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Is SIBO Causing Your IBS Symptoms?

What the heck is SIBO and why is it ruining my life?!

SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. The reason why you should care is that bacterial overgrowth symptoms are virtually identical to IBS symptoms.

Some people even list it as a cause of IBS.

What is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth?

Usually the small . . . Read more → Is SIBO Causing Your IBS Symptoms?

This is your brain on IBS

Your IBS may show up on a brain scan!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve read that irritable bowel syndrome has no organic cause. I argued on one of the pages around here, that this was impossible. There had to be some kind of change or things would, be the same. I.e, no IBS.

. . . Read more → This is your brain on IBS

Post-Infectious IBS

First you get sick, then you get IBS…

Many researchers have studied post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome as one of the main ways of getting IBS.

The theory is that having an intense infection causing diarrhea, can damage the bowel or the nerves of the bowel.

One trouble is that it’s hard to remember if you . . . Read more → Post-Infectious IBS

Visceral Hypersensitivity Syndrome

Are your bowels oversensitive?

For the last few years there has been a lot of discussion about yet another possible cause of IBS symptoms.

It’s called visceral hypersensitivity  or visceral hypersensitivity syndrome, and it’s part of something called “functional gastrointestinal disorders.”

Whew! I try to keep things readable around here, but it looks like I’ll . . . Read more → Visceral Hypersensitivity Syndrome

Trapped Gas and IBS

There’s more than one way to pass gas.

I was reading some medical studies about trapped gas in the intestines cause IBS symptoms (oh, the things I do with my spare time). Apparently many symptoms of IBS are caused by trapped intestinal gas.

Several studies conclude that people with IBS don’t pass gas the way . . . Read more → Trapped Gas and IBS

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky gut syndrome could be the reason so many people are so sick these days; but it is not something you’re doctor is likely to tell you about. It’s one of those new “fake diseases” that will take a while to become “real.” It may be one of the most important pieces of the IBS . . . Read more → Leaky Gut Syndrome

Annatto Allergy

Could an annatto allergy be causing your IBS symptoms?

Annatto is a very common “natural” food additive. It’s used as an orange food dye and as a natural flavoring in MANY foods.

I’ve recently discovered information that links an annatto allergy or intolerance to all kinds of strange problems, including IBS symptoms.

Now I don’t . . . Read more → Annatto Allergy

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The Puzzle So Far…

Irritable bowel syndrome is the name for a group of symptoms, not a disease. It’s not like the flu. The flu has one cause, the influenza virus. IBS doesn’t seem to be like that, in fact there may be many causes of irritable bowel syndrome. That’s why it’s so hard to . . . Read more → Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome