One week before treatment
I’m planning on starting my SIBO treatment exactly one week from today. If you’ve done SIBO treatment before or are doing it for the first time, you know about the nervous feeling before you jump into a new routine for two weeks. Since I’ve done this once before I’m feeling pretty confident that the process won’t be as jarring as it was the first time around. That being said, I did forget about the serious will-power you have to build up!
Before SIBO treatment weeks:
I’ll let my family know that I’m going to be eating a little different than normal and that I’ll be grocery shopping a little differently as well. I’ll let them know that I won’t be drinking alcohol and will likely not agree to going to any events or social gatherings rooted in drink or food either.
I’ll also let my family know that SIBO treatment can leave me feeling lethargic, bloated, and uncomfortable, and that my energy levels might be down.
If friends are texting to make plans, I’ll let them know that I am super happy to make plans that don’t involve food or drink or to plan something post this two week period or treatment.
I’ll write out a list of foods I can and cannot have to refresh my mind.
I’ll make a staple grocery list so I can get groceries in advance, including healthy snacks and desserts. This will also be helpful so that I always know what I can grab on the go!
I’ll make sure I have a coffee substitute ready to go. Coffee really bothers my stomach and is not low-FODMAP, so I make sure to buy plenty of matcha lattes, chai, and london fogs for my morning and afternoon rituals. This is an important step for me because SIBO treatment tends to make me pretty exhausted and, with the added bonus of no coffee, the first few days can be rough.
LADIES: SIBO treatment has, in the past, induced my period. So, I always make sure to buy some pads and tampons just in case.
I’ll have a very real conversation with myself about my exercise routine during treatment. For me, it’s better to include low intensity workouts, like long walks and yoga, during treatment, so I’ll make sure to plan those activities into my schedule and take out the HIIT classes I’ve been doing.
Finally, I’ll plan for 15 minutes of journaling during my morning routine. This is A BIG ONE. For you to see a difference in your body after SIBO treatment, you have to get in touch with your body and notice what’s going on every day of treatment. Journaling is a great way to reflect on how you’re feeling, to keep track of your bowel movements, bloating, and fatigue, and to keep up your self-confidence and motivation! For information on journaling, check out my 15 minute, free, guided session on Instagram.
That looks like a lot, but each of those tasks only take a few minutes and will save you loads of stress during treatment. To continue reading about how my treatment is going, click here.