Tell me about your probiotic

[shostakovich]

You guys, I'm so very sick of my guts. It seems like they're constantly in revolt, and after the endoscopy/colonoscopy turned up nothing insidious, my GE has me taking pills before each meal to try and treat what he believes is IBS.  Some days I think they work, then I make the mistake of eating food and ... misery.

I've sporadically taken the Pro-15 brand probiotics, but I can't tell if they're making a difference.

Do you have a probiotic that you started using and felt miraculously better? Please tell me about it.

I'm also open to any other suggestions. I eat healthy foods. I don't eat fast food, don't drink soda, don't eat too many sweets. I've wondered about foods sensitivities but haven't noticed any patterns emerging from my food journal that I've been keeping.  I do take daily medications, but have been for much longer than I've had these symptoms. 

I've been dealing with this since August, and I'm just so over it. Help?

[bcv513]

My GI told me to try Florastor. It's really expensive, but I think it really does work. I only take it when I have to take antibiotics, but my mom takes it every day. I find them really hard to swallow, so I open it and sprinkle it on applesauce

[scottyderp]

Well, probiotics and I have a weird relationship.  I have to take it easy with them.  However, I like the Schiff gummy probiotics (for adults) that I'm taking.  They cleaned me out after 24 hours, and prior I felt like of spaced and weird, because I think I have a lot of goop to clear out.  I felt great after that.  I recommend.  They taste really good, because, sugar.  I got these at Target, I think they're $28.99?  You can get them online

www.amazon.com/Schiff-Digestive-Advantage-Probiotic-Gummies/dp/B008OVLJXE

[eb777888]

I started taking the GoodBelly probiotic shots (I like the blueberry acai best). I get them from Whole Foods in the refrigerated section. I've been VERY happy with my results.

Before I was taking the Costco Daily Advantage ones but I needed something different.

eta: the one scotty posted are the ones I got from Costco. I've taken them successfully for years but lately, they haven't been working for me for some reason. They are tasty! David and H take them, too. And still do. They don't have the constipation issues I have. 

[jane6672]

I buy store brand probiotics.

Just a thought – have you tried digestive enzymes?
My Mom had all kinds of food/stomach/gallbladder issues and had been lactose intolerant for years. She takes digestive enzymes now and is doing so much better (she can even eat dairy again).

[mnp555]

I've been using Power-dophilus from the refrigerated case at WF for about a year and notice a BIG difference when I am taking them v not. Having a baby really jacked up my gut and these help a lot with gas, bloating, constipation (ew) for me

[cleo29]

I have taken Jarrow brand and now I take ones the support intense bowel support against bloating and gas. I do find that they help when taken consistently. I take one, two times a day. The probiotics are Jarro-dophilious. When I did take them consistently, I was fairly healthy. And now my nephews take them every day and my sister has noticed it helps them too.

www.swansonvitamins.com/jarrow-formulas-inc?SourceCode=INTL095&CAWELAID=561340112&CAPCID=66645693247&cadevice=c&gclid=CjwKEAiAoIK1BRCRiMqphvnlwlwSJAAOebPMc0wftSTeyYgnsXAzuvNGLmRAAxoXTnp7RtbK94vcdxoCWmPw_wcB

[polarbearfans]

I take klaire labs. It seems to help

[walterismydog]

I love good belly, I drink a glass of it everyday mixed with flax seed and psyllium husk powder.
I'm also a fan of kefir, and I drink a glass of it every afternoon mixed with green superfood powder. This is the brand I use: www.amazon.com/Amazing-Grass-Green-SuperFood-Alkalize/dp/B010LEJ2GW/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1453401121&sr=1-6&keywords=amazing+grass

In addition to those things, I eat greek yogurt daily and take several different brands of probiotic pills throughout the day. I usually just get whatever is on sale. My GI understood my need for a more holistic approach to my IBS (I do absolutely TERRIBLY on prescription medications) and he suggested taking several varieties because every brand has different stuff in it. I haven't had IBS issues since I started taking the pills.

[shostakovich]

Jan 21, 2016 13:28:24 GMT -5 jane6672 said:

I buy store brand probiotics.

Just a thought – have you tried digestive enzymes?
My Mom had all kinds of food/stomach/gallbladder issues and had been lactose intolerant for years. She takes digestive enzymes now and is doing so much better (she can even eat dairy again).

I haven't - do you mean lactaid or something like that? I'm not sure that I'm lactose intolerant, though - I eat cheese almost every day, and yogurt a few times a week, and things aren't noticeably horrible after eating them.  

[shostakovich]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to WF today I think, to find something.

Dumb question - is it possible that one can take too many probiotics? Like, if I'm taking supplements plus eating kimchi and drinking kefir every day?

[walterismydog]

Jan 21, 2016 13:40:19 GMT -5 shostakovich said:

Thanks everyone! I'm going to WF today I think, to find something.

Dumb question - is it possible that one can take too many probiotics? Like, if I'm taking supplements plus eating kimchi and drinking kefir every day?

I think it is possible, but not probable. There are a bazillion different strains of bacteria and getting too much of ONE specific one might be impossible to even figure out. I drink tons of fermented things (good belly, kombucha, kefir, etc), eat yogurt, and take my pills and I've never felt ill effects from them. BUT I'M NOT A DOCTOR, so I may just be talking out of my (now happy) ass. haha

[keyslover]

Jan 21, 2016 13:20:18 GMT -5 shostakovich said:

You guys, I'm so very sick of my guts. It seems like they're constantly in revolt, and after the endoscopy/colonoscopy turned up nothing insidious, my GE has me taking pills before each meal to try and treat what he believes is IBS.  Some days I think they work, then I make the mistake of eating food and ... misery.

I've sporadically taken the Pro-15 brand probiotics, but I can't tell if they're making a difference.

Do you have a probiotic that you started using and felt miraculously better? Please tell me about it.

I'm also open to any other suggestions. I eat healthy foods. I don't eat fast food, don't drink soda, don't eat too many sweets. I've wondered about foods sensitivities but haven't noticed any patterns emerging from my food journal that I've been keeping.  I do take daily medications, but have been for much longer than I've had these symptoms. 

I've been dealing with this since August, and I'm just so over it. Help?

Have you been tested or ruled out SIBO?

[itsme]

Trubiotics

[shostakovich]

Jan 21, 2016 15:06:35 GMT -5 keyslover said:

Jan 21, 2016 13:20:18 GMT -5 shostakovich said:

You guys, I'm so very sick of my guts. It seems like they're constantly in revolt, and after the endoscopy/colonoscopy turned up nothing insidious, my GE has me taking pills before each meal to try and treat what he believes is IBS.  Some days I think they work, then I make the mistake of eating food and ... misery.

I've sporadically taken the Pro-15 brand probiotics, but I can't tell if they're making a difference.

Do you have a probiotic that you started using and felt miraculously better? Please tell me about it.

I'm also open to any other suggestions. I eat healthy foods. I don't eat fast food, don't drink soda, don't eat too many sweets. I've wondered about foods sensitivities but haven't noticed any patterns emerging from my food journal that I've been keeping.  I do take daily medications, but have been for much longer than I've had these symptoms. 

I've been dealing with this since August, and I'm just so over it. Help?

Have you been tested or ruled out SIBO?

I haven't, but I'll bring it up to my GE next time I see him - thanks!

[MixedBerryJam]

Jan 21, 2016 13:22:56 GMT -5 bcv513 said:

My GI told me to try Florastor. It's really expensive, but I think it really does work. I only take it when I have to take antibiotics, but my mom takes it every day. I find them really hard to swallow, so I open it and sprinkle it on applesauce

Yes, this. My mom was on antibiotics for a long, long time, and her doctor told her Florastor, specifically, and not to bother with any other brand. When she died I couldn't stand the idea of wasting all that money so I thought I'd just take them and see what happened and, while I didn't have IBS or any real GI issues to begin with, my intestinal comfort level astounds me. So a year later I'm still taking it. I notice within a couple of days if I stop taking it. I'm just not as comfortable.

[jane6672]

Jan 21, 2016 13:39:00 GMT -5 shostakovich said:

Jan 21, 2016 13:28:24 GMT -5 jane6672 said:

I buy store brand probiotics.

Just a thought – have you tried digestive enzymes?
My Mom had all kinds of food/stomach/gallbladder issues and had been lactose intolerant for years. She takes digestive enzymes now and is doing so much better (she can even eat dairy again).

I haven't - do you mean lactaid or something like that? I'm not sure that I'm lactose intolerant, though - I eat cheese almost every day, and yogurt a few times a week, and things aren't noticeably horrible after eating them.  

I asked and she takes this stuff: www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/multi-enzyme-300-tablets/vs-1195#.VqFvN5MrKnE

I know she couldn't eat anything fatty, was having trouble with wheat stuff, etc. This helps her digest things.

[isabel]

Have you tried an elimination diet to try to figure which foods make it worse? Might be worth a try.

[snorky]

I've had the best luck with apple cider vinegar. My stomach was so messed up after pregnancy, but when I take 3-4 tbsps/day, I feel normal. Sometimes I get out of he habit and I definitely pay for it. It usually takes 5-7 days for me to feel a marked difference.

Eta: I don't just, like, do shots of it. I mix it in with smoothies, add a tbsp at a time water with honey, put it on vegetables, etc.

[beefjerky]

When you do choose one, pick one that has multiple strains - they're much more effective.

[cleo29]

Jan 21, 2016 15:06:35 GMT -5 keyslover said:

Jan 21, 2016 13:20:18 GMT -5 shostakovich said:

You guys, I'm so very sick of my guts. It seems like they're constantly in revolt, and after the endoscopy/colonoscopy turned up nothing insidious, my GE has me taking pills before each meal to try and treat what he believes is IBS.  Some days I think they work, then I make the mistake of eating food and ... misery.

I've sporadically taken the Pro-15 brand probiotics, but I can't tell if they're making a difference.

Do you have a probiotic that you started using and felt miraculously better? Please tell me about it.

I'm also open to any other suggestions. I eat healthy foods. I don't eat fast food, don't drink soda, don't eat too many sweets. I've wondered about foods sensitivities but haven't noticed any patterns emerging from my food journal that I've been keeping.  I do take daily medications, but have been for much longer than I've had these symptoms. 

I've been dealing with this since August, and I'm just so over it. Help?

Have you been tested or ruled out SIBO?

I think I need to get tested for this, for the past few years I get these terrible gas/bloating episodes. Sometimes so painful I can barely walk.