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Advise Against Probiotices

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/15/2009 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
I know someone who is taking antibiotics, Asacol, and Prednisone for microscopic Colitis. I told her that she should go to the drug store right away and get some Probiotics. She said that neither her doctor nor her pharmacist mentioned Probiotics and that she was not going to do anything without the advise of her doctor. Is it possible that a doctor would tell someone not to take Probiotics?
Posted 3/15/2009 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
I think it's possible that the doctor mentions nothing about taking Probiotics.

I was so surprised that my G.I. doctor didn't even mention or recommended taking Probiotics until I actually brought it up when I was flaring.
He only recommended, PREDNISONE and 6MP.
Sigh. I should have started probiotics earlier. I started taking probiotics only two months ago even though I was diagnosed with UC more than a year ago.
Posted 3/15/2009 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
Quite likely the doctor didn't mention probiotics. A lot of them aren't really aware of the benefits.
Posted 3/15/2009 11:30 AM (GMT 0)
5 different GI's over the years. None mentioned probiotics. How can you be in that industry and not know about probiotics? Really no excuse there. Better reasons, but I won't go into all that mess. It falls back on her to educate herself.
Posted 3/15/2009 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
My GI never mentioned probiotics. I was the one that brought it up and he said they were good. He was more into pushing for prescription meds.
Posted 3/15/2009 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
My GI did mention them... he said some have had good results with them, some have noticed no difference. Try them if I liked. He thought it probably had to do with the brand and to make sure I got a good brand. WHen I asked for a recomendation, he had none. Sid he didn't have enough info on the area. I first just used a GNC brand. Till I saw on here that it didn't have as many as some of you were taking. When I asked for recomendations on here everyone recomended brands I had to purchase off the internet or couldn't find locally. Since I HATE buyin off the internet, I asked my Pharm about it and he recomended a brand that they carried at his old Pharmacy. I drove up there and bought them and have been using that brand ever since. FloraJen3.
Posted 3/15/2009 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
So for those of you who your GI didn't mention Probiotics, did any of them advise you not to take them when you asked about them?
Posted 3/15/2009 5:06 PM (GMT 0)

I am from South Africa aned I am horrified at how little doctors in this country know about colitis.

Posted 3/15/2009 5:46 PM (GMT 0)

My first appointment with my gastro doctor - before the colonoscopy and diagnosis handed me 3 weeks supply of Align probiotics.  He, no doubt gets them as samples from the company.  However, he does believe they have helped a lot of his patients when I ask about them.  I saw much improvement in "formed" BM's in about a week or so.  They caused extra gas for about a week but then it got better.  I have been taking the same now for almost a year.  Tried Primal Defense (too much gas, etc.) and Phillips which only caused gas and diarrhea returned.  I found I could not tolerate mesalamine medications but never had problems with diarrhea - just side effects.

ElaineNY

Posted 3/15/2009 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Not only did my daughter's doctor not mention probiotics, he said that if we wanted to try them, we were on our own because he was "a science man." Now, 3 years later, my daughter has a jpouch and her surgeon told her after surgery that she must take probiotics for the rest of her life to keep her pouch "healthy."
Let's face it, they are "medical" doctors and feel more comfortable (or encouraged) to push medications rather than something that's more natural for the body. BTW, my daughter's doing great digestively, but the d*#@ prednisone has given her a lifelong bone disease that will cause her to face a multitude of surgeries and joint replacements. I urge you to research Prednisone and Osteonecrosis. It's criminal that this risk is not disclosed. And, if your joints hurt, I urge you to discuss/research the possibility of this serious adverse side affect from this drug and request an MRI...an x-ray will not catch this disease in the early stages.
Posted 3/15/2009 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
My doc didn't mention probiotics...I told him I was using them. He asked which brand, wrote it on my file and stated they were a good brand.

I believe I'm proactive in my care, and although I trust my doctor to treat me for UC, the rest of my health is really my responsibility. He's suggested I exercise more...good advice, but my bad for not heeding it.


q
Posted 3/15/2009 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Any doc that doesn't mention the benefits of taking probiotics daily and indefinitely is completely out of the loop, research has shown that probiotics can be very essential when it comes to IBD and IBS as well.
Posted 3/15/2009 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Out of the probiotics loop you mean? I personally don't think docs need to mention every little thing that's advertised on TV hundreds of times a day.

We can make our own lists, and research for ourselves. Why leave absolutely everything up to the doctors?

quincy
Posted 3/15/2009 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
My GI hasn't mentioned it but my primary told me about taking acidopholus w/ antibiotics. I had a nurse actually tell me at my gyno in high school about probiotics before I was diagnosed w/ crohns. For me, antibiotics = guaranteed yeast infection. She shook her head and was like "I don't know why the doctors aren't telling you girls about acidopholus..." It has worked!
Posted 3/15/2009 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
     The first time I ever heard of probiotics was when I was hospitalized last May.  My GI doctor had me taking Flora Q in the hospital.  He wrote me a script for them but they are sold over the counter.  They cost a fortune too.  So, when I went to my nutritionist she suggested the Powerdophilus by Country Life.  She said they were just as good as the Flora Q and she takes them herself.  I keep them refrigerated and take two capsules a day with food, as they prescribe to do.  I told my GI doctor I was taking them and he said they were fine.


 

Posted 3/15/2009 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor never mentioned them, when I finally asked, his exact words were "people think they show promise, but they really do nothing". My naturopath dr completely disagrees. I still take them!
Posted 3/15/2009 11:06 PM (GMT 0)

q - you are right about being proactive if we can.  I say that because my husband has to rely completely on his VA doctors to offer treatment he needs including medications, etc.  He has COPD, lung cancer, heart surgery, etc. etc.  They have saved his life more than once.  Yes, they have given him choices at times and great explanations.  But, my husband is 73 and even though his heart problems started at 48 - he was years clueless as was I.  When I got my computer 9 years ago I started researching his medical problems.  So much you can't rely on and doctors won't listen to anyway.  Now, I check out his medications, interactions, etc. - something he would/could not do in the past.  That is why second opinions and NP or Pa can be helpful with those extra things - like nutrition, supplements, etc.  Yes, some have to leave everthing up to the doctors!  My husband always says they went to school for many years to do what is right for him.  BUt, for those of us who can research and get more info - good!  I have learned a lot here but also I know my knee surgeon, my primary care doc and my gastro NP/Doctor do NOT like me to mention I learned something on the internet so I am careful about what I talk to them about.  No doubt they think I am a gullible old lady who believes every thing I read LOL - NOT!!

ElaineNY

Posted 3/15/2009 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Probiotics have never worked for me.
Posted 3/16/2009 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
I asked my doctor about them and he said they would good for IBS byt no evidence for IBD. He said it probally wouldn't hurt and gave me abou 6 mo of samples of ALIGN.
Posted 3/16/2009 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
hana24, then your doc is "out of the loop" because the research on VSL3 for IBD shows the stats on the benefit and if you're doc doesn't know that then that's a shame for you and the rest of his patients.

:)
Posted 3/16/2009 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your input everyone. I really appreciate it.
Posted 3/16/2009 2:05 AM (GMT 0)

jars05 said...
Probiotics have never worked for me.

even VSL#3? not even some relief of symptoms?
Posted 3/16/2009 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
My Doc STRONGLY suggested I take them.
Posted 3/16/2009 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
My first GI recommended VSL#3 because it is one of the few Probiotices that has a study behind it. I tried it for 5 weeks and it did absolutely nothing for me. If you look at the study it is open label and has a small number of participants. My second GI asked me if I wanted to participate in a placebo controlled VSL#3 study for UC. This should be a much better study than the first. I declined because I had already tried it with no results.
Posted 3/16/2009 2:01 PM (GMT 0)

pb4 said...
Any doc that doesn't mention the benefits of taking probiotics daily and indefinitely is completely out of the loop, research has shown that probiotics can be very essential when it comes to IBD and IBS as well.

Ha. Every GI I've seen has been "out of the loop." Not one ever mentioned probiotics; it's always about the pharmaceuticals. However, when *I* bring up the subject, they're generally either okay with it or have the attitude of "it can't hurt."
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