While on the antibiotic, there are two ways to go. Some people recommend sticking to the strict SIBO diet to starve the bacteria. However others think that you should eat foods that feed the bacteria while on the antibiotic, so that they aren't "hiding" and instead "come out" to be killed. My doctor recommended the second approach.
It took me multiple antibiotic courses and different diet strategies before I finally got rid of my SIBO. After the antibiotic course is done, what worked for me was eating the strict SIBO diet for 2-3 months before starting to transition to the moderate SIBO diet. At first maintaining the diet was hard because the bacteria can give you intense sugar cravings, but after a couple weeks it became routine. If I wanted to cheat, I just told myself that if I even cheated once, I would have to start the diet over again and stay on the diet for a longer time. In other words, if I cheated, all my hard work would disappear.
I still am on the moderate SIBO diet, but now that it has been almost 6 months since I started the antibiotic it is okay to cheat a little here and there as long as the SIBO diet doesn't go out of the window.
Compiled by Dr. Allison Siebecker (www.siboinfo.com) with the following sources: (formatting thanks to Dr. Michele Bartlett) ·Gottschall E, and SCD™ Community. Specific Carbohydrate Diet Legal/Illegal List. http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/legal/listing/. Accessed October 22, 2012, January 20 & December 6 2013. ·Gibson P, Muir J, Barrett J, Shepard S, et al. The Low Fodmap Diet, Edition 3. Central Clinical School, Monash University. Melbourne, Victoria Australia. June 2012. www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro ·Gibson P, Muir J, Barrett J. The Monash University Low Fodmap Diet App. Monash University. Melbourne, Victoria Australia. http://med.monash.edu.au/cecs/gastro/fodmap/iphone-app.html. Accessed January 13,December 6 2013. ·Hamdan, K. Crystallization of Honey. Bee World. Vol.87 (4) 2010 pp. 71-74. PDF. ·Hebblethwaite C. Your Low FODMAP Diet Plan. Dietary Specialists Limited, Christchurch New Zealand. June 2012. ·Kajiwara S, Gandhi H, Ustunol Z. Effect of honey on the growth of and acid production by human intestinal Bifidobacteriumspp.: an in vitro comparison with commercial oligosaccharides and inulin. J Food Prot. 2002 Jan;65(1):214-8. PMID: 11808799 ·Siebecker A. Clinical Experience, SIBO specialty private practice. SIBO Center for Digestive Health at NCNM Clinic, Portland, Or. 2010-present. www.siboinfo.com. ·Wright S. The SCD Diet and Alcohol: Part III – The SCD Guide to Liquors. http://scdlifestyle.com/2010/02/scd-legalalcohol-part3/. Accessed October 22, 2012