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Non-invasive answers

Breath testing for bloating, SIBO, and intolerances.

Chronic bloating, gas, and discomfort often trace back to conditions a simple breath test can identify — no scope, no needles.

Quick answer

Breath testing measures gases produced by bacteria in your gut after you drink a specific sugar solution. It can identify small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and carbohydrate intolerances like lactose or fructose malabsorption — common, treatable causes of chronic bloating that often go undiagnosed for years.

What it can uncover

  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) — a frequent driver of bloating and gas
  • Lactose intolerance — difficulty digesting dairy sugars
  • Fructose malabsorption — sensitivity to fruit and sweetener sugars

How it works

After a short preparatory diet and a fast, you drink a measured sugar solution and provide breath samples at regular intervals over two to three hours. The pattern of hydrogen and methane in your breath tells us how — and where — your gut is processing that sugar.

If the test is positive, treatment is targeted: antibiotics or dietary therapy for SIBO, or informed dietary adjustments for intolerances — not guesswork elimination diets. If it's negative, we've meaningfully narrowed the search and I'll guide the next step.

Common questions

Breath Testing FAQs

Is breath testing accurate? +
It's a useful, validated tool when performed with proper preparation and interpreted in clinical context — which is exactly how I use it: as one piece of a thoughtful evaluation, never a standalone verdict.
How should I prepare? +
You'll follow a simple restricted diet the day before and fast overnight; certain antibiotics and medications need to be paused beforehand. My office gives you exact instructions.
Does it hurt? +
Not at all — you drink a sugar solution and breathe into a collection device at intervals. It just takes a little patience.
What if my test is negative? +
A negative test is genuinely useful — it rules out common culprits and refocuses the evaluation on other causes like IBS, celiac disease, or motility disorders.
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Ready when you are

Ready to schedule your breath testing?

Request an appointment and the office will take it from there.