help!

Hi Red,
I recommend going into a nutriotion store (GNC, etc.) and asking the people in there what they recommend - or asking a pharmacist. I have noticed that acidophilus gives me gas, but kyo-dophilus does not. Everyone reacts differently. However, aside from gas, there are no side effects from probiotics. The best way to avoid excess gas is to introduce the probiotic gradually (like you would fiber). Start by taking a low dosage, like 1 or 1.5 billion live cultures, in the morning. Then if you don't have any gas, take another one at night. Do this for like a week and then increase your dosage (anywhere from 2-5 billion). If you don't see any results within a couple months, switch up and get a new probiotic. Keep trying until you find one that works for you.
As for colon cleansing... It seems to be a pretty controversial topic. It has been debated here before. IN MY OPINION (my personal, non-medical opinion), I would not do it. I haven't met a doc that condones it. Others here will disagree and advocate for it. I suggest you do a lot of research before trying it. And, if you do try it, do it while under medical supervision.
Take care.

My G.I.'s nurse swore by Culturelle. She said she took it prior, during and for a week after a trip to Mexico and was the only person in her party to not get sick.

My rule of thumb on colon cleansers is: are you pooping enough as it is? Do you really want to poop more? If the answer is yes, I poop enough and no, I don't want to poop anymore, then you should not use them. I have heard of people taking the cleansers and pooping out black stuff and that's "proof" that they are getting out crud. Personally, I think the black stuff is probably the colon cleanser you injested yourself. The only reason why I say this is because I have had a colonoscopy. I drank that nasty go-lyghtly stuff and pooped all day until nothing came out but a little yellow water. Never pooped anything out that was black. Then they did the colonoscopy. I've seen the pictures of it: everything in there is smooth and clean; no black stuff, no caked-on poop, no nastiness whatsoever. Sooooo... if you want to have even more diarrhea than you're having now, then get a colonoscopy prep agent. Much cheaper than the colon cleanse and it always cleans you out. about the only time I say "might as well" when people suggest the colon cleanse is when they are severely constipated and need some form of laxative anyways. I still say the colon prep is just as effective and most probably cheaper, but it DOES taste nasty, so it might be worth the monetary trade off to get some pills.

And Red, the spasmodic I got put on (back when my gall bladder was acting up) didn't do squat for me. Don't be afraid to go back to your doctor and tell him, point blank, that the medicine he prescribed hasn't helped a bit and that you need to try something else. There are supposed to be a number of different antispasmodics out there.

Hi Tom,
Welcome to the site! 
I have to say that colon cleansing has been a pretty controversial subject here (every where really).  I highly recommend speaking to your doc AND doing tons of research.  It can be dangerous if not monitored closely by a doc.

Take care.