In one of the now-deleted TikTok videos scrutinizing her body, Gomez commented, “This makes me sick. I have [SIBO] in my small intestine. It flares up. I don’t care that I don’t look like a stick figure. I don’t have that body. End of story. No I am NOT a victim. I’m just human.” (Note: TMZ caught a screenshot of the comment before the video got deleted.)
Gomez has been candid about her health issues over the years, opening up about her journey with lupus since 2013, her kidney transplant in 2017, and her bipolar disorder diagnosis. She’s even shared how treatment for these health conditions may affect her ability to have children one day. But this is the first time Gomez has spoken up about dealing with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)—a gastrointestinal (GI) condition that can lead to symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Learn more about what SIBO entails—including its symptoms, causes, diagnostic process, and treatment options.
What is SIBO?
We all have a balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in our gut, called our microbiome. But SIBO is a condition where an abnormal amount of bad bacteria grows in the small intestine—the long, tube-like organ that helps your body digest food. This type of bacteria is not typically found in this part of the digestive tract. SIBO often occurs due to surgery complications (to treat peptic ulcers or stomach cancer), structural problems in or around your small intestine, or certain medical conditions like Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), per the Mayo Clinic.
SIBO will slow the passage of food through your digestive tract, which can cause a variety of symptoms, such as:
- Bloating
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Gas
- Feeling too full while eating or after finishing a meal
- Fatigue
- Unintended weight loss
SIBO can be difficult to diagnose
Many people living with SIBO experience difficulty with getting a diagnosis. That’s because the symptoms of SIBO closely resemble signs of other GI conditions like IBS or indigestion, according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, experts believe that IBS tends to be more pain-predominant, while SIBO is more bloating-predominant, per Yale Medicine.
Once your doctor learns about your symptoms, they can narrow down a diagnosis further by ordering a bacterial culture of the small intestine or imaging exams, like a CT scan or MRI. In some cases, your doctor may use a breath test, but it’s not always the most accurate method, per Yale Medicine. Untreated SIBO can often lead to certain vitamin deficiencies or fat malabsorption (i.e., the inability to absorb fat), per the Mayo Clinic, so your doctor may also recommend blood tests to check for any abnormalities.
Treatment involves getting rid of bacteria
Treating SIBO will often depend on the underlying cause. If your SIBO is a result of GI surgery, for example, doctors may need to surgically repair any internal complications. Otherwise, it’s all about getting rid of the bad bacteria by taking antibiotics, trying supplements like B12, calcium, and iron to reverse any deficiencies, and avoiding trigger foods that can worsen your symptoms, per the Mayo Clinic.
Healing from SIBO isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. But, being patient with your body, tracking your symptoms as you go through treatment, and regularly touching base with your doctor about your well-being can support your recovery.
