Patient story

Antibiotics wrecked my gut 2 years ago — healed from most symptons now, and finally tested IMO positive

@gutpattern-19873cf9BronzeContributorShared July 2026

Current status

Mostly resolved
  1. Still struggling
  2. Somewhat resolved
  3. Mostly resolved
  4. Fully resolved
In their words

The story

About september/2024, did 3 antibiotics rounds over 2 months, to fight a sinus infection. The antibiotics were azithromycin, amoxicillin and moxifloxacin hydrochloride, in that specific order. After the last round, I got some weird symptons (feeling dissociated, light-headed and constipated). The truth is that those antibiotics rounds led me to a dysbiosis state. At the beggining, I was very constipated, having slow motility, several congnitive issues (depressive feeling, tired all the time) and other weird symptons (feeling extremely cold, having some insomnia) - that was april/2025, my lowest point. Then I tried some treatments that eventually helped: (1) motility support (ginger and artichoke extracts, local brazilian brands) + vitamin B1 (benfothiamine), started taking those and got cognitively better within 4 days, and also my gut started making sounds again; (2) gut barrier support (glutamine & bone broth), that completely softened the "feeling tired after" eating sympton over 1~2 weeks, a consequence of huge LPS absorption. Lately, my goal has been supporting my butyrate production, by consuming some specific strains probiotics (bif. longum BB536) and tributyrin (NewBiome brand, 300mg 1 dose), I feel like I feel better eventually but I have to build up on those. Also, I do 5-HTP at night for gut motility, also with some ginger tea eventually. I no longer have cognitive issues, my current symptons are bloating feeling after meals and slow motility. I tend to get worse 2 or 3 days after consuming beer/alcohol, then I have to build everything up again (BB536 probiotic and some doses of tributyrin every other day). The flare 2~3 days after alcohol are like bloating, abdominal distension, gas, feeling tired the whole day, and the curious thing is that it doesn't happen the exact day after drinking, it usually takes 2~3 days so I can really see the gut effects. 2 months ago I was tested positive for IMO (about 15 ~ 20 methane ppm in the first 30 min of testing). All other medical tests completely normal. Feeling much better now compared to 1~2 years ago, but still struggling with some symptons. Waiting for a new appointment with my doctor this week to plan next steps after this IMO test result. This doctor was also the one that prescribed me LDN (didn't help) and AdiDao (DAO enzimes supplementation, helped a lot, I take one before each lunch).

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What they were dealing with

Symptoms

Cold sensitivityseveresevereseveremoderateBowel irregularitymoderatemoderateDepersonalizationmoderateDepressionmoderateDizzinessmoderateFood intolerancesmoderatemoderatemoderateslow motilitymoderateInsomniamild
What the workup showed

Tests & diagnoses

about 15 ~ 20 methane ppm in the first 30 min of testingOther medical testscompletely normal
Every treatment, and what happened

Treatments

Each treatment this contributor tried, in the order that mattered, with their own reported result. The ones marked with a trophy are the treatments they credit as decisive.

Made worseNo changePartially helpedHelped
Artichoke extract
Helped

Used as part of motility support with ginger extracts; contributor reported cognitive improvement within 4 days and gut sounds returning.

B vitamins
Helped

Started with motility support; contributor got cognitively better within 4 days and gut started making sounds again.

Bone Broth
Helped

Used as gut barrier support with glutamine; completely softened tired-after-eating symptom over 1–2 weeks.

Helped

Taken before each lunch; contributor says it helped a lot.

L-glutamine
Helped

Used as gut barrier support with bone broth; completely softened tired-after-eating symptom over 1–2 weeks.

Helped

Ginger and artichoke extracts from local Brazilian brands; started with vitamin B1 and got cognitively better within 4 days, and gut started making sounds again.

Amoxicillin
Made worse

One of 3 antibiotic rounds over 2 months for a sinus infection; contributor says the antibiotic rounds led to dysbiosis and symptoms after the last round.

Azithromycin
Made worse

One of 3 antibiotic rounds over 2 months for a sinus infection; contributor says the antibiotic rounds led to dysbiosis and symptoms after the last round.

Moxifloxacin Hydrochloride
Made worse

Last of 3 antibiotic rounds for a sinus infection; after the last round, contributor got dissociation, light-headedness, and constipation, and says the rounds led to dysbiosis.

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Treatment Outcomes

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Important

This is one person's reported experience aggregated by GutPattern, not clinical advice, a treatment protocol, or a diagnosis. What helped one contributor can do nothing — or harm — for someone with a different underlying cause. Sudden, severe, bloody, feverish, or worsening symptoms belong with medical care. Always discuss care decisions with a qualified clinician.