I Lived With Mystery Bloating for Years—Here’s What Was Actually Wrong (And How I Fixed It)

My Long Gut Health Journey: Why One Diagnosis Is Rarely the Whole Story

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my decades-long gut health journey, it’s this: the body is deeply interconnected, and chronic gut issues are almost never caused by just one condition.

When I was finally diagnosed with SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), I thought I had the answer. But two years later, after deeper testing, I learned I also had H. pylori, leaky gut, toxic black mold exposure, parasites, an overactive nervous system, and candida overgrowth.

How an Incomplete Test Led to an Incomplete Diagnosis

My initial diagnosis was based solely on a breath test at one of Beverly Hills’ top GI clinics. Because that was the only test performed, it was the only diagnosis I received. I was handed a two-week antibiotic prescription and sent on my way.

There was no:

• conversation about nutrition
• explanation for why I developed SIBO
• discussion of root causes
• mention of deeper infections or imbalances
  

Like many patients in the U.S., I walked away with a label—but not a solution.

Why SIBO Is More Common Than We Think

Through research (and lived experience), I learned something important:
SIBO is extremely common among women who suppress emotions, experience chronic stress, or have elevated cortisol levels. It’s also frequently linked to surgeries and motility issues. 

As I was diagnosed, I started hearing of more people I knew who were also getting diagnosed. Research shows that SIBO is quietly surging throughout America. 

The #1 Test Everyone With Gut Issues Should Get

If you are dealing with persistent bloating, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, or unexplained fatigue, my #1 advice: 👉 Get a GI Map test (stool test) before invasive procedures like colonoscopies.

A GI Map is non-invasive, arrives in the mail, includes gloves and instructions, and requires only a tiny stool sample. It can also detect pathogens and dysbiosis while a colonoscopy looks for blockages and ulcers. Two weeks later, you can uncover:

• bacterial imbalances
• parasites
• candida overgrowth
• digestive enzyme insufficiencies
• inflammation markers
• and more

This test revealed all of my underlying issues—except for the parasites, because most tests don’t screen for every type, meaning you can test negative for parasites and still have them. Which is something I wish I knew sooner.

Something else I wish I had known sooner, was the longer you let gut issues go on, the longer your body endures inflammation, the more irreversible damage is done. I now live with an even more sensitive digestion system, true IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and I have to be very mindful about what I eat. 

Why Isn’t Stool Testing Included in Annual Exams?

It still shocks me that annual physicals don’t include stool testing. The amount of metabolic disorders, gut-related diseases, hormonal issues, and even cancer risks that could be prevented with one simple test is staggering.

It may sound dramatic, but once you understand how profoundly gut health impacts the rest of the body—your immunity, hormones, mental health, skin, and energy— everything starts to make sense.

Let’s Talk About Pooping (Because It Matters More Than You Think)

Here’s something nobody told me:
If you’re not going #2 at least 1–3 times daily, your body is holding onto toxins.

Chronic constipation puts stress on your:

• liver
• lymphatic system
• intestines and motility 
• hormones
• skin
• sleep
• and long-term metabolic health

Failure to take out the garbage, so to speak, is the foundation for disease. Your body's exposure to chemicals and toxins in today's modern society are overbearing. Detox support for the body is no longer an on occasion thing, it is now a daily requirement. 

Why Most “Detoxes” Fail (And What Actually Works)

Here’s where things get misunderstood.

Detoxing isn’t about extreme cleanses, juice fasts, or aggressive protocols. Those can be beneficial in extreme cases or as rituals. But, those approaches often make gut symptoms worse, especially if your digestion, bile flow, or nervous system is already compromised.

It is very important that you open drainage pathways before you start bigger cleanses if you don't want your toxins to recirculate the body and get trapped. Taking it slow and not rushing the cart before the horse are crucial with most big detoxes. We are referring to daily detox that the body already performs naturally and supporting these rhythms to make sure there is no clog in the drain, so to speak.  

True detoxification happens every day through your:

• Liver
• Gut
• Kidneys
• Lymphatic system
  

But these systems only work well when the body feels safe, nourished, and supported.

If your gut is inflamed, you have a pathogen, motility is slow, or your nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight, detox pathways cannot function properly—no matter how “clean” you eat or what cool detox you buy. 

That was one of my biggest realizations.

This is why I love our gentle prebiotic fibers and minerals, they supported my body's daily detox rhythm. So that by the time I went to do a bigger parasite cleanse, my body's detox pathways were opened and I had the capacity to release more than just old poop. 

The Missing Piece No One Talked About: The Nervous System

For years, I focused exclusively on pathogens, supplements, and protocols. 

I even narrowed in on cellular and mitochondria repair before it became more mainstream. 

What no one explained to me early on was this:
You cannot heal digestion in a body that doesn’t feel safe.

Chronic stress, emotional suppression, and constant urgency keep the nervous system in a sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state. When that happens:

• Blood flow moves away from digestion
• Stomach acid drops
• Enzyme production decreases
• Motility slows
• Easier to skip meals and nourishment or over eat 
  

This creates the perfect environment for bacterial overgrowth, candida, and recurring symptoms.

Once I began supporting my nervous system—through slower mornings, warm and seated nourishment, minerals like magnesium and vitamin C, breath work, hypnotherapy, quiet, rest and a consistent routine—my digestion finally began responding.

Not overnight. But gradually and then eventually I had more (food) freedom. 

Why Fiber Was a Turning Point (But Only the Right Kind)

For years, I was afraid of fiber and certain foods.

Every time I tried increasing it, I felt worse—more bloated, more uncomfortable, more discouraged. What I didn’t realize was that not all fiber is created equal, especially for sensitive guts.

Many common fibers ferment aggressively and can worsen symptoms for people with:

• IBS
• SIBO
• Slow motility 
  

What finally changed things for me was learning about gentle, slow-fermenting prebiotic fibers that support regular bowel movements without feeding bloating.

Once I was able to go to the bathroom consistently—sometimes twice a day for the first time in my entire life—everything improved:

• Bloating decreased
• Skin cleared
• Energy stabilized
• Hormonal symptoms softened
  

Regular bowel movements and even sweating wasn’t a “nice-to-have.”
These are foundational to health.

Healing Is Not Linear (And That’s Normal)

One of the most important things I want you to know is this:

Healing your gut is rarely a straight line.

There were periods where I felt better, then worse. Times when one issue resolved and another surfaced. That doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means your body is unlayering.

Your symptoms are not random. They are communication and I invite you to listen to your body's signals and clues because that connection to self has proven invaluable to my road to a healthier me. 

When you address root causes—rather than chasing surface-level fixes—your body will eventually regain homeostasis.

If You're Dealing With “Persistent Mystery Bloating” 

If you’re struggling with chronic bloating, discomfort, or digestive symptoms that don’t make sense, maybe they seem random or unrelated, here’s what I wish someone had told me sooner:

• Don’t stop at one diagnosis
• Test before you start probiotic supplements
• Don't wait too long to test, the longer the wait the more disease you build
• Support motility and elimination daily
• Nourish your nervous system
• Choose gentle tools and rituals that fit into a lifestyle change
  

You don’t need to “push” your body into healing. You need to work with it.

Why I Created Preme

Preme was born out of everything I learned the hard way and my ideals. 

While I was sick, I wanted but couldn't find products that:

• Support digestion without irritation
• Use efficacious, up to date science 
• Noticeably improve how I feel with just 1 serving 
• Help you go regularly, gently, and consistently
• Offer indulgent nourishment  
• Includes everyone
• Prioritize premium ingredients without compromising taste
• Feel comforting, not clinical
  

Healing shouldn’t feel punishing.
It should feel supportive. We all deserve to indulge! 

If you’re in the middle of your own gut journey, know this:

You’re not broken.
Your body is doing its best with the information it has.

And with the right tools, clarity, and patience—it can heal.