Thank you so much, I am trying to connect all the dots. I’ve been following your advice and focusing on nervous system regulation alongside gentle dietary support.

I wanted to give you an update: I’ve recently completed further testing, including a CT scan and the labs I shared (blood sugar, lipids, liver enzymes, insulin, thyroid, etc.)- along with the previous results I have shared in other chat threads.

The current confusion is are these results enough? As momentarily this is honestly all I am able to do or access in testing.

I am a bit confused with the low fasting insulin result as well- HOMA score wasn’t able to be calculated due to it- not sure how to address this. I am following up with the internist today to get further information on her perspective, however, yours is my priority 😁

Regarding going south to start treatment – should I focus first on supporting stomach acid first then enzymes and bile, or is there another approach you recommend? I am overwhelmed with where and what and how to begin.

Not sure if I should follow the Betaine HCL or ACV for example? I would appreciate some guidance on how to safely start treatment without triggering further dysregulation.

I want to make sure I am taking the right actions and addressing the root cause effectively and also start consuming food beyond chicken/beef-carrots and zucchini 😂

Thank you so much for your continued support.

I just got the chance to watch the video, I am a little confused now- the handout says 1/4 tsp in 8oz (Around 230ml)- the video says 1/4 in around 125ml? Just to make sure I am doing right, could you let me know which one to follow? I have been doing in 230ml for two days. Happy to start over if needed.

Thank you!

I am doing the lactulose test at a local lab, unsure of what brand they use exactly, according to siboinfo.com the lactulose is the most accurate of all and that is the available one thankfully.

It seems the most similar instructions are the same, no spices, fruits or vegetables and not to take any herbs or supplements at least 24 hours prior, so I am assuming the safest thing is to avoid everything but plain chicken/beef for 24 hours prior and then the 12 hour fast and hopefully all goes well!

Thank you so much!

Thank you so much!

My question is if there is an alternative option I can follow other than having to go on the elemental diet?

With that being said, I’ve decided to pause the challenge for now at three days, if that’s okay, just to see if it’s causing my discomfort, as I haven’t introduced anything new besides it. Could this level of discomfort itself provide insight into what’s going on inside?

Thank you

Got it. Could the baking soda challenge sometimes amplify digestive symptoms in sensitive people? I’ve noticed elevated discomfort since starting it- is that possible?

Firstly, thank you for always laying things out in such a way that allows a person to feel less overwhelmed.

The truth is I just want answers and relief, and I feel after extensive research over the past few months, including the excellent information and programs from B Better, in my humble opinion, things that relate to me and what I feel is happening with me are functional in nature. Again, these are just my assumptions. I believe the root cause is my prolonged use of medications combined with withdrawal stress, which amplifies all symptoms and drives the imbalance.

The chronic stress of withdrawal and the possible food poisoning triggered this cascade. I could be wrong with the following but here it goes:

• Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) → delayed digestion, belching, nausea, discomfort after meals

• IBS-like gut sensitivity → bloating, abdominal discomfort, hypersensitivity to food

• Gut dysbiosis / SIBO → bacterial balance contributing to gas, burping, and digestive discomfort

• Histamine / mast cell activation → dizziness, itching, heightened sensory sensitivity (especially smells), food reactions

• Digestive enzyme insufficiency → impaired protein/fat breakdown, post-meal discomfort

• Delayed gastric emptying / motility issues → immediate burping and fullness with and without meals

• Autonomic / neurological involvement → lightheadedness, heightened stress response, low BP

• Stress-related fluctuations → symptom intensity worsening the gut-brain dysfunction

Based on labs and imaging there is no evidence of urgent structural or systemic disease. That said, I am considering an endoscopy and colonoscopy purely for peace of mind, to confirm nothing serious is being missed and to remove lingering uncertainty. This would allow me to focus fully on the functional approach.

My baking soda results:

• Sept 17: belch at 3 min

• Sept 18: small belch at 3 min, big one at 4 min

• Sept 19: with 200 ml water → belched within seconds, then again a few seconds later, then nothing (I will continue another two days)

Given that I’ve been following this dietary plan for a couple of months now (increasingly strict over time), I feel ready to start targeting the root cause of things. I would greatly appreciate your guidance on:

• A treatment plan addressing these issues, which should be prioritized first? For example, should I begin with supporting low stomach acid (HCL) or wait until other aspects are addressed?

• Interventions for symptom relief, I have Iberogast on the way but it may take weeks to arrive. In the meantime, I’m considering Dr Mercola digestive bitters, would this be appropriate?

Alongside this, I am also working on nervous system regulation strategies to support the gut-brain connection.

Thank you for your continued support and expertise. I just need help kickstarting a treatment plan to shift things in the right direction.

All the best,

R

Ah! That’s good to know. I will follow the -how to test for low stomach acid handout- for five days and update then? Thank you so much.

The site also puts this information (in attached image)- it really causes so much confusion on how to go on and fix this especially looking for relief with so much information. How true is this? Am I making it worst by taking these?

Thank you for the amazing information.

I’ve been reviewing the elemental diet and the whole website regarding everything SIBO, and honestly, it feels quite overwhelming for me in my current state. Finding a practitioner to guide me through it is also challenging, and on top of that, I won’t be able to access the mentioned products/ ingredients delivered to my location nor are they available locally either, the ready ones are quite expensive and also again unfortunately shipping issues, I saw that they have a combination of herbal antimicrobials that I could potentially try would love your input on this? I could access getting those through iHerb.

I’m wondering if it might be possible to explore other options that could still help me manage my symptoms effectively. I want to stay hopeful and give myself a chance, especially since the last couple of days have felt “somewhat” calmer, the elemental diet feels too difficult for me to commit to right now for multiple reasons- I am still exploring options on getting the items, however also reading the website with all the information, also states it could cause digestive distress and since I am navigating more than one thing, I am not sure how to go on about it. The website is so rich in information yet very overhwleming in the amount of suggested supplements and protocols to take and follow, it gets quite confusing. I also just understood there are different types of SIBO, and I don’t actually know what type I am, as thankfully now the diarrhea has subsided and I have normal bowel movement, and I haven’t been able to access a breath test to clarify that. So right now, the amount of information and the steps to start feel overwhelming, even though I want to move forward.

I would really appreciate your feedback on what alternatives might be suitable and how I could go about this in a way that’s realistic for me. I’m eager to find a path forward that allows me to manage my symptoms without feeling completely overwhelmed and realistic for me.

Thank you again and again

Thank you so much for your kind words! Over the last few months I’ve done everything but an endoscopy and nothing structural (thankfully) came up. That’s what’s mainly driving me crazy.

It has been over three months of me struggling with gut issues this intense like never before. The only things that doctors have said are IBS/ SIBO- first it was IBS-D and thankfully the diarrhea is done however my abdomen is still not well, and since then I’ve lost over 15+ kgs and I can’t find answers. I was functioning through my withdrawals as normal and then I recall exactly what happened after eating watermelon for around a week (a lot of it) also had sauerkraut daily for around two weeks- then I had a falafel sandwich- then nothing has been the same, spent over a month in bed with stomach pain and diarrhea and couldn’t eat anything at all and the pain was constant for too long and overstimulating me and that’s why I keep saying something from my gut issues causing me to be in this much distress and in return lead me to be in a constant heightened state- I was told I got a virus or food poisoning (rota or else who knows)- I’ve tested and nothing came up- I’ve even done the calprotectin- I’ve done stool analysis tests- everything- and still my gut issues are not getting any better. I have cut gluten dairy and sugar and everything for months now but still. I can’t find answers. I take a few good days or else and then something backfires. I can’t find answers and that’s why I’m here. Still searching for the why and the root of this or what it is that’s going on.

sorry I went on a rant but truly it’s been around three months now of this intense exhausting gut situations that has affected everything in me.

Sorry one more question, when nausea/ discomfort is this high along with the obvious anxiety, am I supposed to continue eating regardless? Is that even good for me? It confuses me because a part of me doesn’t want to eat at all but another part wants to eat in hopes to calm it down. And I tried to look through B better for some information- does IBS/SIBO also play a role in muscle aches?

Hello,

I wanted to give an update on my gut symptoms over the last three days. Would love some guidance on best next steps.

7/9

* Woke up with palpitations, some bowel movement, pain out of control

* 8:30am: Slippery elm

* 9:50am: Ate chicken with rice and steamed carrots and cucumber, drizzle of olive oil, pinch of salt – pain calmer but still shaky, anxious, weak

* 11:20am: Rescue Remedy drops

* 12:30pm: Pain started again – took slippery elm and Rescue Remedy again

* 1:15pm: Ate chicken breast with rice, carrots, zucchini – some ache on and off, slightly vomited in mouth shortly after eating

* 4:10pm: Cucumber with salt and olive oil

* 5:30pm: Sudden sharp pain in abdomen – took slippery elm 5:40pm

* 5:50pm: Bowel movement

* 6:10pm: Duloxetine

* 7:10pm: Chicken cooked in olive oil with turmeric, dried basil, dried oregano; side of steamed carrot and zucchini with 2 tbsp rice

* 8:30pm: Dizzy with itching, intense severe panic attack (~1 hour) – took L-theanine 9:20pm

* 10:55pm: Slippery elm; abdomen still upset

* 11:10pm: Bowel movement

8/9

* 7:30am: 500ml sole water

* 8:15am: Slippery elm; elevated anxiety this morning

* 9:00am: Chicken with carrots and zucchini; drop of Rescue Remedy 9:25am; little L-theanine 9:55am

* 12:00pm: BP drop- had some cucumber with salt and olive oil

* 12:45pm: Chicken with rice, carrots, zucchini – lots of anxiety around eating, jolts, dizziness

* 2:00pm: Slippery elm; Rescue Remedy pastille

* 3:00pm: Feeling sick, want to vomit – tiny bit L-theanine 3:40pm

* 4:40pm: Finished eating chicken with carrots, zucchini, rice; slivers of L-theanine

* 5:30pm: Pain started (pinching) – took slippery elm 5:40pm

* 6:20pm: Duloxetine

* 8:00pm: Abdominal ache

* 8:45pm: Chicken with steamed carrots, zucchini, 1 tbsp rice

* 10:05pm: Abdominal pain

* 10:20pm: Slippery elm

* 10:40pm: Quarter L-theanine

9/9

* 5:20am: Woke up intense lower abdominal pain

* 6:40am: 500ml sole water; normal bowel movement 6:45am

* 7:15am: Finished sole water

* 7:25-7:45am: Uncomfortable; tingling and prickling all over, burning electricity-like sensation in chest/back, prickling in head; choking sensation, throat tightness; tiny abdominal ache

* 8:05am: Ate half chicken breast with 1 tbsp rice, steamed carrots, zucchini, cucumber

* 8:50am: Tired, muscle ache, some abdominal discomfort; felt stressed – took quarter L-theanine 9:20am

* ~12:00pm: Lower abdominal pain – slippery elm 12:00pm

* 1:15-1:30pm: Ate chicken with steamed carrots and 2 tbsp rice – pain remained, intense palpitations 1:55pm

* 2:05pm: Rescue Remedy drop

* 2:45pm: BP dropped; still feeling unwell

* 3:20pm: Still dizzy, about to be sick, uncomfortable, sour taste back of mouth, belching, heartburn

* 3:30pm: Warm water with ginger

* 4:00pm: Still dizzy, slightly itching, stressed and muscle aches intensified – took quarter L-theanine 4:12pm

* 4:00pm+: Abdomen off, nausea intense, heartburn

* 5:10pm: Took Slippery elm- nausea still intense feeling like nausea is in throat intensely and very uncomfortable, muscle aches still on a high

* I would like to add that all the chicken is cooked fresh in olive oil, only eating breast, also only spicing with minimal amount of dried oregano and dried basil and some salt.The carrots and zuchinni are steamed and I am going for a walk right after eating every meal.

I am also doing a lot of nervous system work during the day, I just feel the dominant symptoms have remained very high in my abdomen for a long time and hoping for any relief or gudance.

The intensity of my abdominal symptoms is truly getting to my head. Palpitations, dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain, and anxiety are very high, feeling something stuck in throat or like my abdomen is in my chest, and they are unpredictable despite following diet and remedies. Is this normal? I just want to know that I’m not loosing my mind over an imagined feeling and the discomfort of gut issues that are truly impacting my wellbeing a lot.

Could you please advise what next steps, adjustments, or treatments you could recommend me doing? Do I continue with the safe food, do I adjust anything? Just want to know that this is normal, feeling extremely distressed by the sensation in chest and throat and truly looking for relief, could this last this long? Any additional tips I can do? I watched the IBS/SIBO protocol to educate better and did the fillable handouts for myself as well.

Thank you so so much for your guidance again and again.

Yes, absolutely makes sense!

There’s so much out there, it’s very confusing, goal for me is to stop searching and reading in too many places, thankful for this platform and everything it has and you to keep me in check!

Thank you! 😃