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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/8/2008 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I have colitis and IBS. Also, I am dealing with bacterial overgrowth. It's been about 2 years with the overgrowth. I'd take some antibiotics and feel just OK for a few weeks then the symptoms would start up. Now, I'm not really responding the the anitbiotics anymore.

I get a hydrogen breath test a few times a year and I'm always testing positive - with HIGH numbers. I've tried changing some of my diet by seeing a dietician. My GI is saying I should do an all liquid diet. Has anyone tried this? It's a prescribed liquid diet.. of course insurance doesn't cover - it's VERY expensive. It'll prob. cost $750 for the two weeks I'd need the drinks. But I'm afraid it'll make me feel good for 2 months and then back to square one. I def. don't have that kind of money. ANy suggestions?

 

Posted 6/8/2008 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
I have crohns-colitis (CD affecting the colon) and IBS too, it's pretty much confirmed that those with either IBD or IBS tend to have bacterial over-growth which exacerbates our symptoms so the best advice is cut way back (or completely out) sugar and take a good probiotic daily and indefinitely even while in remission it's key to continue taking a good probiotic daily...the one I use is primadophilus reuteri made by natures way, it must be kept cold at all times (even where you purchase it, it should be in the refridgerator) only one/day is needed and it has guaranteed intestinal release (very key) it also aids with lactose intolerance (which many of us tend to have) and high cholesterol and for women vaginal health but it's perfectly fine for me to take as well.

I strongly urge you to get on a probiotic, the one I mentioned above is quite affordable and only one/day is needed which also reflects the affordability of it too.

Also, whenever you'r taking antibiotics it's important to take your probiotic at least 2 hours after you're done taking your antis for the day or the antis will just end up killing off the probiotics.

:)
Posted 6/8/2008 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Save your money, at least until you experiment with something far less costly. Instead of investing $750 for the next 2 weeks, I'm going to tag along with what pb4 said...get on probiotics and eliminate sugar, as well as all grains, yeast and all processed foods for the next 2 weeks. Much cheaper. Antibiotics kill the good, as well as the bad bacteria, causing a fungal/yeast overgrowth. Sounds like you have been on at least one dose. That's all it takes. If you starve the yeast, you will probably feel better soon. "Changing" your diet won't help. "Changing your diet" means different things to different people. What did your dietician say specifically? You could go on a strict elimination diet and find out if you do have a fungal overgrowth. You will know in a matter of weeks when you start feeling better. I see from your signature that you have FM, another syndrome/disease that is believed to have a fungal etiology. Try an anti-fungal diet (strictly) for 2 weeks, and see what improvements you notice. I'm betting you'll be surprised with the results. www.knowthecause.com (FAQ section) lists a diet I followed to get well again. It's up to you, of course. Just putting it out there.
Posted 6/9/2008 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Pb and Kim - I will def. look into switching my diet to something more radical before the liquid diet. Ohh that will be so hard! lol. I will also ask my GI about the probiotics Pb suggested. My dietician wanted me on a low-fat low-carb diet. She suggested fiber and probiotics as well but I haven't been keeping up on it. I'll also look up the info. on anit-fungal diets.

Thanks again!!
Posted 6/9/2008 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
oh, the probiotic my dietician rec. was Align. Has anyone tried or currently uses that?
Posted 6/9/2008 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Here is the site I found for Primadophilus Reuteri Nature's Way http://www.herbalremedies.com/14240.html (it is on sale now!) which was rec by pb4.

That one has 5 billion bacteria.

I believe it is important to start with much higher dose, VSL#3 has 450 billion bacteria, at least for a month get the vsl#3

I was looking to see how much bacteria Align has, could not find.

Good Luck.
Posted 6/9/2008 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
I heard the minimum was 10 million for IBDers (don't quote me on that though) but 5 billion is a good amount for IBDers and IBSers as well, I've had (as well as some others) good success, but even if one wanted to they could take 2 5 billion caps or even more if they wanted to...everyone is different which has to also be kept in mind and some do better using different brands and amounts too.

:)
Posted 6/9/2008 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys. I had no idea about that. Sounds a little creepy having all the bacteria lol.. but I know it's normal. I def. need A LOT of good bac. I have a GI appt. coming up so I'm going to see which is best for me to start with.

Does the probiotics give you any discomfort when you begin taking them?
Posted 6/9/2008 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
The one I use never caused me any issues, but some of them out there have caused excessive gas which I've heard is related to die-off of bad bacteria I'm not sure how accurate that is though.

Bad bacteria is creepy, good bacteria is "friendly" as it's referred to.

:)
Posted 6/9/2008 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
I'd also suggest you look into Wild Oregano Oil as a natural antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic supplement. Here's some general info.

http://www.fungusfocus.com/html/oil_of_oregano.htm
Posted 9/21/2017 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Too much of the wrong bacteria, like C-Diff for instance, elicits an immune response. Generally speaking, good bacteria metabolise vegetables, producing short chain fatty acids that help repair the colon as well as counter-acting against harmful chemicals from pathogens, and the toxic hydrogen sulphide gas. The site of digestion might be a clue. If you find your symptoms are aggravated by a diet of low-fibre grains - white flour, white rice etc (which a lot of people say to eat - i.e. low residue diet) - then the bacterial overgrowth might be SIBO, as I believe starch is mostly digested in the small intestine. Vegetable fibre is broken down in the colon, where most of our bacteria should be. We do extract some calories from vegetables, from the short chain fatty acids. It's believed that pathogens prefer sugar and starch. "Good" bacteria are believed to favour vegetable fibre. I read someone that bacteria specialise - so good bacteria don't eat refined starch and bad bacteria won't touch vegetables. Broad spectrum antibiotics make everyone worse off in the long run. Your microbiome can change in a matter of days. You don't need to spend a lot of money, apart from the vegetables you buy and a small amount of animal protein. Try a strict mostly vegetable-based diet and check your results in a few weeks. Grains = glucose. Starch = glucose. Vegetables are glucose as well, but the bonds are more difficult to break, and they are broken down by beneficial bacteria in the colon.
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