My first GI-MAP in April 2025 came back with high Klebsiella, elevated zonulin (leaky gut), and low sIgA. Klebsiella overgrowth isn’t a discovery you shrug off. It’s been linked to autoimmune issues and diseases. While Klebsiella is normally a harmless gut inhabitant, mine was sky high at 3x the upper limit. My naturopath and I treated it aggressively for 3 months with Happy Belly Antimicrobials, Metagenics CandiBactin-BR Berberine HCl 400 mg Gut Support, and Caprylic Acid.
By August, Klebsiella had dropped, but not enough. As it died off, other opportunistic gram-negative bacteria moved in. The same test also revealed a new issue: low elastase, which meant my pancreas was struggling. I began taking Digestzymes right away. My symptoms were still oscillating and I felt miserable.
A SIBO breath test confirmed what we’d suspected: positive for both hydrogen and methane. It had probably been there the whole time. My naturopath reminded me that healing often looks like two steps forward, one step back. I didn’t want to keep waiting.
I proposed a two-week elemental diet. It is basically a full gut rest for 14 days. She was surprised. Most people refuse it or quit early. I wanted a clean slate for both the SIBO and the dysbiosis, so I went all in.
For the elemental diet to be successful, I wasn’t allowed supplements, coffee, or even tea for two solid weeks. Only the mildly milky vanilla/orange flavoring that I could add splashes of real vanilla extract into for extra pizazz. What got me through was the thought of life on the other side. Nothing was going to stop me. Looking back, I regret nothing.
