Vivonex Elemental Diet Experiences?

[acer2000]

Has anyone tried the Vivonex Elemental diet to deal with small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO)? Are there any side effects? I know that it supposedly starves the bad bacteria in the small intestine, but what effect does it have on the good bacteria? Anyone know?

 

[Daffodil]

vivonex or tolerex.....looking to maybe try this for a week or 2 to get rid of SIBO....but wondering about the possible dangers with CFS/weight loss....and even if i can do it.

has anyone tried this?

brain fog is such a big problem for me

 

[sscobalt93]

@Daffodil have you been tested for SIBO? This diet is very dangerous and the Vivonex ingredients are not what I would consider healthy by any means. If you are certain you have SIBO you could go on a low FODMAP diet and use peppermint oil enertic capsules. Heres a protocol: http://fixyourgut.com/treatment-of-gerd-protocol-1-sibo/

Brain fog can be from many things. Excess ammonia comes to mind. It can also be from methylation, parasites, low iron, many things.

You didn't even mention abdomial pain/bloating. Which makes me wonder why you think its sibo causing your brain fog. We need more information to be able to help.

 

[Snookum96]

@Daffodil @acer2000

Did you guys try using this?

If so, what was your experience?

 

[Daffodil]

@Daffodil @acer2000

Did you guys try using this?

If so, what was your experience?

hi snookum. no i didnt use it. the brain fog is a little better with the lyme antibiotics now. i did test positive for SIBO in the past but i think almost all CFS patients have it.

recently, they found overgrowth of enterococcus in my stool and treated with amoxicillin. didnt seem to do anything

 

[acer2000]

I used it. I felt somewhat better on it, but I don't think it solved my SIBO problem as I am still sensitive to FODMAPs even after doing the diet.

 

[globalpilot]

There is a recipe for a homemade version of Alison Siebeckers website (siboinfo.com Ithink) for those who wish to avoid some of the ingredients in Vivonex. You can also tailor it to your own needs - more fat, less fat etc.

I plan to try this as soon as my ingredients arrive.

 

[Snookum96]

There is a recipe for a homemade version of Alison Siebeckers website (siboinfo.com Ithink) for those who wish to avoid some of the ingredients in Vivonex. You can also tailor it to your own needs - more fat, less fat etc.

I plan to try this as soon as my ingredients arrive.

I've seen that. I don't feel like I'm knowledgeable enough to play with a recipe that way. That's why I was thinking Vivonex, because I'm worried about making sure I get everything I need.

Is it the corn products you are trying to avoid?

 

[globalpilot]

I think there is aspartame in vivonex (I could be mistaken) and too much sugar for me.

 

[acer2000]

Vivonex Plus (the recommended one from the paper) has maltodextrin. It does have a very large amount of sugar in it. So much so, that I had to switch to eating every few hours on it because I could only tolerate a single package (not two as recommended) per meal or else I'd get large blood sugar swings.

 

[Snookum96]

Ugh I didn't realize how much sugar was in it. I try to avoid sugar as I don't tolerate it well. Homemade formula might be a better option for me.

 

[Thinktank]

There is a recipe for a homemade version of Alison Siebeckers website (siboinfo.com Ithink) for those who wish to avoid some of the ingredients in Vivonex. You can also tailor it to your own needs - more fat, less fat etc.

I plan to try this as soon as my ingredients arrive.

How did the homemade elemental diet work out for you?

 

[kangaSue]

For anyone interested, there's another commercial elemental product on the market, Nutricia also have a product called Elemental 028.
http://www.nutriciamedical.com.au/m.../elemental_028_extra_powder_fact_sheet_au.pdf

 

[globalpilot]

How did the homemade elemental diet work out for you?

I don't think it did much. What seems to help the most is 2 digestive enzymes with each meal, more than anything.