When Bloating, Brain Fog, and Migraines Collide: Could It Be SIBO, Histamine Intolerance—or Your Hormones?
Perimenopause can feel like a whirlwind of symptoms—bloating, anxiety, sleep issues, migraines, and digestive discomfort. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Is this hormonal… or is something else going on in my gut?” — you’re not alone. And the truth is: it’s probably both.
Let’s unpack what’s happening—and how to start making sense of it all.
🌿 What Is SIBO?
SIBO stands for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, a condition where bacteria that belong in the large intestine migrate into the small intestine and overgrow. This leads to symptoms like:
Abdominal bloating or distension
Gas and cramping (often worse after eating)
Irregular bowel movements (constipation, diarrhea, or both)
Nutrient malabsorption and fatigue
💥 What Is Histamine Intolerance?
Histamine is a natural compound that plays a role in immunity, digestion, and brain signaling. But when your body can’t break it down effectively, histamine builds up—leading to symptoms like:
Anxiety or irritability (especially at night)
Headaches or migraines
Skin flushing, hives, or itching
Nasal congestion or post-nasal drip
Trouble falling or staying asleep
It’s not always about high-histamine foods—sometimes your detox pathways or gut lining can’t keep up.
🔄 The Hormone-Histamine-Gut Connection
Here’s where it all comes together.
During perimenopause, estrogen becomes erratic—it may spike suddenly or stay elevated longer than it used to. Estrogen naturally increases histamine levels and decreases DAO, the enzyme responsible for clearing histamine. This is why symptoms like:
Insomnia
Bloating
Migraines
Heightened anxiety
…can feel cyclical or unpredictable.
Meanwhile, conditions like SIBO can make things worse by:
Damaging the gut lining, reducing DAO production
Triggering inflammation, which further impairs histamine clearance
Altering estrogen metabolism, especially if the estrobolome (gut bacteria that process estrogen) is out of balance
You’re not imagining it. These overlapping imbalances can create a perfect storm of symptoms—and it's why standard solutions often fall short.
🧪 So How Do You Find the Root Cause?
This is where advanced functional testing shines. Rather than chasing symptoms, we use:
SIBO breath testing to identify bacterial overgrowth
Organic acids and stool testing to assess gut inflammation, candida, and detox capacity
DUTCH hormone testing to evaluate estrogen patterns, methylation, and cortisol balance
Histamine pathway markers to assess your ability to break down and clear histamine
These labs work together to paint a full picture—so we can target what’s really going on, whether it’s SIBO, sluggish detox, histamine overload, or hormone-driven imbalances.
💡 The Bottom Line: It’s Not Just in Your Head—or Your Gut
If you’re waking up wired at 2 a.m., feeling bloated after every meal, or battling mood swings and migraines with no clear answer, there is a reason. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
My approach as a Functional Medicine Practitioner is to listen deeply, test strategically, and build a plan that makes sense for your body—not the textbook.
✨ Ready to Get to the Root Cause?
Let’s uncover what your symptoms are really telling you.
📅 Book a complimentary discovery call to learn how personalized testing and targeted support can help you move forward—clear, confident, and finally in sync with your body.
