newbie with probiotics question

Hello all.  I was diagnosed with cd about 2 months ago.  I've had diarrhea off and on for years but not too concerned until this past summer when it it was constant for a couple of months.  That's when I finally decided to go to the doctor.   Then came all the lovely tests that confirmed the cd.  The gastro dr described my colon as pristine but biopsy showed mild cd.  CT scan confirmed thickening of the intestine consistent with mild cd.  Dr put me on Asacol and I have taken it now for just over a month.  The D is mostly gone except in the mornings.   My main complaint is the gas pain.  It seems to go from my lower back to my shoulders. 

My pharmacist, who compounds bioidentical hormones for my premenopause, suggested I consider probiotics to get my 'gut' in balance.   Is anyone familiar with this?  She also said a gluten-free diet would help with my gut as well. 

Any thoughts?  Anyone tried these with any success?

I am on SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet). The basis of the book is getting the gut in balance. It is a pretty controversial approach because it precludes grain (celiac), sugar, and milk products that have a lot of lactate. Some swear by it and for others it has not helped.

 

I would read the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle which will present the SCD case. Even if you do not SCD, the home made yogurt, is super healthy, and one of the strongest probiotics you can take.

 

I also read The Probiotics Revolution by Huffnegal (sp?). This is a great book to help you understand this entire topic.

 

Anyways, a couple of thoughts

 

David

I agree, there is so much to learn. Suppliments, medication diet, exercise, doctors, diagnosis, costs....... I am still learning a ton but I really feel knowing more is better than just blinding trusting docs.

My doc is not a SCD fan, but I am (learned about it here). My doc is not so worried about vit d. I am am and everytime I get my blood work done I have to tell her to add the vit D tests. There are more examples but you get the intent. This is not only a place for general infomration for me, but a place where based on insight provided here I take action all the time.

The other great thing is there is healthy debate. That is, most often you get both sides of every position.

Continue to post questions and you will I am sure find the same as me this site is a blessing

Cheers

David

 

I expected to test positive as celiac as well and was suprised when I didn't as wheat really is my enemy ;P  I get super tired when I eat it and really cranky (to put it politely) and I have since found I also have a fructose intolerance so the new diet seems to be perfect for me. I still have some dairy as lactose doesn't seem to be an issue but I understand that can also develop as we age and/or after resections.

You can be wheat intolerant and not celiac which is my case. I am certainly not thin but I am a lot thinner now than I used to be as the new diet / probiotics seem to have knocked the bloating out completely - dropped a couple of dress sizes even - and feel a lot more 'comfortable' than I did before.

Very hard as there are no set answers as we are all different and it is so much a matter of trial and error.  I tried the SCD but found it didn't work for me, I suspect now it was because of the fructose aspect also a lot of the permitted foods would cause me to block. It works for a lot of people though which is really good.

Good luck on your journey ;)

 

Hello wannaretire, 

Many of us on the Ulcerative Colitis forum are having great results with the RENEW LIFE ULTIMATE FLORA CRITICAL CARE it has 50 billion live cultures per capsule.  Best taken on an empty stomach,  usually take one before breakfast and one before bed.

Others are using the VSL #3 and find it very effective, it is more costly but it has alot more live cultures per dose.

Check out how many live cutures the primadophilus reuteri has and compare it to these the more cultures the better.

wannaretire I use VSL#3 and yes, it is expensive. It's $45 even with my insurance for 20 days. I may have to look into making my own SCD yogurt after what dfdavedf said about how many cultures it has.

I have gained weight with having diarrhea too and have low thyroid. It's crazy. I think it makes the doctors think you can't possibly be sick or that we must be lying about having diarrhea or we'd be losing weight like everyone else. Good luck to you.

If you decide to make SCD yogurt, either email me or post a question re this. I have learned a lot about how to make it and I would be happy to share my learning.

However if you post a question, you will get even more info and perhaps some additional perspectives.

David