I think it was October or November when I was handed a box and told to take a test for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). I balked. In the past few years of survival mode, I have tried numerous times to take saliva tests or other such "take one this time this time this time" tests and have failed more often than succeeded. I haven't had enough wits about me, as organized as I tend to be, to be able to make a test work. Well, I made it work today!

This test involved a very limited diet for the last two days, a 12 hour fast, then breathing into a tube six times over a two hour period. I was able to put together the list of food I could eat these last two days, and though I'm pretty sure I didn't eat enough to meet 1500 calories, I made it through.

This is a breath test - measuring, I suspect, the amount of bacteria in the air amounts. It will be interesting to see the results.

So...I blew the first amount this morning, drank the oh so scrumptious yet nauseating drink, set the timer for the next breath, then the next, then called Fed Ex for pickup after the 5th measurement. Fed Ex arrived 10 minutes before the final tube should have been completed, but I wrote down the correct time, stuck that tube in the bag, and sent the test out the door! Bye, Bye! I'll see the results later! I'm fairly certain there will be some interesting results just based on the absolutely horrible taste that developed in my mouth and throat! Aaaaaaaaaa. Still can't get it out!

I'm proud of myself for having enough mental capacity and determination to get the silly test done. I'm grateful I saw the timer as an option in helping myself this time, and am grateful that this small test might give some relief. From here, it will be one or two antibiotics, depending on the bacteria type, coupled with the paleo/gaps/scd eating plan I tweak. I really appreciate the autoimmune protocol that is spelled out in Practical Paleo balancedbites.com/start-
here . I just have to do some more tweaking because of other food sensitivities.

Thanks for reading and celebrating with me. :)