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Thank God for Probiotics

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/11/2007 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
After suffering a lot last year and tapering off of Prednisone late in the spring from a nasty flare, ive been for the most part in remission. I do get joint pain from time to time but my levels of inflammation (ESR has gone down from around 95 to 34 since the spring) so all in all better. I just wanted to post that I really think that the probiotics is helping to keep me in remission. I take GoL Primal Defense twice a day. I think after using it for over a year the flora has gotten back to being good. I can eat most anything now, drink occassionally with no problems and see that in remission food has reallly not played much of a role. Of course I do get more d when I eat greasy fried foods but nothing to gripe about compared to the way things were. Luckily dont see any blood since being in remission which is key for me as I was very anemic. I am down to 5 colazal / day and plan to stay at this dose for a long time. For any newcomers would highly recommend staying on your meds no matter what, even if you think you are getting better. Just didnt think I would get this well after being so sick last year and first part of this year. I take it for granted now feeling good most of the time and hope things continue to improve. Just wanted to see what others thought about what is helping to stay in remission and if probiotic is also a part of the strategy. Thanks
Posted 9/11/2007 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Probiotics play a key role in achieving and maintaining remission because they help get gut ecology back in balance. That said, I've heard mixed reviews on Primal Defense. I've even run across some outright warnings. You may want to check this out...

http://www.jinipatelthompson.com/book_updates.php

When I tried it - before reading any warnings - it seemed to help me at first, but then I got rapidly worse, but others - like yourself - seem to do well on them.
Posted 9/12/2007 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
Probiotics are fantastic!!!! Every IBDer (and IBSer) should be on them indefinitely...a good one that is.


:)
Posted 9/17/2007 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
what kind do you take pb4
Posted 9/17/2007 8:41 PM (GMT 0)

pb4 said...
Probiotics are fantastic!!!! Every IBDer (and IBSer) should be on them indefinitely...a good one that is.


:)

How do we know what's a good one?
Posted 9/17/2007 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
I read they should have at least 10 billion live bacteria per dose to be effective. The one I take is made by Natural Factors and has 10 billion live cells per dose.
Posted 9/18/2007 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
The one I take has 5 billion which works quite well (it has guaranteed intestinal release)...a good one means it does NOT contain a bunch of additives, sugar, sugar alcohols, artificial sweetners, preservatives, dyes ect...primadophilus reuteri (which is the one I take) contains only a little potatoe starch for preservation.

:)
Posted 9/18/2007 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
I will take probiotics for the rest of my life.  They have definetely helped me with the D although they haven't seemed to help much with bleeding.  Maybe I need to try another brand.

UMDTerp2001 - congrats on remission.  I so want to get there also so I am looking for anything to help.  What did you mean by your inflamation levels ESR?  How is that tested?

Posted 9/18/2007 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
study after study shows UC'ers deficient in the bifido- branch of colonic flora (makes sense as bifido is what predominates in the large intestine). So make sure your probiotic of choice has bifido's in it. My favorite: KyoDophilus and Nature's Way Bifidus
Posted 9/19/2007 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
Primal Defense has been a savior for me. Ive had UV for 8 years and for the last 2 years ive been flaring badly. I started taking primal defense teice a day for the last month and i havent had one bloody bm. It's a mircale, almost too good to be true. Plus, I just got into med school and im taking extremely stressful classes which should induce stress... but miraculoudly i havent had a flare....

i reccomend it... ive been on steoids forever and im about to taper off next week... its worth to give it a try

peace all
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