Patient story

No sibo breath test yet, but rifaximin changed my poop and sleep for 3 months before it all came back

@bloatboatBronzeContributorShared August 2026
MaleUnited States

Current status

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

The story

Pain, bloating, gas buildup which wakes me up at night and ruins my sleep. Accompanied by heavy urination when at night from maybe relatedfluod retention. Rifaximin was life changing for 3 months but now back to normal. Low FODMAP helps but a few days of eating the same things brings all the gas back and I have to rotate again. Inability to pass gas while feeling and hearing it build up. 38 M, 153lbs, 87cm waist at navel. Colonscopy clear. Tight pelvic floor which I’m addressing with PT now. History of Crohn’s with scarring around ileocecal valve but last 10 years of colonoscopy’s clear. No sibo breath test yet because what’s the point the treatment will work or it won’t. Probiotics don’t seem to do anything beyond make it worse. Tried keto and candida cleanse. Take digestive enzymes plus magnesium. If I manage to sleep when bloating is happening I have vivid nightmares and make up soon after. Poop ragged and thin and floats. While on rifaximin it became firm and knobby and sank.

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What they were dealing with

Symptoms

severesevereInsomnia / SleepsevereBowel movement changesmoderateFatty stoolsmoderatemoderateThin stoolmoderateUrinary frequencymoderateVivid dreamsmoderateWater retentionmild
What the workup showed

Tests & diagnoses

clearPelvic floor dysfunctiontight pelvic floorCrohn's diseasehistory with scarring around ileocecal valvenot done yet
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
Helped

Was life changing for 3 months; symptoms later returned to normal.

Helped a bit

Helps, but after a few days of eating the same things gas returns and foods need rotating again.

No change

Tried candida cleanse.

No change

Takes digestive enzymes.

Keto diet
No change

Tried keto.

Magnesium
No change

Takes magnesium.

Pelvic floor therapy
No change

Addressing tight pelvic floor with PT now.

Discussion

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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.