Conditions I help with
Many people contact me feeling confused about their diagnosis, unsure which gut health tests are worth doing, or overwhelmed by conflicting advice. You might have been told you have IBS, or you may suspect SIBO or reflux, but aren’t certain what it all means or where to begin.
This page brings together the main conditions I support
- IBS
- SIBO
- Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth
- Food intolerances
- Histamine intolerance
- Reflux
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a disorder of the gut–brain connection, which causes disruption to the way you digest your food.
It has various causes and can show up differently in each person who has it. There are multiple diets for IBS, and the most well-researched is the low FODMAP diet. However, each person with IBS will have different triggers, so there is no perfect single diet for everyone.
I can help you identify your symptom triggers, advise on supplements and help you optimise your diet.
Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
The symptoms of SIBO are very similar to IBS and you can’t guess that you have it. Some research puts the numbers of people with SIBO at around a third of cases of IBS. If you have too many microbes in the small intestine they can interfere with digestion, and cause bloating, gas and abdominal pain.
There are three types of SIBO; hydrogen, methane and hydrogen sulphide, based on the gas that the microbes create. You can have more than one type.
I can help you work out what to eat when you have SIBO (although diet cannot ‘cure’ the overgrowth). I can help you navigate SIBO treatment and testing in conjunction with your doctor, and can help you access a SIBO test in the UK if needed.
Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth (IMO)
If you have an overgrowth of methane producing microbes in the small or large intestine it’s called intestinal methanogen overgrowth. This is sometimes called methane dominant SIBO, but IMO needs a different approach.
It’s most often associated with constipation and slow gut transit but I’ve worked with people who have high methane and diarrhoea.
I can advise you on the best diet for people with IMO, as well as supplements and how to manage working with your doctor.
Food intolerance
If you’re reacting to everything you eat it might be a gut health problem, rather than a food intolerance. Of course some reactions to foods can’t be changed but other times when the gut calms down, some people find they no longer react to everything they eat. If you work with me a big part of the 3 months will be focussed on helping you expand your diet.
If you’re able to regulate your digestion through eating well and having regular poos, you can retest your tolerance to foods like dairy, gluten, vegetables, or sugar.
IMPORTANT: I don’t recommend food intolerance testing because there isn’t a strong evidence base for using them. (Read more in a blog post I wrote about IGG intolerance tests)
Reflux
Although it’s not part of the typical IBS symptoms, reflux is something a lot of my clients suffer with. This can include heartburn, indigestion, and regurgitation of the contents of your stomach. It can also include silent reflux which might result in a sore throat, sinus issues, or even ear infections.
Reflux may be linked to SIBO, constipation and other digestive issues.
Reflux diets need to be tailored to ensure you’re not avoiding too many foods. Speak to your doctor in the first instance if you want to reduce your reliance on PPIs (acid-suppressing medication), and if they approve there are dietary changes that support this change.
Histamine intolerance
Histamine intolerance is the accumulation of histamine which overwhelms your pathways to break it down and eliminate it. Either you can be making too much histamine, or you can struggle to clear it, or both.
Symptoms of histamine intolerance can be similar to IBS, and don’t always align with typical allergy symptoms.
You don’t have to keep guessing
Book a consultation today and take the first step towards calmer digestion and more energy