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Are probiotics ever hard on you?

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 12/16/2010 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
In my other post I mentioned that I might be having a big flare up of my IBS-D. Come to think of it, it may have started around the time I started back on probiotics. Do any of you have a worsening of your IBS symptoms with probiotics?
Thanks.
Posted 12/16/2010 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cathy. I've taken a probiotic since early May of this year. I've noticed a marked improvement but I'm existing without my lower colon, which was removed due to cancer. I experience multiple bm's per day and IBS-like symptoms now. The probiotic I'm on seems to quiet my gut, the rumbling and heaving is to a minimum and the stool is more consistent. The one I'm on I highly recommend - Renew Life, Critical Colon, 80 Billion Count, found at your local health food store in the chilled section near organic yogurt, flax seed oils, etc. Somewhat pricey though, #30 count bottle runs me $47.00 but I sometimes find a $5 off coupon. That helps. The only thing I have noticed about this probiotic is sometimes it seems as if I need a double dose. What I took back in May doesn't quite seem like enough on my bad days. So it doesn't seem to make things worse but I don't always see the huge improvements I saw early on when I first started taking it. It never hurts to take it, so no in a wordy way I don't think this particular probiotic makes things worse for me.

What specific probiotic are you taking?
Posted 12/17/2010 1:20 AM (GMT 0)

I'd be careful about using these products.  Dannon has been fined $21M for false health claims about Activia and DanActive.  The Federal Trade Commission also filed a settlement with Dannon over false advertising about the health benefits of probiotics.  I'm sure similar claims with other companies is inevitable.

Posted 12/17/2010 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Probiotics are pretty safe and shouldn't cause an issue for most people, but for a very few and for some conditions they maybe a problem.

I can post probiotic info if you would like?
Posted 12/30/2010 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with Storm Chaser...Stay away from Activia. I dont know about false advertisement, but it made me sick...about probiotics....I started taking Align bc my doctor recommended it..but after a week I didnt feel any better. I went back to my old probiotic called Garden of Life "Primal Defense." I think it works better for me. I can feel a difference in my gut...unlike Align. You can get it at your Health Food store..or in the Health Food section of Kroger/FredMeyer/Mejier store. It's not cheap...about $24 for 45 caplets. I take 2-3 caps a day...in between meals.

I hope this helps. Good Luck to you!
Dawn


P.S. Anybody taking psyllium? Is is hard on you? I felt fine the first few days with recommended servings, but suddenly started getting really bloated from it. I backed off to one serving a day, but still find it does not like me! I take it for IBS-d...it helps, but it really irritates my stomach....anyone have any ideas?
Posted 12/30/2010 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Probiotics can definitely cause diarrhea. For me most probiotics cause constipation. My GI doctor says that he's never seen anyone who gets constipation from probiotics, but when we're dealing with IBS we're dealing with the improbable. Align made me constipated and Activia did nothing. I take Phillips Colon Health. It's not one of the top-dollar ones, but it works fine for me. I don't even take it every day, perhaps once a week or so, when I notice problems. I've also had luck in the past by simply eating a yogurt when things get bad--two or three servings per day.
Posted 12/30/2010 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
i had a bad reaction to z pak (for a sinus infection - called zithromycin) and was very sick. terrible gas pains, people think i was exaggerating but i was cured up in a ball. took align for almost a month and had yogurt daily plus for some odd reason...oatmeal was ok and steak. could not eat food on thanksgiving. had a bowl of ice cream. had reactions to tons of stuff, all veggies - finally able to handle a banana, onions were horrible. it was a nightmare but align and my very limited diet pulled me through. would not take them on a regular basis.

peace on
Posted 8/11/2011 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
i had colitis & diarrhea in 1966 , had taken numerous antibiotics.

went to a different dr. when diarrhea continued for days and days.

his advice and it worked was:  eat sauerkraut and drink cultured buttermilk, i still do this.

when i take probiotic (expensive) cap, i get very nauseated and start

having numerous bm's.

Posted 8/13/2011 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
I am on antibiotics for a sinus infection, and find Phillips Colon Health probiotics suit my system the best. Others I tried didn't work. Probably due to the tramadol I take, I never get the D even with antibiotics. Probiotics is keeping me going and not having excessive gas, although I also avoid gassy foods!

I am lactose and sulfite intolerant. The only yogurt I tolerate is Activia, and that will give me bloating if I eat more than 1 small container. It also helps my gut where others didn't.

I have trouble digesting beef. Oatmeal every morning helps keep things regular. I can't take sauerkraut or onions because of the sulfites.
Posted 8/14/2011 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
daisybrown...i cannot tolerate psillum at all. it reeked havoc and i went off immediately. i eat a lot of whole grains and vegetables and prefer to get my fiber that way.

as far as probiotics, i take align and definitely noticed a difference when i went on it and if i miss doses. i tried vsl3 at one point but it didn't improve any symptoms. i've noticed that i do feel a little better the first few days of whatever probiotic i take so i'm considering switching it up often, just to vary what i take and keep my system on its toes. maybe it's wishful thinking...what do you guys think???
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