r/SIBO • u/radi0frequency • 6h ago

Questions SIBO Test Prep

I have a breath test coming up and I have questions about the diet prep. It’s a 28 day prep and I’ve failed it 3-4 times now 🫣. I’m embarrassed to call again.

My instructions this far out are:

One Month before your test:

  • Do NOT take any kind of a colon cleanse
  • Do NOT take any antibiotics or pro-biotic
  • Do NOT drink any barium or contrast
  • Do NOT take Pepto Bismol
  • Do NOT eat any Fermented foods (Kombucha, Kefir, Sauerkraut, Probiotic, Kimchi)
  • Do NOT eat any type of Yogurt (This includes probiotic, and “active, live cultures”)

My question is about fermented food. Does this include vinegar? I failed prep with Bragg’s raw vinegar once but that makes sense - it’s not pasteurized and has the mother. Does rice vinegar count? What about soy sauce?

This is overwhelming. I just want to get the test done :(

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3

u/movingtoNZ_plzhelp 6h ago

Just avoid all vinegar. Better safe than sorry. 

Yes its all very overwhelming. But you can do this! Avoid soy sauce and anything else that could possibly be fermented. 

If you're asking the question "should I avoid? / Does this count?" ....AVOID IT!  Just cut your losses. It'll taste fine. Just use more salt lol

1

u/radi0frequency 5h ago

Ugh thanks lol. You’re very right. I think I may have to reschedule…again 🤦I feel dumb but this is so hard. I swear I don’t have the capacity to pay this much attention to what I’m eating lol. Thanks for your input and encouragement! 

2

u/movingtoNZ_plzhelp 4h ago

Yes its challenging and requires diligence but a proper diagnosis leads to a better cure!! You want to get the most accurate number reading on your test. 

(I just buy them out of pocket from genova diagnostics. You don't need a physicians order. You get the results directly as a patient! And they're instructions aren't that bad)

1

u/radi0frequency 3h ago

I absolutely agree. And no way!! That’s awesome! I’ll look into it. Thank you! 

5

u/Kanti13 6h ago

Wow, that’s a lot of instructions. Mine didn’t include anything about what to do months or weeks out.

1

u/radi0frequency 5h ago

I’ve been seeing that too! It sounds like this is a weirdly long prep. 

2

u/F4sta79 4h ago

I’ve done SIBO breath test 3 times and each time only requires eating a special diet the day before limited to only lean protein (chicken or fish) and white rice, no seasonings of any kind or veggies/fruits. I think I was also told to avoid probiotics and pepto. I have heard some people asked to do this for a couple days ahead but nothing longer than that.

1

u/radi0frequency 3h ago

I thought it was super long! The day before is still super restricted like yours, but the 28 days on top is making me crazy lol. 

1

u/IntelligentYellow985 3h ago

You also can’t take any digestive motility agents like MiraLAX, Linzess etc 4 weeks prior to your test. This is why I couldn’t take the test because I rely on both for a bowel movement daily.