Hi, I am so happy that you found me!
My name is Darla and I have a PhD in Nutrition, I’m a Registered Dietitian and trained in functional medicine from the Kalish Institute.
I am happily married, have two wonderful boys, and work as a university professor and functional medicine practitioner. I am also a SIBO Survivor!
After Many Tests, My Doctors Said Nothing was Wrong with Me-Really?
I struggled with IBS for 25 years but after my second child was born, I developed something new-severe bloating. Every night, I looked like I was 6 months pregnant. I saw many doctors and had numerous tests (colonoscopy, MRI, x-rays, etc), and just like you, I was told that nothing was wrong with me. When you get that news, it makes you feel hopeless, like no one can help you. Am I going to have to live with these miserable digestive problems for the rest of my life?
I almost wished that I had had something, anything to explain this misery. I told my gastroenterologist, “it is almost as if the simple act of eating brings these digestive symptoms on.” His response was “I can’t do anything for you, go home and drink some wine.”
I Have SIBO, Now What?
I struggled with extreme bloating for 2 years until an enlightened student of mine introduced me to the specific carbohydrate diet. It helped me control my symptoms, just as long as I stayed on the diet. It took me another year to figure out that I had methane-positive SIBO, now known as intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO). None of my physicians had even heard of SIBO. Sound familiar?
I have learned through my own journey and working with 100’s of patients, that antimicrobials are just one piece of solving the SIBO puzzle. It takes the proper diet, adjusting your lifestyle, and addressing the underlying causes to truly heal from SIBO.
Most Medical Doctors Don’t Know About SIBO or Even Believe it Exists
1. Primary care physicians and GI doctors are not educated about SIBO and how to properly treat it. Most of them don’t even believe that it exists. You leave your doctor’s office in tears because you feel that you’re not being heard or worse, you’re told “It’s all in your head.”
Your Doctor May Listen, But You Still Find Yourself Searching for Answers
2. Even if antibiotics such as Xifaxan are prescribed for suspected SIBO, you are left searching the internet and self-help groups for answers. What is this medication? Is it safe? What do I do when I finish taking it? Should I be tested? What diet should I be on? Am I going to relapse? You leave your doctor’s office with more questions than answers.
There is No One Magic Bullet. Healing From SIBO Takes A Comprehensive Approach
3. Successful management and treatment of SIBO requires addressing the underlying cause. This involves obtaining a thorough patient history, identifying food sensitivities, testing for and treating concurrent gut infections, resolving nutrient deficiencies, and managing stress.
It Doesn’t have to Be this Way
The symptoms associated with SIBO vary widely, from anxiety to rosacea, not to mention diarrhea and/or constipation, which is a daily struggle. But the worse symptom of all is the bloating. You can’t really hide bloating. Your kids want to know “Mommy, do you have another baby in your belly?” Forget about fitting into regular work clothes. By the end of the day, the pressure from the bloating is so intense, you have no choice but to lie down so that you can comfortably breathe. You don’t want to go anywhere in the evenings because you have nothing to wear and frankly, you feel as terrible as you look. Your relationship with your partner is strained. Intimacy, are you kidding?
The hardest part is you feel alone. No one understands, not even family and friends. You’ve been through all of the conventional testing and you’re told by the doctor “Nothing is wrong with you.” But you know something is wrong with you. You’ve looked on the internet and you’ve found that your symptoms match with SIBO, but finding a doctor who believes it exists or has the knowledge and experience to help you is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Learn To Live Again
I can help you in your journey to heal from SIBO. I’ve been there myself. I know how you are feeling and what you’ve been through. I also know the conventional and naturopathic treatments and can guide you to the best treatment to help you. You don’t have to just exist, you can learn to live again.
To schedule a free, 30-minute consultation with me, please click on this link:
