ACIDOPHILUS EXTRA 10

[pump321]

I have been taking Acidophilus Extra 10 for three months as I have had IBS symptoms and thought it would calm my stomach down but things are just as bad so I began to wonder if it could be causing my problems so I looked up the side effects and sure enough it can give you an upset stomach etc. I'm going to stop taking it now and hope things may improve.  Has anybody else had this experience or know much about Acidophilus Extra 10?  Would be very interested to hear your comments.

[Ruthi]

If it didn't make you markedly worse then you can probably conclude that it didn't do anything much. 

Gluten was the biggie for causing my IBS,  but other grains can also be implicated,  and certainly ready made gluten free foods set me off,  and give me heartburn too.  It's not bad enough for me to do a wholesale elimination diet,  but if your IBS is really bad,  that is the way to go. 

[pump321 in reply to Ruthi]

Thanks Ruthi,  I am now starting on a gluten free diet to see if that will help. 

[Ruthi in reply to pump321]

Ah!  I assumed that since you were in this group that you were already GF. 

[pump321 in reply to Ruthi]

No, not part of the Gluten Free Group (yet) just a stab in the dark about the Acidophilus to find out what could be causing my upset tummies.  Whilst I am here, could I ask you if ordinary porridge oats contain gluten or do you have to buy gluten free?

Hope you can help, thanks

[Ruthi]

Ordinary oats are not GF,  sadly. 

[pump321 in reply to Ruthi]

Oh dear, I thought being Oats they were safe, so no more ordinary porridge oats.  Thanks very much indeed.

[Ruthi]

The GF oats aren't bad,  not as creamy when cooked. 

But just so you are aware,  gluten is a protein belonging to a group of very similar proteins called gliadins. These proteins only occur in the seeds of the grass family.  So wheat, oats, Rye and barley contain  gluten, but other grains all have gliadins,  including corn,  rice and millet.  Coeliac disease is specific to gluten,  but some non coeliacs are sensitive to other gliadins. So if you want to be sure it's  not all gliadins give up all the grass grains for a while and then try adding in the non gluten grains to see what happens. 

[pump321]

Golly, it all sounds very complicated!  So it's best to cut out wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn, rice and millet to start with and then gradually introduce them back into your diet.  I'm very new to all of this but obviously have a lot to learn.  I have not been tested for wheat intolerance yet but will try this diet out for a while and see what happens.  If I improve I'll know what not to eat.  All very interesting but somewhat complicated to start with.  This sounds like a very helpful site, thanks again.

[Penel]

You could also have a look at trying some different probiotics. There are lots out there.

L-Plantarum is reported as being effective against IBS, but I have no personal experience of this. VSL probiotics have also been recommended by some users of this site.

Hope you can find what works for you.

[pump321 in reply to Penel]

Thanks Penel,  I'm grateful for your reply and to all  on this site who respond.  It wonderful to be able to ask a question and get so much support.  I'll keep trying different things until, hopefully, I'll turn the corner and start to improve. 

[Jacks]

When I remember to, I take pre and probiotic tablets - the ones you keep in the fridge.  They're gluten and lactose free which aren't always easy to find.

Re diet: Have you been tested for coeliac disease?  When I was diagnosed the advice was avoid "b-r-o-w" foods (barley, rye, oats, wheat) and anything that has come into contact with these.  Don't go gluten free until after testing or you may never discover what is wrong.

I saw your note about colonoscopy worry.  Many people are admitted to a ward overnight for the preparation and will be monitored throughout - ask your consultant.  

[pump321 in reply to Jacks]

Thanks for your reply Jacks.  I didn't realise that probiotics are not necessasarily gluten free.  I've got a lot to learn!  I will get a test done to see if I am wheat etc. intolerant.  It's just that I have been so poorly lately I thought I would go gluten free to see if it helped.  I know to have a test you have to go back onto wheat etc. for 3 weeks before they will do the test and I can't face another 3 weeks of this to be honest.   I am in a bit of a muddle  having been ill for so long.  The good news is I had home testing kit for Bowel Cancer Screening and it came back negative yesterday so I was pleased about.  It may not be 100% accurate but it's a good start.  Also  I'm not losing weight.  I see the gastroenterologist this afternoon to get blood tests results and more stool sample results so I'm gradually getting things done.  I'm not sure about the colonoscopy, I know I need to have it done but being so allergic I am too weak at the moment to go through that trauma again.  I am a pretty strong character but unless there are obvious signs of cancer, I cannot face it at the moment.  I'll see what the gastr. man says today.  I am hoping he'll do a scan.  Having been diagnosed with diverticulitis it seems odd to me they don't treat me properly for that first.  I'm going to ask.  Many thanks for taking the time to reply.