probiotics -do they really help ?

[Billybum]

can anyone tell me which are the best -and do they really help ,thanku

[Grateful71]

I have been working with a private dietitian for 6 months who suggested Bio-Kult, it's one that has research to back it up. I've been talking it for about 4 weeks and have found it helpful.

[Hidden]

It would depend on what was/is the cause of your IBS. In the wrong circumstances probiotics can cause more damage than good.

Probiotics are only putting "good"enzymes in the gut. To have a balanced gut flora is the goal. The "bad"enzymes are yeast based and can in severe circumstances over power the probiotics making the yeast stronger. In order that the probiotics can better survive or in extreme cases just survive a prebiotic should also be taken as food for the probiotic to live on as it becomes established.

So it is important to know how severe or minor the IBS is before just taking a probiotic as a wonder pill.

In mild cases probiotics can do little harm.

Worse case scenario you will need to fast a spell to weaken the yeast before taking an intensive course of pre and probiotics for 3 months, at least. This will give you the best chance to effect a change.

I have been through worse case scenarios twice and only succeeded once, the first time around. I have found that going on a kidney friendly diet and staying away from highly refined and man made foods has slowly but steadily improved my IBS. That doesn't mean I'm free of it and possibly never will be, but I have better days more often with flare ups less frequent now. Also a lot to do with understanding what sets my gut off and staying clear of that. Sounds good until I sneak a peck of the forbidden foods or a dose of anxiety and zap. I pay for it with yet another flare up.

[Billybum in reply to Hidden]

how do you know what type of ibs you have ? more confused than ever now !

[Billybum in reply to Hidden]

im trying nutra vita probiotics -for 2 months they had a very good write up ,watch this space !

[Hdr2712]

I started taking Aloe Pura Complex a few months ago and it's helped enormously making my IBS far more manageable. Others have recommended Alflorex. Anything is worth a try. Holland and Barrett sell the former and chemists the Alflorex. Good luck.

[auntyjean]

I drink kefir every day. I watched a program where trials were carried out and kefir was found to be the most effective. If bought in a Polish shop or made at home its cheaper too.

[Batteria]

Most definitely and they are all good.

[xjrs]

I have been taking Alflorex probiotic which has been scientifically studied for IBS and used to be advertised as an offer on theibsnetwork.org charity website (which means it's not just one of your 'run of the mill' probiotics). It has changed my life - it has made me far more tolerant to foods and reduced the pain I would normally be in considerably. The strain is a very strong and natural one normally passed from the mother to the baby at birth to prime the gut immune system, so if you have a gut bacterial imbalance it might have a strong chance of fighting off the bad bugs, that might be causing your IBS, but note that each person's IBS may have a different cause, but it is certainly worth a go for 2-3 months to see if it helps. Precision Biotics who supply it also have a support line, so you can discuss any questions you have with them and also whilst you are taking it.

[Billybum in reply to xjrs]

thankyou -will try this

[MatthewU]

I have found that pre-biotics on there own down work so well, and that you need a good pre/pro-biotic combination. The pre-biotic is the food for the pro-biotic, so they work in harmony. I use Synbiotic active vitality from BodyFokus twice a day. It given me a much better result than Alflorex and has helped with gut pain, cramping; a low dose Citalopram helps with overall anxiety and has been shown to help people who suffer with IBS supplying the gut with Serotonin which is often found to be low in patients that have IBS symptoms.

[Dodie117]

I use Alflorex and find it helps but I have not been diagnosed with Ibs. I do have gut issues- discomfort/pain. My gastroenterologist suggested Symprove. She said this had more testing and shown to help but it is very expensive.

She did say Alflorex good too.

[Hidden]

The question surely is how did you arrive at IBS, if you know. There are several ways of ending up with IBS and it can be of varying severity from an upset stomach that reacts to certain food or anxiety, or both, to flare ups from a cup of tea. For me it was plain and simple, medically induced as a consequence of trying to keep me alive, worst case scenario possible. How did I know the severity, when you can not eat or drink because of the instant reaction and bloating to the point there was no more give in the skin, it's pretty bad. I starved for some time and struggled to wear my clothes or bend at the waist. Felt like I was 10 months pregnant after a simple cup of tea. It took many many hours of research to find an answer after being told I had to live with it. When I got to skin and bone it was no longer possible to live with it!

Sadly IBS is what is left as a diagnosis when all other diagnosis have been exhausted. Probably why so many of us have dissimilar symptoms and effects.

I had to figure out what was causing the problem and how to manage it, not easy but necessary in order to move forward. After being diagnosed with kidney disease along the way I started on a kidney friendly diet and then had to contend with diabetes. All the time I have had no choice but to self manage as there has been no help at all from any of the Dr's I have come across. So 7 years later and the last 2 years I have managed to get to a point where I'm at least comfortable in the most part daily. The down side of my journey is that I can no longer tolerate oral medication of any sort except for paracetamol, which is virtually a candy snack for me.

I tried everything from starving to fodmap and nothing really worked until the kidney/diabetic friendly diet. But consequence the gut has been better as has my well being in general, I still have multiple health issues but they are managed and I'm able to get on with life despite it all, all be it a changed life with strict requirements to stay on the straight and narrow.

No it is not easy but it is required for me to get by.

[Billybum]

update on probiotics- ok its only been 12 days -BUT a marked differance,using nutravita biocultures complex ,tried this one first,as had a good write up .diorherra has stopped,no cramping -could be coincident.....