My digestive history - Jan to March 2020

As the SIBO diagnosis protocol included testing for lactulose, glucose and fructose, and I already had a referral that allowed for fructose testing, I changed my appointment to a test for fructose malabsorption instead. As Dr Jacobi advised me at Woodford, SIBO could result in food intolerances, so if I have and can heal my SIBO, my food intolerences that I test positive for now, could actually go away.

I prefer to attend appointments with as much information as possible, so the practitioner can be well informed and not need me to get further testing which can prolong diagnosis and treatment (and be costly due to additional appointments). So before my appointment with Anne at The Biome Clinic, I wanted to know for sure, either way, if I had SIBO or not. That way we could either look at treating it, or start looking elsewhere for alternate answers. I underwent fructose, lactulose and glucose malabsorption testing throughout January and February of 2020. Once I had all the results, I was ready for my first appointment. Before my appointment I was required to complete a patient questionnaire, which asked all about my history, family, symptoms, diet, and more. Never before has I been asked to provide such in-depth information about myself, definitely a good sign. In the appointment, Anne looked over and explained my malabsorption test results; she perused the blood test, hormone analysis, parasite test, endoscopy biopsy results and all other pathology results I had brought to the appointment, requesting this information be uploaded into the patient portal. She asked me questions and delved deeper into my symptoms. She looked at my situation in a holistic way and I finally felt like someone was giving me the time and required to get to the bottom of my issues.

Anne brought up my hormonal imbalances and PCOS diagnosis and asked if any of the previous practitioners I had seen had looked into this. They had not. She suggested this hormone mayhem may be contributing to my digestive issues and recommended I undergo the DUTCH Complete Test to gain greater insight into what was happening with my hormones. The test had to be ordered through the clinic, so I paid for it and awaited it's arrival in the post. Anne and I also discussed the incomplete SIBO profile I was presenting with and that I likely had a digestive issue that would benefit from adhering to the Vegetarian SIBO Bi-Phasic Diet and herbal digestive support. This wasn't what I wanted to hear as I had already tried the diet of my own accord and it wasn't fun, but I had a renewed motivation to heal myself and hearing it from someone who's knowledge I trusted, I dived right in. So as a result of my first appointment, I was now to follow the SIBO Bi-Phasic Diet, take herbal supplements for digestive support and complete the hormone test. Anne also wanted me to add protein powder to my meals and take an Omega 3,6,9 capsule 3 times a day.

Normally the DUTCH Complete Test needs to be completed at a particular point in your menstrual cycle, however as my periods are so irregular and I hadn't had one in over 2 months, I was able to go ahead and complete the test as soon as it arrived. The test involved providing urine samples over a 12 hour period, which I then sent off for testing. As the lab is in America, the test took about 3 weeks from posting it back to the Australian company, to obtaining the results from the US lab online.

I was ready for my next appointment with Anne. By this point I had been on the Vegetarian SIBO Bi-Phasic Diet and herbal support for just over 4 weeks, 2 weeks of the Restricted Phase and 2 of the Semi-Restricted Phase. I was going really well with my gut symptoms, bloating, pain and bowel movements had all made marked improvements, not perfection, but by far my digestive system was much happier. Interpreting the hormone analysis, Anne advised me that my hormones were all over the place. She prescribed bio-identical hormones, Progesterone and Estrogen creams and DHEA capsules, with the aim to get my body self regulating so my hormones could get into a routine and in the long run, function on their own. I was also to continue the Semi-Restricted Phase of the diet for 2 more weeks before moving to Phase 2.

In order to obtain the DHEA, I needed a script from a GP, so went in search of one who was willing to prescribe this. This hunt lead me to a wonderful GP, who looked over my history, picked up on my being an empath (most relate-able and helpful book I've read on the topic), read the lines in my palms and suggested working on my mental health. Never before had I felt so seen by a GP and so satisfied from a GP appointment. He looked at my most recent blood test results and prescribed me B12, a Vitamin D shot, gave me the script for DHEA and advised me that I would do well to be eating meat from looking at my current health status. This comment hit a mark, as my body had been calling out for animal for a while now which I had been denying as it so strongly conflicted with my morals and my mind's desire.

After another 2 weeks of following the Vegetarian SIBO Bi-Phasicis Diet, introducing all that I had been prescribed and feeling like my life was ever more consumed by this journey of healing, I had a knowing that something was still missing. At a very low point in my journey and with my mental health, I decided it was time I trialed eating animal to see what impact it had on me and my gut. I'm nearly 2 weeks in to consuming offal/meat and my next appointment with Anne is tomorrow. I look forward to seeing what the next phase of my healing journey will entail... hopefully I can move forward and not backwards due to the gut flare ups. Fingers are tightly crossed, as always.