probiotics

[Jess54]

Hi - I have suffered from IBS - D for over 25 years & have tried most things . Mine is definitely stress & anxiety related . I have stopped taking probiotics, but I keep reading that a lot of people use Alflorex, it’s quite expensive so I wanted to know peoples thoughts & which one most people used ( there seems to be several different types ) we are off on holiday again in September & it would be amazing if my tummy behaved so I can enjoy myself & not be anxious that I don’t know where the nearest toilet is ! Many thanks

[Hidden]

I very much sympathise with your plight, although my symptoms have been present for over 8 years, and I have IBS-C. Have you tried Enterosgel? It’s been around for over 40 years and was developed as an agent to help in controlling symptoms after acute infective diarrhoea. There is very good clinical evidence that it can help patients with your type of IBS, and although it’s normally only taken for a max of 21 days, it can be extended with gaps of 2 days at a time. It absorbs bacterial toxins and does not affect the gut microbiome. I recommended it to a friend a few months ago who reports that it has transformed her life.

For my part, I have been taking a relatively new probiotic called Ferrocalm for the past 17 weeks and am still in the midst of significant adjustment symptoms, but remain very hopeful that it’s going to finally relieve me of my intractable pain and bloating. I have been in communication with the scientist who developed it, and its mooted method of action explains why the several standard probiotics I have all tried didn’t work. I did manage, though, to achieve correction of my constipation by taking Alflorex for several months. Interestingly, adjustment symptoms lasted for 16 weeks, but pain and bloating continued.

I would strongly recommended that any IBS sufferer, including your good self, should try Ferrocalm, especially if other probiotics have not worked. The property of this strain of Streptococcus Thermophilus is such that it is able to utilise iron which is released into gut during periods of stress, and antagonise the pathogenic bacteria which can use iron as well. The problem is that Lactobacilli and Bifidium species available in all proprietary products are ineffective in this situation.

I do hasten to add that I have no material or financial interest in the company that manufacture Ferrocalm, but that I happened, serendipitously, on this product.

[Mizzmanicins in reply to Hidden]

Hi, I have had IBS-D for 25yrs. I found ferrocalm very helpful. I have tried many treatments/prebiotic. Ferrocalm really helps bloating and seemed to reduce diarrhoea. I felt I had more control when using ferrocalm. But I felt it took 3/6 weeks to get in system. Definitely recommend trying it.

[Jess54 in reply to Mizzmanicins]

Thank you , it’s one I’ve not heard of , but several people have recommended it , I’ll make a look .

[IBS_is_a_right_pain in reply to Hidden]

I would add a warning to using Enterosgel - if you are on prolonged/delayed/modified release medication - check with your GP first, it is not recommended for use with them.

[Jess54 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for taking time to reply. I appreciate your advice . I will take a look Ferrocalm .

[xjrs]

I have tried many probiotics over the years and Alflorex worked best for me. I use the original version:

precisionbiotics.co.uk/alfl...

I think if you get it on a 3 month trial, you can get it at a cheaper price, but might be worth trying just 1 month initially to see how you get on with it, though a 3 month trial is recommended and as with all probiotics you might have a 2-3 week settling in period.

I get it on a 3 month prescription to reduce the price.

[Jess54 in reply to xjrs]

Thank you , I appreciate you taking the time to reply , I’ll give ferrocalm a go x

[Letsfixit1]

Hi, I too suffer from IBSD. Have you thought about tackling the anxiety itself as well as the physical symptoms? I can recommend the Nervaapp, which is very inexpensive and lasts a year. I found it very calming, taught me how to breathe properly, and helped with insomnia!

[Jess54 in reply to Letsfixit1]

Hi , yes I’ve had hypnotherapy sessions & have the Nerva app. I think they have definitely helped me , I did have a NHS CBT course as well , which was beneficial & I have definitely made significant improvements with my anxiety. I think if I could stop the physical symptoms it would stop triggering my anxiety & brain gut reactions. I could find something that could help day to day ( rather than loprimide daily ) I think I would be changed person . I’m going to try the ferrocalm - a few people have suggested & see how I go with that , I think x

[grumpyold]

I have IBS C but I have found Alflorex a great help. I get the chewable banana and strawberry ones. As people have said, they aren't cheap but I am willing to fork out as they work for me.

[Jess54 in reply to grumpyold]

Thank you , I appreciate your reply

[MatthewU]

Try Ferrocalm, it's not too expensive and was a game changer for my IBS symptoms and only works when your body is under stress, so would be perfect for you. You should see a difference within 1-2 months if not sooner.

[Hidden in reply to MatthewU]

I would certainly second your suggestion of Ferrocalm, but I think it depends on the state of your gut microbiome, rather, than stress, if, like me, you have had intractable symptoms for a very longtime, and where there have been no periods of freedom from these symptoms . . I have been taking it for 17 weeks, and having developed adjustment symptoms from day 1, still have them . There are no features to suggest IBD or GI neoplasm, and I think is occasioned by a very longstanding dysbiotic status of my gut. Interestingly, this probiotic is engineered to utilise iron, unlike standard probiotic stains, which cannot compete with the pathogenic organisms which do, so are rendered ineffective.

I also confirm that I found Alflorex very useful in correcting my constipation, but not pain or bloating. I had adjustment symptoms for 16 weeks!

[Jess54 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you , I think mostly my symptoms are stress related. I do have to be careful what I eat as well & avoid ny processed , fatty & artificial sweeteners. I’d like to try & stop taking loperamide daily as I think it less effective with me now . I think the ferrocalm suggestion sounds a good one & will give it a try.

[Jess54 in reply to MatthewU]

Thank you , this does sound hopeful, I’ll give it a try .

[Pollyboo]

Hi Jess. My story is very similar to yours. Have had IBSD for 22yrs and tried everything to try to help my urgency pain and bloating. Urgency the worst as it just impacts your life and day to day living.I just wanted to say I have bean reading these posts and have taken the plunge and just ordered the 8wks Ferrocalm package,

Keeping my fingers crossed,

Hope you find some relief too and can enjoy your holiday, I am also going away for a few days in September.

Let me know if you try Ferrocalm it would be interesting,

Take care Pollyboo

[Jess54 in reply to Pollyboo]

Hi - it’s so debilitating, nobody can really understand. I’d love to be spontaneous & enjoy life more . I do push myself to do things , but it’s so hard. I’d love a trip to London on the train & do some sight seeing , hopefully one day , I have just ordered the ferrocalm , you can get 25% off your firstOrder . Fingers crossed for us both . Keep me posted xx

[Edgar77]

I am a celiac so need everything gluten free. So I use yakult which is a reasonable price. Then I switched to alflorex, but can't say I noticed any difference. My Doc said to give e it a miss for a month a d it is good to use a variety to get a mixture of good bacteria.

[LFHell]

I found it soothing when i had gastritis. I dont notice any side effects or effects the rest of the time but i dont think I have any bifido bacteria left because of the low fodmap diet. Perhaps if you take it together with fodmap foods (particularly GOS which is in beans and other goods) you can grow bifido bacteria with this probiotic. This might be why it doesn't work for some people?