Question: It all began with a flu-like illness which made me panick and thought it was HIV. I had a low grade fever and loose stool for 1 day. A week after, the symptoms returned really strong with fever, muscle ache in my arms, headache, diarrhea and fatigue. I stopped sleeping, became very depressed and stressed, very anxious and experiencing panic attacks. Exactly a month later, I woke up with a sore throat, clear mucus dripping down my throat (still have it today-white post nasal drip), fever, aching muscles and loose stool. I got tested for HIV at 2.5 months (Elisa blood, negative) 3 months (oral swab, negative), 3.5 months (4th generation, negative) and 6 months 1 week exact (rapid blood, negative). In addition, my doctor did a physical exam and everything came back normal. I saw an ENT for my postnasal drip and was prescribed antibiotics and nasal spray. In addition, I saw a gastroenterologist who diagnosed me as having SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) based on the classical symptoms of lower stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloating and gas. I was given a special antibiotic for 21 days and most of the symptoms went away. Moreover, the gastroenterologist checked for thyroid, diabetes, pancreas, vitamin b12 and vitamin d. The results indicated that I was Vitamin D deficient. Recently, I had a colonoscopy and the doctor found a polyp and inflammation, waiting on the biopsy results. My main concern is that I am losing unintentional weight, so far lost 15 lbs in about 6 months which worries me so much. What other test can be done to rule out any other problems with my health???? I am so depressed.

forgot to mention that I had an O/P test to check for parasites which also came back negative. However, I am confused about the SIBO, I am not having any symptoms related to the bacteria overgrowth. Except, there are times that i feel fatigued, minor bloating after eating, my stool is either soft/loose with undigested food or hard (constipated). I've noticed that when i eat, i don't feel satisfied or full after any meals, as if something is robbing my food. Two weeks ago, i was gaining weight, and all of a sudden my weight dropped. I am so concern about this weight fluctuation, its like i can't maintain a stable weight anymore. People ask if I am following a diet, and i feel so uncomfortable. I thought you should avoid carbohydrate food with SIBO. All I want is to regain my weight back.

Are you familiar with bacterial overgrowth? you can't eat a carbohydrate rich diet because apparently it will feed off the bacteria and not my body. However, I am not having specific symptoms to SIBO (at least not digestive). I am experiencing more fatigue, weight loss, breaking out in the face, slow cut healing probably from low zinc and soft/loose stool with undigested food, sometimes bloating/gas, post-nasal drip. I need a specialist that can help with my symptoms and provide me some medical professional feedback so I can ask my doctor to conduct additional testing.

Thank you Dr. Rakesh!

I am very worried because i thought my weight loss was due to HIV, but after 4 negative test results within 6 months, it should be ruled out right? My doctor said the 4th generation test is 99.9% accurate at 90 days and I tested negative almost at 4 months and then again after 6 months. So you will agree that my weight loss is due to SIBO?

Dr. XXXXXXX Madhyastha,

I feel a lil bit more calmed after speaking to you. I will continue speaking with my Gastroenterologist and follow your advice on those other testing to rule out any other health issues. To be honest, for the past few months, I have thought about malabsorption syndrome since my stool have undigested food and the weight loss does not appear to be HIV related. I have a follow-up appointment with the GI doctor to obtain the results from the biopsy of the colonoscopy. I will ask to do further testing as you recommended.

Thank you so much for your professional feedback.

Yes, Dr., will do! My appointment is not until Dec. 15th, but I will definitely follow up with you.