Taking daily steroid dose with upset tummy

[Kendrew]

Morning everyone, Over the past week or so, I've been experiencing some lower abdominal discomfort with moderate pain in lower left side. ....windy pains and a sore bruised feeling.

Years ago I was prone to IBS but after I began to eat a much more healthy and sensible diet, I haven't experienced it for a long time.

About 6wks ago I started taking a new probiotic that Prof. Tim Spectre had created for M&S. After some reading, I discovered this wasn't necessarily a particularly good idea as I already eat lots of things that are good for gut health anyway and wasn't experiencing any problems.

It seems that after I began taking this probiotic though, my digestive system slowly began to feel more and more unsettled.

We had friends for a meal yesterday evening and although I didn't eat anything out of the ordinary, the food was a little richer than normal also with more carbs than I'm used to.

I've awoken this morning with really bad diarrhoea, needing the loo approximately every 10 to 15mins during this first hour and a half of being unwell.

I would normally take my 2½mgs (gastro-resistant) after my breakfast at about 7.30am, but feel unsure what I should do under the circumstances.

Obviously I'm concerned about the medication not being absorbed properly if I do take it and how long I could delay taking it to avoid that happening.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thankyou.

[Bcol]

Morning, that is a real bum (no pun intended) start to the day and can be very debilitating. I'm assuming you have now stopped taking the other pro-biotic. I'm no expert but think I would probably give it a while and see if things have settled down below and if/when they have then take the Pred. Maybe toast for breakfast or whatever your favourite might be in these circumstances, you need something to go with the Pred even though it's EC. Take care and a very lazy day is beckoning. Hope things settle down soon.

[Kendrew in reply to Bcol]

Thankyou.Yes, I can't believe it's happened when friends we haven't seen for ages come to stay overnight!😳

I'm downstairs resting under my blanket on the sofa. Thank goodness for the downstairs loo!

Thankyou for the prompt reply too.

[Bcol in reply to Kendrew]

🫂🫂

[123-go]

Good morning, Kendrew. So sorry to hear you’re suffering. I tried a probiotic several years ago and it didn’t agree with me although my symptoms weren’t anything like yours- just slightly nauseous and ‘out of sorts’. I changed to finely milled flax seed with porridge made with water and a splash of milk and that has been fine.

Something to read here:

bladderandbowel.org/news/fl....

My only suggestion is to postpone your breakfast and pred for an hour or so or longer to see if if your tummy settles and then take it with a couple of tablespoons of plain yoghurt or slice of WHITE bread (send OH to nearest convenience shop) and sips of plain water to rehydrate.

Wishing you better very soon.💐

[Kendrew in reply to 123-go]

Thankyou.I do actually already take a tablespoon of milled flaxseed in my porridge every day. I wonder if I've just overdone it on a gut that was already feeling a bit sensitive with this added ZOE gut shot?

Who knows.

Thanks for your reply.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Kendrew]

You have stopped taking the gut shots now haven't you?

[Kendrew in reply to Blearyeyed]

Yes I have! Most definitely! 😊

[scrambledegg]

I had just the same when I started taking probiotics a couple of years ago so promptly stopped taking them.

I have recently been diagnosed with diverticulosis and the symptoms sound very similar to what you are experiencing. Most of the time I have no symptoms at all but when I do it sounds so similar to how you are feeling. I haven’t worked out any trigger points, apparently a high proportion of the population develop this as they get older but most people are symptom free and don’t know they have it.

I do delay taking pred. etc until the worst has passed but I am lucky I can take it at any time of day (even in the evening if I forget) with no effect the next day.

I do hope you feel better soon💐

[Kendrew in reply to scrambledegg]

Thankyou.

It's interesting you mentioned diverticulitis.

My father had that and my sister has had it for a number of years too. (Both have also had PMR!

Although lower left abdominal pain/discomfort could of course be attributed to several other possible conditions, it is apparently frequently attributed to diverticulitis too.

I may need to have a chat with my GP.

Thankyou again.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Nothing much to add, except to say hope you soon feel better.

Think it’s combination of new probiotic which sounds as if it started the process and last night’s meal was the final straw.

Keep hydrated, and as suggested try and get the Pred down when you feel things are settling. Meanwhile keep the sofa company 🌸

[Kendrew in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankyou. ❤ Another lesson learnt!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Kendrew]

Don’t blame yourself - you need to try things sometimes to see if they work for you..some do, some don’t!

I’ve tried similar in the past - and felt a bit “off” - and decided - no that’s not for me, so ditched it.

As I said, think it was bad timing in your case…. 😊

[SnazzyD]

I haven’t found a probiotic that hasn’t upset me yet. Anyone else ill? They might not say unless you ask. There is a tummy upset going round too. How do you feel in other ways?

What dose Pred are you on?

[Kendrew in reply to SnazzyD]

I feel really tired. No temperature and no cramping pains, just intermittent dull ache in lower ab.I've definitely been experiencing an unsettled lower gut for a week or so. Felt like I'm full of wind sometimes but not much 'action'. I've not been constipated either. All ok there.

My PMR has been stable.

Fatigue..... but that's a constant issue at moment....I'm on 2½mgs and have been since Feb.

[Koalajane]

I hope you start to feel a lot better soon

[Kendrew in reply to Koalajane]

Thankyou ❤

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I suspect any introduction of such things works best when done VERY slowly! Just because the additives are "natural" doesn't mean you definitely won't react badly to them.

I was quite interested in ZOe and "Sir" when he first appeared. Bit of over-sell methinks in the meantime ...

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks Pro,

I thought I was pretty clued up about gut health but sadly, not as clued up as I should have been!

I was probably a bit 'gung-ho' and shouldn't have tried to 'mend' something that ain't broken'! My digestive system had been perfectly okay for a long time, and now I've jiggered it all up.

I also should have realised that 'he' wouldn't really be working together with M&S without some personal financial gain!

You live & learn!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kendrew]

Sometimes I wonder if I am over-sceptical but on balance - probably not!

[yogabonnie]

If it is diverticulitis. you need to do clear liquids for 2 or3 days, then soft before starting to eat proper food again. It does clear it up usually. Otherwise only way to diagnose is scan of some sort. But with anything that is giving you such pain etc good to call GP.. but I suspect becasue of pain on left side )low? diverticulitis. .. and clear liquids will help. Not sure they even give antibiotics anymore. Good luck!!!

[Kendrew in reply to yogabonnie]

Thankyou Yogabonnie,

Appreciate your advice.

[Sharitone]

If other measures don't help, you might find lactose-free milk is kinder on your gut while it gets back to normal.

[Kendrew in reply to Sharitone]

Thankyou. I appreciate the tip.

[Raewynne]

I would go to the Dr and ask for a scan of your bowel.I got a perforated bowel last year starting with wind and pain.I am on prednisolone. Initially the Dr justthought it was IBS but it wasn't.

[Kendrew in reply to Raewynne]

Thankyou Raewynne,

I'm sorry your symptoms proved to be something more serious. I hope you're fully recovered now?

I am actually significantly improved today and everything is back to normal this morning.

I'm an ex nurse (all-be-it from a long time ago) and although that doesn't mean I can't get things wrong, I'm fairly confident my 'diagnosis' is correct this time..... a perforated bowel would almost certainly have flagged up a few other warning signs, such as increasing levels of pain, increasing tenderness to palpation of the affected area, high temperature, increased pulse rate, etc.

Youre right to remind me to be mindful of all potential causes of such symptoms though and I'll obviously be cautious should I experience any return of symptoms. I feel on this occasion however, I've experienced nothing more than an irritated bowel/gut.

Thankyou for taking the time to respond though. I really appreciate it.

[Raewynne in reply to Kendrew]

I'm glad you're improving. Yes I got the vomiting and temperature etc.Well I am over the painful operation but it has changed my life completely. It has really knocked me back but I am alive and adjusting .

[Mfaepink1973]

Good morning Kedrew, like you I started taking the gut shots after hearing about gut health on the Zoe podcasts. I’ve only been taking them for a week and started a couple of days ago with stomach pains and wind then since I got up at 6.45 this morning I have had to dash to the toilet 3 times so far and it’s only 7.40am! I usually eat a fairly healthy diet with lots of seeds and nuts so am starting to think my gut microbiome was ok and the gut shots were too much of a good thing. I hope you recover soon x

[Kendrew in reply to Mfaepink1973]

Thankyou for responding Mfaepink1973,

Your story is very similar to mine.

I also eat a healthy diet with lots of nuts, seeds green & cruciferous veg, live yogurt, berries, etc, and like yourself, probably already have a healthier gut biome than most people. I wasn't experiencing any digestive problems at all and then I decided this new 'shot' might enhance this further!

Silly me!!!!....... not the case..... and even if it was ever going to, I should have introduced it much more gently and at a slower pace.

Like I think I said before...I was trying to fix something that wasn't actually broken!

Im feeling much better now 24hrs later, but when my episode began, I was no sooner off the loo than I needed it again within mins.

Within 2½ to 3hrs it had all settled but I obviously felt wiped out.

Initially I just drank small amounts of warm (not hot) water, and then several hours later I had a slice of toast (white bread not wholegrain) with nothing on it and took my prednisolone. As I had no adverse effects from that I had more dry toast and also some stewed apples..... they're very good for settling the bowel down, but leave skin on as it's the pectin in the skin that provides soluble fibre to bulk up the stools.

Hope you recover quickly and feel better soon.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kendrew]

What instructions come with them? If you followed them to the letter, I think you should investigate making a complaint about them. How many others have had similar experiences - two of you already on our forum alone ...

And it might not be the probiotic effect of the product - but COULD be contamination and effectively food poisoning. I would certainly tell M&S and actually reporting it to the food safety people at the local council is not unreasonable. Don't suppose you have kept the rest of the batch have you?

food.gov.uk/contact/consume...

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

Like you, I already thought that two of us might be more than coincidence. I may still have a bottle in my recycling bag. I emptied the contents down the sink!

You're right...it's worth contacting the pertinent people.

I'll let you know the outcome.

[Mfaepink1973 in reply to Kendrew]

Thanks Kendrew, I’m feeling a lot better now but won’t be having another gut shot in a hurry!

[Kendrew in reply to Mfaepink1973]

Ditto!!

[Pixix]

very interesting, thanks! I’ve had three tooth infections, oral thrush, tonsil stones & halitosis in past six weeks. Antibiotics caused daily diarrhoea. Thought I’d try probiotics to help my upset tummy, & my bowel movements became much more frequent. I never thought of it being the probiotics, & I never thought about the steroids at all..Just carried on as normal, assuming they would work as usual. I’ve finished the probiotics yesterday so will see if my gut settles down.

[EnyaBlue]

Glad you are feeling better. Just for the record, I too have a relatively healthy diet with plenty of fruit and veg. I've tried pro biotics several times as lots of 'experts' extol the benefits, but they don't agree with me at all. I had pain in lower left abdominal region and was diagnosed with diverticular disease in 2022 via a CT scan after grumbling tummy for some years. You cant cure diverticular but managing it to stop inflammation and infection is key.

I was told to add more fibre and take fibrogel, but found out that the active ingredient was psyllium husk. I now take a teaspoon of this with my morning yogurt and have very little bother these days.

[Kendrew in reply to EnyaBlue]

👍

[Viveka]

What rubbish timing (as is often the way) but glad you're feeling better. When I started home made kefir I was queasy and it disrupted my poo for a couple of weeks, so I can imagine what a manufactured drink could do particularly if you already have propensity for dicky tum. (It calmed down and I am fine now. ) I have heard about the commercialisation and prices of TS products and, while I have nothing against profit, it sounds OTT. Sad.

[bluegirl7]

Hi please do get a scan even if better now. It can be as others have said diverticulosis or diverticulitis or there could be some blood that you cannot see and could be ischemic colitis which I have had. The probiotic could have triggered it or actually other “ healthy” things that can hurt the insides also

When I had the attack it was in that side also

Wish you well

[Ramjet10]

Lanprazole did this to me - it got to the stage that I could not leave the house. I was put on Famotidine and the problem went away.

[Missus835]

I bought a very expensive probiotic kefir a couple of months ago which gave me terrible diarrhea. The company that makes it said I could be allergic to the histamines in it and to only use 1/4 teaspoon next time. Initially it was 1/2 tsp. I didn't take it again. The feces looked like some kind of science project. Lasted a couple of days. Hope yours as sorted by now.

[Kendrew in reply to Missus835]

Thankyou for your response. I'm much better now but was interested to hear your story.

[Grammy80]

As soon as I read 'lower left side', I thought of diverticulitis....but your entire post enlightened me. You are probably off the couch now; I hope. Do you think you are being too kind to your digestive system? Sounds like you were doing fine until adding the probiotic~?? You are such a trooper!! I cannot add anything new....but once all is normal (what is that?) again, I'd have it checked out if the lower left bothers you again. My best...late to the party but sincere💞

[Kendrew in reply to Grammy80]

Thankyou Grammy80,I think you're probably right... I've been a little over enthusiastic in trying to do the best I can to maintain a healthy gut biome! I've completely upset it but it's much improved now. No more gut dhoti gor me!

Thankyou again. ❤