I'd like to run a theory by those of you who have the scientific expertise that I unfortunately don't; though I'm trying to address that by copious amounts of reading, I'm definitely no expert in this area.

I have a theory about the potential cause of my SFN. SIBO, a bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, is known to cause all sorts of problems, and if left untreated, could cause kidney failure and all sorts of other problems. Put simply, it does this via causing intestinal permeability. Once this happens, the bacteria and food products leak into the blood stream. This can cause plenty of food sensitivities in people who don't even have allergies to said foods, which allergy testing has confirmed in my case (i.e., no allergies to various foods, but serious sensitivities once ingested, causing immediate nerve irritation and damage). Long story short, and to put it simply, the bacteria in particular, but also various other things leaking out through my intestinal wall, cause nerve damage. I basically imagine my situation as one in which my blood is loaded with bacteria (and perhaps other toxins that should have stayed in the gut), a body-wide infection really, causing damage to my nerves, skin and organs, all of which I've experienced over the past two years. So I basically have toxic blood flowing throughout my body.

I've had low WBC since this all started, often poor kidney function tests, skin problems and in places significant damage, generalized inflammation, and various other signs that I could have an infection of sorts.

I'd appreciate any input about this. As things stand, this is all I have, given how strongly my gut is implicated in all this, and how no tests have given me a path forward. What's certain is that I have some serious gut issues and that diet is very much implicated in my case.

Hi David,

I posted an article for you on your other thread related to SIBO and CRPS pain. There certainly does appear to be an inflammatory connection.

Littlepaw,

This article that you linked to in the other thread (404 Not Found) is great. It's all interesting. Among other bits, I noticed especially this one: "Finally, SIBO may also play a role in CRPS by means of lipopolysaccharide translocation through SIBO-induced increased intestinal permeability, which then could activate microglia activity." This is precisely what I'm talking about here. This is very motivational. Perhaps this is my problem all along, with IBS and SIBO for so many years eventually there was bound to be nerve damage from toxic blood. And as you and the article mention, there is the generalized inflammation that comes along with such a chronic and systematic infection.

Thank you again for this!

David, your theory sounds plausible to me.

I doubt that the increased intestinal permeability associated with SIBO would be large enough to allow whole bacteria to pass from the gut into the blood but it could well allow whole proteins from gut bacteria to do that. The immune response arising from that could lead to adverse side-effects, including inflammatory responses.

Has your SIBO been investigated? My understanding is that treatment with probiotic bacteria (often various kinds of Lactobacillus) is the first thing to try. If that does not work then antibiotic treatment can be considered.

Thanks for your input, Kiwi. I was hoping you would chime in, and appreciate that you did, especially given what you say about the plausibility of my theory.

I didn't know that whole bacteria couldn't get through. Is this a certainty or is it a doubt? This is where my ignorance shows, so I'm glad to learn this. But it seems that it's enough that the proteins get through. Is this what's suggested in the above article, from which I quoted the bit about lipopolysaccharides? These are endotoxins I believe. I'm wondering whether this means that I could have a twofold problem, where my blood itself is toxic and that toxicity is causing inflammation, thereby doubly damaging my body, my nerves in particular.

Anyway, all this does seem to give plausibility to my theory. Thanks to you and Littlepaw.

I've already been prescribed Rifaximin by my GI, and will begin a 14 day course shortly. Once that's over, I will begin taking a powerful custom probiotic with various strains that I've researched. And then at some point in the new year I'll take herbal antibiotics and antifungals.

Thanks again.

My well-informed guess is that it is very unlikely that whole bacteria can enter the blood from the gut in SIBO. If that happened it would probably lead to septicemia (bacteria growing in the blood), which is a very serious acute life-threatening illness, needing urgent treatment - I can't find anything about septicemia in the context of SIBO in PubMed.

You are right about lipopolysaccharides - they could well enter the blood because of the increased intestinal permeability in SIBO - their endotoxin action would be a serious concern if that happens.

As far as I can see Rifaximin is front-line antibiotic treatment for SIBO - I hope that it works for you.

Hi David, I wholeheartedly agree with you and have read enough medical reports and scientific information on pathogens which interrupt the microbiome and cause systemic and immune mediated illness. I am learning more everyday and feel that I am getting closer to figuring it out. There is also a genetic component to this as well. I am waiting on my complete genetic work up results at Columbia. My children and I were spurred into this neurological problem beginning with gastrointestinal symptoms. All of our guts were compromised. I have come across many cases on pathogenic causes that I present to any doctor who will listen. I am prepared to start trying treatments, but will request more testing to rule out bacterial, fungal, and parasitic causes. If you would like, we can compare blood work and results.

Dental work releases many millions of bacteria into the blood.

People getting joint replacement, often are given prophylaxis with antibiotics to prevent joint infections. This is being modified now. But people with heart replacement valves still are given antibiotics before dental procedures.

Strep is well known to travel to the heart and cause vegetations on healthy valves. Rheumatic heart disease, killed my mother.

Also the risk of bacterial endocarditis is higher for women who have just delivered their babies.

Bacteria do get into the blood somehow, it is just that intestinal ones are still controversial. I'd like to see some studies showing results of cultures done with blood sera to see if they really do.

Parasites? Well, some of them do move around. Toxoplasmosis will get into the retina and brain.
Hook worms will get from the feet (where larva live in soil) and end up in the GI mucosa. Pork tapeworms will end up in the brain and cause holes in the brain tissue!

There is a show from TV called The Monsters Inside Me....
I can't get it to load right now, you might Google it after all the hurricaine servers open up.
edit to add... I finally got thru to this link:
Monsters Inside Me | Animal Planet

I think alot depends on the virulence of any organism that gets into the blood. Some organisms are more likely to establish disease in mammals and humans than others.
Candida ( a fungus) does create aldehyde congeners which are irritating to nerves. I have seen claims that up to 50% of adults carry this fungus(a yeast) in the gut. The congeners are similar to those in alcoholic drinks like wine and beer. They are byproducts of the fermentation process and everyone consumes them as adults in one form or another (they are in vinegars except the distilled white). The metabolism of aldehydes relies on vitamin B1.

I just saw this article. It doesn't talk about neuropathy, but it does implicate that gut bacteria has a role in neurodegeneration.

Study demonstrates role of gut bacteria in neurodegenerative diseases

Study demonstrates role of gut bacteria in neurodegenerative diseases | Neuroscientist News



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Thanks, as that article is also on our Health News Headlines here
recently too.

It is the peptides released by the GI flora that seem to be the
target, not the bacteria themselves as explained in the article.

My son had alot of bloating and loose stools, so he did psyllium bulk laxative daily (metamucil) and the gel it formed absorbed the toxins in his GI tract and stopped all his discomfort. I had a
GI specialist once suggest that to me many years ago.