We will contact patients if their procedures or outpatient appointments needs to be rescheduled, but they should attend a scheduled procedure or appointment if they have not heard from us. Find out more about Resident Doctors Industrial Action
Your doctor referred you for a procedure called hydrogen/methane breath test to rule out a condition called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
The small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is defined as presence of excessive number of bacteria in the small intestine. Whilst it is common for bacteria to be found in the large bowel; their presence in the small intestine can interfere with digestion and cause a variety of symptoms. These symptoms are non-specific and can include change in bowel habit, nausea, abdominal bloating and abdominal pain or discomfort. It is rare to see associated signs of malnutrition with vitamin deficiencies and/or weight loss.
Breath tests are non-invasive and safe tests used to diagnose various conditions including SIBO. This test is based on the principle when we digest food gases such as hydrogen and methane are produced by the bacteria which reside in the bowel. Some of these gases pass through the wall of your gut into the bloodstream and move to the lungs where they are exhaled in your breath. The amount of hydrogen and methane in a sample of your breath can be measured using a special device and determine whether you have bacterial overgrowth.
Diet: A special diet needs to be followed for one full day prior to each of these tests. Detailed information about this diet is attached (see patient preparation sheet). You must follow the diet carefully or the results of your tests may not be accurate. You should have nothing to eat or drink for 12 hours before the test, except for essential medications with a sip of water.
Some of your medications will need to be stopped prior to the procedure if possible as they can interfere with the results. This will be explained on the attached Patient preparation sheet. If you are not sure if any of the medications that you take could be on the list, please contact the team.
The test will be carried out at Endoscopy Department Derriford Hospital unless you are told otherwise. You do not need to be accompanied for this test, there is very limited space within the Endoscopy reception. If you do not require special assistance, please be aware if you bring a friend or family member, they will have to leave the department after dropping you off and return at an agreed time. We advise you to bring some reading material with you for the duration of the test as you can be with us for up to 3 hours. Free Wi-Fi is available in the hospital.
A member of staff from the Endoscopy department will explain the hydrogen breath test to you on the day of your test. You will be asked to sign a consent form if you agree to have the test done.
During the test, you will be asked to blow into the breath test machine. The breath sample is collected with you blowing out at your normal rate, so this will not make you short of breath. Provided you have fasted correctly and have not smoked, the first reading should be very low. If the first reading is excessively high, we may have to ask you to return in a few hours, or re-book the test for another day.
You will then be given the test solution to drink, and further breath samples will be taken at regular intervals for up to 2 hours while the test solution travels through your digestive system.
After the test has finished, you may go home / to work and resume your normal diet and daily activities. You will be informed about the results by the referring physician.
