Experience naturopathic SIBO and IBS treatment in Kirkland built around actual testing, not guesswork. I use breath testing, stool analysis, and a root cause approach to figure out what's really driving your bloating, pain, or unpredictable digestion, so we can fix the cause instead of just managing symptoms for years.
If you've been told your IBS is "just stress" or handed a fiber supplement and sent on your way, you know that answer doesn't hold up when your stomach is distended after every meal or you can't predict your own digestion from one day to the next. IBS is a description of symptoms, not a diagnosis of a cause, and SIBO is one of the most commonly missed reasons behind it.
I'm a naturopathic doctor in Kirkland who treats digestive complaints by actually looking for what's underneath them, whether that's small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, food intolerances, low stomach acid, or gut motility issues.
SIBO and IBS Treatment in Kirkland
Why This Matters for Kirkland Patients
Digestive issues are one of the most common reasons people come to see me, and SIBO is far more common than most patients realize, especially in people who've already been diagnosed with IBS without further investigation. Kirkland's busy, high stress pace doesn't help either, since stress directly affects gut motility and can set the stage for bacterial overgrowth.
Many patients arrive having already tried elimination diets or probiotics on their own with mixed results. Without knowing the specific cause, it's hard to know what to actually fix.
What SIBO and IBS Treatment Can Address
Bloating and Abdominal Distension: Especially when it worsens throughout the day, a classic sign of fermentation from bacterial overgrowth.
Unpredictable Bowel Patterns: Alternating constipation and diarrhea, or one that dominates, often points to a specific underlying pattern we can test for.
Food Reactions That Keep Expanding: When your list of "safe foods" keeps shrinking, it's usually a sign the root cause hasn't been addressed yet.
Gas and Discomfort After Eating: Particularly with foods high in fermentable carbohydrates, a strong clue for SIBO.
Fatigue Tied to Digestion: Poor nutrient absorption from an unhealthy gut can leave you exhausted even when you're eating well.
Our Approach to SIBO and IBS Care
We start with a real conversation about your symptom pattern, followed by targeted testing. This may include SIBO breath testing, comprehensive stool analysis, or food sensitivity panels, depending on what your symptoms point to.
From there, your plan may include:
Targeted antimicrobial or herbal protocols based on your specific test results
A structured, temporary elimination approach, not a lifetime of restriction
Motility support so the underlying cause doesn't just come back
Gut lining repair and microbiome rebuilding
Nutrition guidance that expands your food list again as you heal
I provide SIBO and IBS treatment for patients across Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond, Bothell, Woodinville, Kenmore, and Totem Lake.
Why Work with Dr. Savannah Bukant for Gut Health
Most IBS patients have been told to just manage their symptoms indefinitely. I take a different route:
Actual testing instead of a diagnosis of exclusion
Treating the root cause so your food list can grow, not shrink
A plan built around your test results, not a generic protocol
Ongoing support as your gut heals and your triggers change
Because environmental exposures like mold can be an overlooked driver of chronic gut symptoms, my mold detox therapy in Kirkland services are worth a look if your digestive issues came on alongside fatigue, brain fog, or other unexplained symptoms. And since food is often both the trigger and the tool for healing, my nutritional therapy in Kirkland services support the rebuilding phase once we know what we're working with.
Frequently Asked Questions About SIBO and IBS Treatment in Kirkland
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IBS is a diagnosis based on symptom patterns alone, given when digestive complaints exist without a clearly identified cause. SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, is one specific, testable condition that can produce IBS-like symptoms. In other words, IBS is often a label given when the real cause hasn't been found yet, and SIBO is frequently that missing cause.
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Breath testing is a helpful, noninvasive tool, but no SIBO test is perfect. Studies comparing the two main substrates show glucose breath testing tends to be more specific while lactulose can better detect overgrowth further down the small intestine, though it carries a higher chance of false positives if digestion moves quickly. This is why test choice and interpretation matter, and why we look at your full symptom picture alongside the result.
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No. Research estimates vary, but a meaningful portion of IBS cases are linked to SIBO, not all of them. Other IBS drivers include food intolerances, motility issues, and gut microbiome imbalances that don't involve bacterial overgrowth at all. This is exactly why testing matters instead of assuming one explanation fits everyone.
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This pattern is common with SIBO in particular, since bacterial overgrowth ferments a wide range of carbohydrates, meaning more foods start triggering symptoms over time. Once the overgrowth is addressed rather than just avoided around, most patients find their tolerated food list expands again instead of continuing to shrink.
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No, and long term restriction usually isn't the goal. A temporary, targeted elimination approach paired with treating the underlying cause, whether that's SIBO, an intolerance, or a motility issue, is meant to let you reintroduce foods over time. Diet alone rarely resolves the root problem, which is why it's paired with testing and treatment rather than used as the entire plan.
Ready to Get to the Bottom of Your Digestion?
You shouldn't have to plan your life around your stomach. Let's find out what's actually going on.
Call (425) 403-7480 or book online to schedule a visit.