Probiotics

My GI is recommending a probiotic called Florastor. Anyone been on probiotics and had any luck with them??

This question comes up here periodically. I don't understand medical doctors' obsession with this brand. Do they get a kick-back?

In previous discussions here, my recollection is most folks reported MORE gas and bloating on this product. Maybe someone will jump in who has had positive results. With CD, there are always exceptions....

Florastor has ONE strain of a probiotic called Saccharomyces boulardii--a strain of yeast. S. boulardii and FOS are two pre/probiotics which Elaine Gottschall warned *against* for Crohn's and UC after spending decades studying this on a cellular level. Articles from the alternative health community state to take an acidophilus based probiotic or a probiotic with varying strains. Most probiotics at reputable health food stores DO NOT contain S. boulardii. I know because I've checked. I'm going to put my stock in the alternative health community on this--they've been at it MUCH longer. It seems that most medical doctors are still opposed to probiotics or on the fence as to whether they are even beneficial. At least this has been our experience.

Many folks here swear by probiotics and there are many, many good brands on the market. Look for one with acidophilus and guaranteed "colony forming units" (CFU's) (survive stomach acid and make it to the intestines). Good luck!

first: they could get a kick back. second: i will not take some ladies word about her research(use your own) third: ANY PROBIOTIC WILL GIVE YOU GAS.  It is building up in your intestinal tract and when the "good" and the "bad" bacteria go at it, there is going to be a by-product.

from what ive seen Saccharomyces boulardii is ideal in high temperatures. lactobacillus acidophilus seems to be ideal in high acidic environments.

Saccharomyces boulardii seems to have more data, while lactobacillus acidophilus lacks data.

 

My research led me to Elaine Gottschall's research. We would not want me in a lab actually performing the research!

Also, I don't agree with "ANY PROBIOTIC WILL GIVE YOU GAS". Though I understand this CAN happen initially, many people here report reduced gas and bloating immediately on a good probiotic. I know my son felt that way from day 1. I guess we're back to "individual results may vary".....

Wakabo, for the record, we use Theralac which you can google to read about. We've also used VSL#3 when he had to take an antibiotic for bronchitis. Both of these brands are a bit more costly than some, but we've been happy with them.

I was using Acidophilus and all I noticed was increased gas so I stopped. I have been thinking of going back on it. I was drinking these little yogurt cups and they were quite EXPENSIVE! I bought them at Whole Foods. My doctor recommended Acidophilus but also recommended that it be 'live cultures'.

My daughter was first diagnosed with Crohn's disease November 2003. I had never heard of the diseased prior to her diagnosis. Since that discovery, I’ve numerous hours researching the disease and the various treatment options available for treating and managing the disease.

I’m currently enrolled in a MS degree in Health Informatics at the University of Missouri, and I need to write a thesis. For my thesis, I have written a survey specifically designed for patient's suffering from Crohn's disease. The survey is intended to collect data about the treatment methods used by the patients, their knowledge of the treatment options available for treating/managing the disease, and the primary sources of information they used for educating themselves about the disease and it’s treatment options.

I would greatly appreciate if you could take a few moments to fill out the survey. Your personal experience is very important and I would like to hear about it. The survey form is fully encrypted, contains no personally identifiable information, and has been approved by the University of Missouri IRB. Parents of children diagnosed with the disease can fill out the survey on behalf of their child. I will make my thesis available once I’ve completed it, which I’m projecting to be somewhere in the October-November time frame.

I have received permission from Peter Waite of Healing Well to post this survey.

The URL for the survey is:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=dDs03O00OPwgncarZi41bg_3d_3d

I've been using Florastor for almost three years with positive results. Due to its expense, I was talking with my doctor (a different one from the doc who dxed me) about other probiotics, and he gave me the best explanation I've ever heard of why I was put on Florastor in the first place. My initial case of UC was dxed after an extended c diff infection. Apparently the bacteria in Florator compete with c diff for nutrients, which helps to prevent future infections. Since most people that have had a c diff infection are prone to relapse, it is a very good preventitive measure. My new doc also gave me a sample of Align, but he said that was mainly for problems in the small intestine, but at the time we weren't really sure where my main trouble was, so we gave it a shot. It didn't help at all, but the sample was free, so no money down the drain there.

I did stop taking Florastor for a while and tried other less expensive probiotics. Every single one of them caused gas and bloating for the first few days or so. After my systems initial adaptation to the new bacteria, I got mixed results from various brands. I can't even remember which ones I tried, but I eventually went back to Florastor. I'm now trying VSL#3 at my doctor's recommendation since I've been c diff free for over two years, but my UC is now causing my great distress. I started the VSL#3 about two months ago, and slowly worked my way into using it. I'm now using 2 capsules 3/day, and I believe it has been working wonders. Ironically, I was looking for different probiotics due to cost, and the VSL#3 is probably twice the price of FLorastor! My insurance doesn't cover any of them, although my flex account will if I get a doctor's note saying I need to take it. Looks like I'll be doubling the flex account contribution next year! lol

Hopefully this info will help out.

I'm one week in on the Align and so far so good. I have tried at least 4 other probiotics all with negative results. Ones that had to be refrigerated and shelf stable. And I gave them all at least a month or more. So I'm really pleased to be seeing any positive results at this point. I won't say that all the bloating and gas I had before is gone, but I'm probably down to 15 - 25% of what I had. I'll take it.

beartooth,

Yes, that does help! Thanks for the explanation from your doctor about Florastor! That IS a good explanation! So it's especially good for those who have or have had a c diff infection.... good to know!

I like the primadophilus reuteri because it has guaranteed intestinal release...guess that's why I found it more effective than anything eles I've tried.

:)

I'd highly recommend the 6 strain powder from customprobiotics.com

Worked wonders for me