From Michele: Oftentimes we pass others in the street and without thinking much, we judge them based on looks. But if we really thought about it, there’s quite a lot we don’t know. Oftentimes those who you bump into are much more than they look.
So this story comes from a 24 year old girl model based in New York. Bet you never knew how much she was struggling until NOW.
Joanne’s Story With SIBO
Back in late May I was diagnosed with SIBO-methane dominant.
It all started from simply getting sick from food poisoning whilst I was visiting Thailand in early March (but don’t be alarmed it has nothing specifically to do with Thailand, so please keep traveling!!).
But What Is SIBO?
For those who don’t know, considering SIBO is pretty new in the medical world, it stands for Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth; which essentially means that the good bacteria in your large intestine, has found it’s way into your small intestine (where it shouldn’t be!) and makes digesting really difficult, painful and no longer efficient.
How Did It Affect Me?
For months, whilst visiting doctor after doctor, becoming increasingly lethargic and only eating half of my meals a day, an answer was finally given! (Not to say this is exactly exciting given the road ahead you’re told you’re about to endure.)
Late May I was diagnosed, with of course, the more painful, more likely to give permanent damage type SIBO, where recovery can take anywhere from months to years, with the chance of permanent damage (yay….)
First things first, diet is (almost) everything. For the first little while I tried to deny that I would have to start eating on a very strict low FODMAP diet considering I LOVE food, all carbs, gluten, dairy, GARLIC, onions, etc… I mean I cooked EVERY THING with (probably too much) garlic, and now I was told I have to cold-turkey stop. Not only did my food diet have to change, but as a social, active 24 year old in Manhattan, my social habits were also about to be in for a ruder awakening than I even imagined.
After a quick 2 week regiment of antibiotics, which made me insanely sick, I had to start on my journey from hell.
I can pretend I have been positive the entire time, but that would be a complete lie. There have been many breakdowns, “this isn’t fair”, and times where I just want to give up all my efforts and try to be normal again. Unfortunately, or luckily? Feeling so sick from such small ‘cheats’ in your diet really steer you completely away from ever altering even slightly off course.
Here I am 2 months later, taking about 20 supplements a day, eating a very strictly portion controlled (specific to my own tolerances) diet, and have been trying to cut back on my social drinking activities.
Even going out to dinner has become almost completely a no from me on almost all occasions, because it does get embarrassing and awkward when you need to tell a waitress/waiter that you can’t eat, well basically anything.
On the bright side, I’ve seen so much progress! I am down 10 pounds from my max bloat weight, feeling thin, healthy and usually full of my usual energy. To sit here and say I still don’t have bad, painful, sick days would be false and I know I’m in for continuing months of progress, suffering and enduring what I will probably remember as one of the most difficult part of my young adult life but YOU MUST ALWAYS KEEP GOING.
Luckily I have a good, busy job in finance which keeps my mind and self occupied for most of the week, but I also really loved being healthy and working out before this, so I have tried to focus my energy on doing more active social activities which don’t always revolve around food or drinking. If I can continue to progress the way that I have and one day be better again than it will all be worth it and this can be a distant past memory that I’ll laugh about (yeah right!)
But I promise, everything and anything can and will always get better – TIME HEALS ALL!
xxJ
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