SIBO and EDS: The Gut Connection Nobody Explained to Me
Geeta BihariFounder, Rebuilt With Geeta · EDS
Gut issues are one of the most common and least discussed complications of EDS. For me, the diagnosis was SIBO. It took years to understand why my gut was struggling, and longer still to fix it.
The EDS Gut Problem
Connective tissue forms the structural scaffolding of every organ in your body — including your entire gastrointestinal tract. In EDS, the muscles and ligaments supporting the gut, maintaining its structure, and driving its movement can all be affected. The result is a range of gastrointestinal symptoms that many people with EDS experience but that are rarely explained in connection to their diagnosis.
Fikree et al., 2017 — “Functional gastrointestinal disorders are associated with the joint hypermobility syndrome” — Neurogastroenterol Motil. GI symptoms are among the most commonly reported in hypermobile EDS.
What Is SIBO?
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth occurs when bacteria that normally reside in the large intestine migrate into and proliferate within the small intestine. Symptoms overlap significantly with IBS — bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and constipation — making it frequently misdiagnosed or attributed to stress.
Why EDS Increases SIBO Risk
The autonomic nervous system controls gut motility — the rhythmic contractions that move food through the digestive tract. In people with EDS who also have dysautonomia, this motility is often impaired. When contents move too slowly through the small intestine, conditions become favorable for bacterial overgrowth. MCAS adds another layer — mast cells throughout the gut can drive inflammation, disrupt the microbiome, and impair the tight junctions between gut cells.
Pimentel et al. — SIBO and motility research. Gibson & Shepherd — low FODMAP dietary approach evidence. Low FODMAP should be implemented with a dietitian rather than followed indefinitely.
From Geeta: My path through SIBO was not simple. Antibiotics first. Then a strict elimination diet to calm the gut environment. Then low FODMAP — a dietary approach that reduces fermentable carbohydrates that feed bacterial overgrowth. Then rebuilding gut health carefully with targeted supplements and probiotics before reintroducing foods. It took time, discipline, and a lot of listening to my body. Today I have no digestive issues. But I understand now that my gut, my autonomic nervous system, and my mast cells were all part of the same interconnected problem.
The Bottom Line
Gut issues in EDS are real, common, and not all in your head. If you are experiencing unexplained digestive symptoms alongside your EDS diagnosis, asking specifically about SIBO, gut motility disorders, and the role of dysautonomia and MCAS may open doors that a standard GI workup has left closed.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. If you are navigating EDS and gut health, rebuiltwithgeeta.com is a good place to start.
