How “Emma” Finally Found Relief From Her Chronic Gut Symptoms
Time to highlight a client win which a lot of people can relate to. Hopefully this gives you a glimpse that with the right support you can break free of these symptoms for good. Bloating is a common symptom I see in clinic, but the cause behind the bloating ranges vastly!
Meet Emma* (Not her real name). Emma came to me with a set symptoms: chronic constipation, constant bloating, stomach pain, brain fog, and low energy. These are common signs that something deeper is going on in the gut, but pinpointing the exact cause on your own can be tricky.
She started getting these symptoms about 2 years ago after a trip overseas, she had tried different diets, fibre supplements (which made symptoms worse! - tell you why later), and was now on the low FODMAP diet.
After discussing her history and lifestyle, I recommended a: Nutripath Complete Microbiome Mapping test. The results gave a clear pathway to better health:
Overgrowths: Emma had both candida and methanobacteria present in high amounts. Tricky Methanobacteria creates a gas called methane which slows down the gut. Emma was never going to get on top of the constipation and bloating without address this! This bacteria also alters the gut environment creating a place where Candida thrives - now the puzzle pieces are coming together!
Key information - Fibre supplements can be great for gut health, but given at the wrong time e.g. when there are these type of overgrowths, it can make symptoms a whole lot worse as in Emma’s case.
Low beneficial bacteria: Many of the good gut bugs that support digestion, immunity and a healthy gut lining were gone.
Poor gut lining health: Indicating inflammation and a “leaky gut” pattern, which can contribute to systemic symptoms like fatigue and brain fog.
These results explained exactly why Emma had been struggling for so long. Her digestive symptoms and fatigueweren’t just discomfort they were the result of imbalances in her gut ecosystem.
So what did we do next?
Bacterial and fungal overgrowths need to go – targeting the overgrowths while supporting beneficial bacteria with specific supplements targeted at these overgrown bacteria and a temporary food protocol to avoid further fuelling the candida.
Healing the gut lining – using specific nutrients, anti-inflammatory foods, and working on stress reduction practices.
Supporting digestion and motility – helping her body move food efficiently and reduce bloating.
Long term goal of continually working on building up her beneficial bacteria in her gut microbiome - this will keep her gut moving to avoid this situation again in the future, while supporting all aspects of her health not just the gut.
Within the first few weeks, Emma started noticing changes:
Reduced bloating and stomach pain
Bowel motions starting to improve and easier to pass
Clearer thinking and improved energy
This case perfectly illustrates the power of comprehensive gut testing. Chronic digestive issues are rarely “just digestion problems” they often reflect underlying microbial imbalances and gut health issues that, once addressed, can transform your wellbeing.
If you’ve been struggling with bloating, constipation, brain fog, or fatigue, it might be worth looking beyond the surface and exploring what’s really happening in your gut.
