I started taking Alflorex recently on the suggestion of other forum members. I notice a significant improvement in about the 2nd week and was amazed, but soon my symptoms started returning as normal. Now I am doubting if it is actually helping at all.
I was wondering, do I need to take a prebiotic with it to make it effective? I think I read that you need a prebiotic to feed the bacteria that the probiotic introduces.
Thank you
It might be best to give the probiotic a 3 month trial first. If you have a gut bacterial imbalance, and you introduce prebiotics too soon, you might end up feeding any bad bugs that are hanging around dominating still and you may end up with a worsening of symptoms. If you've had some improvement at 3 months, but not entirely, then try the FODMAP elimination and reintroduction diet to find any remaining food intolerances. Depending on your symptoms you may also need medication. It might be after 2 weeks you have eaten something that you are still intolerant to, even on Alflorex, but also Alforex needs to be given enough time to do its job, so it might be worth waiting.
This is what happened to me. Alflorex improved my food tolerances, so I could eat a wider diet, but there were some intolerances that still remained.
Having said all of this, you could try prebiotics at the end of the 3 month trial and see how you get on prior to trying FODMAP elimination and reintroduction. The makers, PrecisionBiotics may also be able to give you some advice. Contact details here:
precisionbiotics.co.uk/cont...
What specific symptoms are you experiencing now?
Thank you, that was a really helpful reply.
My main symptoms are abdominal pain, which I have almost all the time, although the severity varies. Also loose stool, and diarrhoea if my stomach is really upset. Lack of appetite, or strong hunger and faintness when I have too much loose stool. Quite strong depression that comes on with my symptoms and sometimes anxiety. Fatigue, brain fog, headaches (not sure if related), uti-type pain sometimes, excess gas, occasional constipation.
The things that bother me the most is the pain and depression.
I will follow your advice re the Alflorex, hopefully there will be some lasting improvement. Thank you
Regarding pain, this may be of interest:
Have you tried an antispasmodic when you are loose such as Mebeverine (Colofac) or Buscopan?
Have you tried the Nerva hypnotherapy app (might help to slow things down and help with pain).
Just wondering whether you have had all the tests done (blood and stool sample) and been diagnosed with IBS?:
Do you think you may have had COVID-19 and have your symptoms come on or made worse since then? COVID-19 can impact the gut, cause depression, anxiety, fatigue, brain fog, headaches etc. If so, you may be suffering from Long COVID and need to speak to your GP about this.
If not, you may wish to speak to your GP about these symptoms anyway.
I haven’t tried any medications as I’m a bit reluctant to, but maybe it’s worth me having things like the buscopan as part of my ‘toolkit’. Even if I just use it in emergencies/for social events.
I have been doing the Nerva app for a couple of months and haven’t noticed any clear improvement, although I find it relaxing. I’ll keep on doing it as I have already paid for 1 year.
I’m not sure I’ve beeen properly diagnosed with ibs, so I’m going to back to the doctor in the new year and chase him about testing for other things.
I’m not sure about covid, I think I had it mildly once, but I’m not sure about whether it’s affected me long term. That’s a good point that I hadn’t though of, I will mention it to my doctor.
Thank you so much for the helpful links!
After effects from COVID-19 can be felt even from mild infection or asymptomatic.
Many people are showing up with symptoms that aren't being correlated back to COVID-19. Unfortunately the government is not informing the public about this.
Any tummy troubles should be properly investigated through blood and stool sample tests. The second box down in the diagram on the below page is what they should be testing for:
ibsresearcher.com/diagnosis...
Great that you will be going to your GP to talk all of your symptoms through. Good luck.
I am exactly the same but I also have fecal incontinence now I keep being told I have IBS. I've only had a stool test and it was negative but I have thought about long Covid. I had Covid in 2020 and again in 2022 I had diarrhea with it so I will be visiting my GP in New Year for more tests. I have had to take antidepressants and anxiety medication as I'm not coping very well. I hope you feel better soon and if you get some answers please share on group.x
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