IBS and SIBO: Why Chronic Bloating Isn’t Fixed by Fiber or Probiotics

Let’s talk about IBS.

Not the cute, “my stomach is sensitive” version.

The real one.

The bloating-after-everything.
The 3-day-no-bowel-movement.
The diarrhea-before-meetings.
The “why do I look six months pregnant?” version.

Here’s what most people don’t realize:

According to the Rome Foundation Global Study (2021), approximately 40% of adults worldwide meet criteria for a Disorder of Gut–Brain Interaction (DGBI) - which includes IBS.

Forty percent.

This is not rare.
This is not fringe.
This is not “just stress.”

And here’s where it gets more interesting.

Research suggests that a significant subset of IBS patients - particularly IBS-D - may have underlying Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). Studies estimate anywhere from 30–60% depending on testing methods and population studied.

That’s not a coincidence. That’s a missed layer.

Yet what are people told?

“Eat more fiber.”
“Take a probiotic.”
“Reduce stress.”

If it were that simple, 40% of the world wouldn’t still be suffering.

Fiber can worsen methane-driven constipation.
Probiotics can worsen bloating in SIBO.
Stress reduction without motility support doesn’t fix relapse loops.

The gut is not just a food issue.

It’s a motility issue.
It’s a nervous system issue.
It’s a microbial imbalance issue.
It’s a bile flow issue.
It’s a regulation issue.

And when we oversimplify it, people feel broken.

You’re not broken - You’re under-supported.

Start with the Gut Reboot Rhythm guide. If you’re already ready for strategy, schedule here to get started.