Should I take a probiotic?

Hi all! I was just diagnosed a month ago with UC and this is my first time on this forum, I am really liking it so far. It is good to know that I am not alone with this terrible condition. I am taking Lialda everyday as well as a folic acid and fish oil. I was wondering who out there is taking a probiotic. I know probiotics are good for you, but do they really make a difference? I want to take anything that will be beneficial to my body without hurting it, only helping it. Let me know what you all take, or at least if you are taking a probiotic. Thanks so much!!

Post Edited (UCchick87) : 7/23/2009 6:34:23 PM (GMT-6)

Just about all of us are, I think. The one I'm taking is listed in my sig...for some reason, I have trouble remembering the name! There's very little chance a probiotic will hurt, so I think it's wise to take one. I think mine helps at least some.

I took one for 2 weeks from GNC site (acidopholous or something like that). I didnt notice any changes as far as my UC but it made my butt itch like no other. I was having to itch so hard and often that I would make myself bleed. Needless to say the bottle ended up in the trash can.

Yes, it can take a few tries till you find what works for you, but you also might need to be patient and give the probiotic a bit of time to have an effect.

By the way, I just read your signature and noticed that you just got diagnosed with UC a few weeks ago. When I got diagnosed I was in a daze for a while, so it's great to see that you're already taking the initiative to educate yourself and find some answers. That's the best way to be.

Hope you're fine soon.

I have tried a few different probiotics. I beleive they do make a difference and should be taken (just my opinion after managing a health food store for four years and seeing the difference it made in people). I use the align brand currently and when I asked my GI about it he relpied,"oh yes I should have told you to take that".

Probiotics are all I take, it does seem though that different kinds work for different people, but my recommendations about them are:

Don't get discouraged if it doesn't work immediately. Try them for at least a week and then try different kinds too.

And try to find one that has at least 10 billion cfu's per serving. And try to take at least 20 to 40 billion throughout the course of the day.

And cfu's are more important than one that is refrigeration required, although there seems to be a correlation between higher cfu's and refrigeration being required. But it's a good idea to refrigerate them anyway, to guarantee they never get above room temperature.

And thanks to fruitgirl for mentioning the probiotic you take, I call it Dr Murray's brand. It's really worked for me.

Many people talk about VSL#3, Primal Defense, and a few other "Premier" probiotics ... but these are VERY expensive. For example, VSL#3 can easily run you $100/month. This wasn't readily in my budget, and I've found that many of the store/internet brands are just as effective. My favorites are Culturelle, Align, and Threelac (some people have problems with this one though). These three aren't cheap, but $20/month seems much more reasonable than $100.