This is my first review of any kind and I am highly motivated to write it because, for the first…read moretime in years, I am free of IBS symptoms and of the "sibo" (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) that used to dominate my life. After experiencing stress and frustration from the failure and/or reluctance of local doctors to recognize and successfully treat the condition underlying my symptoms, I located, through research, Dr. Leonard Weinstock, whose GI practice includes sibo, and is a relatively short 4 hour drive from my home in Memphis. I was able to get an appointment with him within 30 days of my call and was requested to send a complete set of medical records.
By the time I arrived for my appointment, Dr. Weinstock had a summary of my records, asked questions, and clarified issues so that he was able to give me a treatment plan before I left. While my local GI had treated me with Xifaxan, the very expensive, but also very effective drug to treat sibo, my sibo never went away. During the past 10 months since my first (and only) visit to Dr. Weinstock's practice, I learned to purchase the prescribed meds from Canada (the generic drug, rifaximin, at a reasonable price not available in the US) and prucalopride from the UK; had a colonoscopy and endoscopy (at my local GI office, but with input by from Dr. Weinstock) to rule out other conditions; and received dietary information from the SIG website and website links.
While I felt better, and experienced an improvement in my symptoms, my sibo persisted until Dr. Weinstock suggested that I try an over the counter medication to dissolve biofilm, which could trap the sibo in my small intestine, where they do not belong. Apparently, this medication worked and, finally, I experienced the long-awaited "die off" of the bacteria and feel like a new person. The result of my 7th, and most recent, test for sibo, was "normal" for the first time ever.
The knowledge and professionalism of Dr. Weinstock and the staff is excellent. As a patient, I appreciate the promptness with which phone calls are returned and questions are answered. I highly recommend this practice.
