@Lissa - do you have low stomach acid? low digestive enzymes?
I have similar issues as you, and am still working my way through the solution... Adding ox bile at meal time helps, and I just discovered proteolytic enzymes which have been the ONLY thing to put a dent in the brain fog (my most stubborn symptom) and help w joint pain/stiffness. I use either vascuzyme or wobenzym.
I'm about to do a SIBO-C herbal round, w a low carb diet. I can't afford to do the elemental diet at the same time as the SIBO-C herbs...btw - are you supposed to do the herbs and the elemental diet at the same time, or one first and the other second?
Hope you're well... this post is from a while ago!
Sorry for the belated reply
@ankaa ! I have been taking digestive enzymes for over a decade (Panplex2, and I used to take Panplex8 as well , but they stopped making it) -- seems to help, but isn't a cure by any means. Back in 2008-ish I had lots of unexplained heartburn and food intolerances. Had an endoscopy and docs couldn't find anything, (no H-pylori, no celiac) so they prescribed Omeprazole for use long term.
I think that was a factor in my demise. Turns out it blocks vitamins from being digested properly. So by the time (2010) I became seriously ill -- B's, D, and amino acids were all super low, with some of the aminos being zero even.
It's been forever since I did all the various SIBO stuff --- I had tried it all (for almost a year? 2015?) before going all-in on the Elemental. No matter what, things came back eventually -- within weeks, despite doing everything right, proper diet maintenance etc. REALLY frustrating.
But I kept telling my ND's that my bloating and belching, digestive issues seemed higher up. Like IN the stomach, not just the small intestine. Sometimes I could react from eating anything that was formerly safe. And it would be immediate -- not like delayed timing into the next stage of digestion. Not SIBO? Something else??
Fast forward to now -- I am discovering that there are SO MANY symptoms that overlap between toxic mold exposure and ME/CFS. I had no idea until recently. They include bloating, unexplained weight gain, brain fog, vision problems, aches and pains, and a whole litany of other things --- commonly diagnosed as a bazillion other diseases (unfortunately).
And now my formerly healthy husband has so very many of the same symptoms, after an acute exposure during a remodel. He also has joint pain and stiffness which seems to resolve when he is out of the toxic environment.
But I digress - I am not intending to suppose that it's a diagnosis for anyone else but my husband and I -- although it is put out there as food for thought. I wish I'd been more informed years ago!
As for the SIBO herbs -- I can't remember if I took them at the same time. The Elemental Diet is supposed to starve out whatever cooties are there. Not sure if I can advise further on that matter offhand. I'm in the middle of a "mold refugee" situation so I don't have access to my files as of yet.
Hope you are doing well with kicking your SIBO to the curb!
