Newbie!! What probiotic is best for IBF?

[DizzyD]

Hi all I am new to this forum and as of yet I have not been diagnosed as having IBS...but past three days I have been housebound, and bed bound due to chronic diarroea, stomach cramps, pain under left breast and top of gut area, swollen and bloated stomach etc.

The pain in my ribs, under left breast, which comes and goes has been present for a number of years all the other symptoms appeared three days ago and the pain at bottom of ribs has gone.

How can pain a bottom of left rib be attributed to IBS?

On the day of gut flair up I drank a yogurt drink with Kefir in it strictly to ingest some natural probiotic cultures. What a mistake!!! Ended up with IBF symptoms mentioned above...been quite unwell for past three days.

Found this forum and read some posts which confirmed that my symptoms are akin to IBS. Also read that certain probiotics are a no, no for people with IBS but a suitable probiotic was mentioned, think it begins with letter A. Tried to backtrack posts I read But cannot find it.

Does anyone know of suitable probiotics I could take that will not cause IBS flare up like the KEFIR did?

Over the years I have tried many brands of probiotics without success....they always cause gut problems which improve when I stop taking them. With the KEFIR my gut had a severe reaction which I am still trying to recover from.

Any feedback would really be appreciated.

[Maureen1958]

Have you thought you might just have a tummy bug? It does happen!

The pain under left breast could be indigestion. They tend to lob indigestion in with IBS these days. Years ago when mine started it was usually only bowel problems and generally diarrhoea.

Kefir seems to have a more profound effect than probiotics. I tried a just tiny bit once and literally had to dash to the loo (but it didn't last for days). I don't use probiotics as the don't seem to agree with me (tend to bung me up) and I have tried a lot. The probiotic you are thinking of is probably Alflorex.

[DizzyD in reply to Maureen1958]

Thank you maureen, that's the one: Alflorex. I would be very lucky indeed it was a tummy bug.

[b1b1b1]

I agree with Maureen. I would just add that if you have not been diagnosed, you should see a gastroenterologist.

[serena-g]

I think FODMAP is useful to figure out your trigger group. I did it through the NHS (had to ask GP for a referral). I am sensitive to Fructose (fruit sugar which can be balanced with glucose, but where it's not in Mango, Apple etc etc it's bad for me) discovered my probiotic contained fructose based pre-biotics and were problematic for me. I found some probiotics without Fructose at Bio Care. They have a telephone line which you can call free of charge to discuss what's best for you, but FODMAP would help you figure out your triggers - everyone's different. I hope that helps and I hope you feel better.

[xjrs]

Aflorex probiotic has been scientifically studied for IBS. I have tried many over the years and Alflorex worked the best for me.

Any ongoing bowel issues shouldn't be ignored and require stool sample and blood tests from your GP:

nhs.uk/conditions/irritable...

[Carrjan in reply to xjrs]

I have a consultant dietician and she had recommended pre biotic BIMUNO and pro biotic BIOKULT and although I am still getting flare ups I did have 10 days free of IBS after starting this and also cutting out caffeine and fizzy drinks and beer(Arrggh !.I love beer) to reduce wind.

[MargaritaNiko]

I think others have responded with Alflorex. I’m just here to say I swear by it. You get a month’s supply so I was just try it for a month, even if you feel it’s not working and then see by the end of it. For me it helps me to not feel bloated and I like it’s in a capsule so easy to take. Good luck.

[kathmax in reply to MargaritaNiko]

Where can I buy Alflorex.

[MargaritaNiko in reply to kathmax]

You can order it direct from their website, or from the IBS Network and Boots, I’ve also found most pharmacies stock it too now, Boots definitely does, and my local Rowlands and Lloyds pharmacies do too. It’s normally £25 which although expensive is a month’s supply and it’s recommended to try it for that long to know whether it’s working for you. Even if what you’re experiencing right now is a bug as opposed to IBS it should still help by topping up your good bacteria. As the others have suggested, do see the GP if things don’t improve to make sure you haven’t got something else going on. x

[MargaritaNiko]

Sorry, thought I was replying to original poster! You can ignore most of what I said. 😂

[Carrjan]

The pain under L ribs could be due to bloating in that part of the colon it Does press right up under there. I have had that.