How do you find your SIBO Fingerprint?

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I make detailed notes about the clinical improvements of intestinal, psychiatric, musculoskeletal, and neurological improvements my patients experience within the first month after treatment with inulin or rifaximin. This collective set of symptoms is what I referred to as the SIBO fingerprint. I then use these changes in symptoms to check for bacterial overgrowth relapses because a relapse will often result in the return of many of the same symptoms that improved originally on inulin or rifaximin.

What does SIBO Fingerprint mean?

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In adults, I make very precise notes about the physical improvements my patients experience within the first month after treatment with rifaximin. This collective set of symptoms is what I referred to as the SIBO fingerprint. I then use these changes in symptoms to check for bacterial overgrowth relapses because a relapse will often result in the return of many of the same symptoms that resolved originally on rifaximin.

Do I need to have a SIBO test before starting this protocol?

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Some people undergo a “SIBO breath test” looking for a SIBO diagnosis, but the breath test is prone to many sources of error.  Within my practice, I stopped using SIBO breath testing on my patients to determine overgrowth because unacceptably high false positive and false negative results made it clinically useless. nnThe “gold standard” test for determining bacterial overgrowth is a procedure that requires a long endoscope to be passed into the small intestine to sample bacteria within the jejunum portion of the small intestine. Then the sample needs to undergo quantitative culturing, DNA identification, and metabolic activation testing of the species in the sample. nnI do not recommend that any of my patients undergo the gold standard test because it is expensive, impractical, is not available outside of a research study, and is unnecessary to improve using The Nemechek Protocol®.

What is SIBO?

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It stands for Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth, a condition of excessive bacterial growth within the small intestinal.

This protocol is based on the assumption that every child with autism has SIBO but what if they don’t?n

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If autism is defined as altered cognition and neurodevelopment that involves elevated propionic acid levels and increased inflammatory cytokines, then bacteria overgrowth is an absolute necessity for autism to occur; otherwise, where would the propionic acid come from? As of yet, there are no other significant sources of propionic acid other than from overgrowth of bacteria that have been identified.

If I have a child who is autistic, should I also put their siblings on the protocol?

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Yes. The protocol can benefit everyone and has the ability to prevent future issues in siblings who do not currently have autism or any developmental disorders.

My child’s sensory issues have gotten worse since starting the protocol, we’ve been on the protocol for almost 5 months now. Other areas have improved but sensory is not improving at all.

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If a child experiences an awakening after starting the protocol, their stemming or sensory issues may seem to increase. The increase in these behaviors and many other positive behaviors is because the child is more aware and connected to their environment.nnOver time the sensory or stimming behaviors will reduce with time. Sometimes vagus nerve stimulation is needed to help them resolve.

Does The Nemechek Protocol also help with sensory issues?

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Yes. The Nemechek Protocol will help many childhood issues because they all have similar origins, an overgrowth of intestinal bacteria and multiple mechanisms that fuel inflammation. In addition to helping children with developmental delay and cumulative brain injuries, The Nemechek Protocol is effective in reversing sensory issues, apraxia, and fine or gross motor issues.

I have heard that seizures can negatively impact speech development. Can the Nemechek Protocol help kids speak even if they have a seizure disorder, and can it also treat the seizure disorder?

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Seizures can negatively impact any aspect of development, not just speech. If seizures are generally well-controlled, the protocol is still effective in helping them recover. If the child has frequent seizures, recovery is often very slow.nOccasionally, seizures seem to improve after starting the protocol, but for the most part, the frequency of seizures seems unchanged and dependent upon medication for control.