol and refined sugar feed certain types of “bad” bacteria in your system, such as yeast, which is harmful when it overgrows and outnumbers your healthy gut bacteria.
Yeast overgrowth (a.k.a. candida) can lead to leaky gut syndrome, which further impairs gut muscle function, and creates an ideal environment for SIBO (and other health conditions) to manifest.
Eating gluten may also increase your risk for SIBO, because it’s one of the main contributors to leaky gut.
As you can see, SIBO goes hand in hand with leaky gut. In fact, SIBO and leaky gut are almost like a “chicken and egg” situation, because it can be hard to tell which one came first.
4. Ileocecal Valve Pressure causing Small Intestine Dysmotility
“Motility” is a term used to describe the contraction of the muscles that mix and propel contents in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It can be caused by genetics, autoimmune conditions, and any illness that causes inflammation in the GI tract
5. Slow Bowel Transit Time
A sluggish bowel transit time means it takes longer than 72 hours for food to move through your digestive tract from the time it’s eaten to the time it’s eliminated. It’s a risk factor to SIBO because it allows more time for harmful bacteria to accumulate.
6. Medications
Prescription medications such as antibiotics, antidepressants, Pain pills such as Opiates and birth control pills can destroy healthy gut bacteria and may damage bowel mucosal cells.
7.Infection-
Certain bacteria can damage the migrating motor complex. The Migrating motor complex influences bowel motility.
How The SIBO Test Works and How It Can Benefit You
The SIBO breath test is a simple, noninvasive test 3 hour test (Gold standard) that you do in the comfort of your home. In the past, patients desiring to have a breath test would need to spend 2-3 hours or longer in their doctors office.
With this home test kit, you can obtain accurate measurements of Hydrogen and Methane. Identifying which gases are present and in what concentration, can help us develop the most effective treatment plan for your digestive problems.
After a 24 hours preparatory diet, you consume a small amount of lactulose or glucose. Lactulose is not absorbed and therefore acts as a food source for bacteria, if present, in the small intestine, the bacteria ferment the lactulose and produce hydrogen and/or methane gas.
The gas levels are then recorded and graphed along the three hour window. Because Hydrogen and Methane gas levels are measured this test is known as the Hydrogen/Methane Breath Test
Once you have collected the samples, these samples can then be dropped in the mail and sent to the pathology lab. Results take approximately 7-10 business days to be finalized.
Were you recently given an IBS diagnosis? IBS-C or IBS-D?
If so, the SIBO Breath test is the Easy, Safe, and Private way to get a better understanding of what’s going wrong in your gut/digestive health and confirm if you have SIBO.
- No waiting in a doctors office for 3 hours.
- Fast turn around.
- No need to take time off from work for a Doctors appointment.
- Cheaper! Save on having to pay a doctors office visit.
- With the SIBO Test, all it takes is an easy to do home breath test to identify if you have an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine causing your symptoms.
