mistercy
Full Member
Posts: 228
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: 03/26/2013
Surgeon: Mitchell Roslin
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Post by mistercy on Nov 2, 2013 10:16:11 GMT -5
Been doing my research on probiotics, and wanted to know if anyone has any recommendations. I've been reading a lot about the benefit of saccharomyces boulardii products such as Florastor for helping with the DS gas and poop smell, but haven't tried such a product yet, and I notice it is pricey.
I currently take a liquid form - American Health, about 40 billion dosage daily of acidophilus. I find I feel better when I take it, and don't feel so good days I forget. Any suggestions out there?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2013 11:25:42 GMT -5
I'm fond of the Ultimate Flora brand, which is capsules that have to be refrigerated. Once upon a time I would use their Critical Care for a month anytime I had to do a round of Flagyl, but that one got to be a bit much (I think) and would give me issues. So I went to another one of their products.....And of course now the name fell out of my head, but it had something to do with daily or maintenance care.
My routine maintenance is daily consumption of good yogurt and/or kefir.
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Post by kennyk on Nov 2, 2013 11:34:56 GMT -5
The ultimate Flora, I think I brought that but the box said it was some sort of time delay So I was advised to return it. You find that one works pretty okay then?
I brought some hundred billion and some 10 billions that I combine throughout the day.
In fact I just opened to 10 billions and put them into my protein shake it did not affect the taste.
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Post by smokinstella on Nov 2, 2013 11:53:55 GMT -5
I was using the ultimate flora ones and they were working great for me till all the antibiotics I have been on in the last month in a half now they dont touch it. I forked out $75 for a bottle of VSL#3 Just started it yesterday so hopefully I see some improvement soon
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Post by sheanie on Nov 2, 2013 18:30:00 GMT -5
Tried 3 different kinds after my last urinary tract infection (UTI) when I had to take an antibiotic that left me with a bacterial overgrowth. The 4th one I tried was Florastor, and it worked beautifully. I found it for $22 at Meijer, and it was more expensive than the others, but I keep it stocked with my other vites now.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2013 0:49:49 GMT -5
Okay, I am going to ask. Why do you all feel you need to take probiotics? I know they are popular now but what specific reason makes you feel you need to take pills beyond just drinking Kefir or eating yogurt as EN mentioned? Just following this latest health push, or is there specific data or science showing that DS'rs need to take probiotics.
NOTE: THis post may come off as snarky, but it isn't intended. I am just naturally pessimistic when an industry pushes something so hard like probiotics.
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Post by brooklyngirl on Nov 3, 2013 1:00:12 GMT -5
I think lots of people, women in particular, have guts that get easily thrown off. Intestinal surgery would obviously be a big culprit, but also things like taking antibiotics can mess up the flora very easily. Plus, I was told in the hospital, that since our digestive tracts are now shorter there is less space for digestion to take place and the bacteria do more of it than they used to, the doc also said that's why things are smellier. So I think we need lots of good bacteria to do their job and need to quickly replace them when something else knocks them out.
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Post by Leonie on Nov 3, 2013 1:28:02 GMT -5
Oops, I just started a similar thread, with a recipe for adding probiotic capsules to home made yoghurt.
I have been looking into Prebiotics. I found a protein bar sweetened with Fructo-oligo-saccharides. It seems to have half the sweetness of sugar, but not digested until it reaches the colon where the bacteria digest it. The side effects are contradictory, but it definitely slows my gut down dramatically. No more 6-8 bowel movements that are super urgent and stick to the side of the bowl. The good bacteria love it, but the baddies will also multiply if they are dominating. It seems to slow gut motility, but could also cause diarrhea. It seems to promote weight loss, but has not led to any loss for me in the ten days I have been consuming them. Perhaps this is because the food now has more time to be absorbed. The 15g carbs per 20g protein might also have something to do with it. That and the fact that I lack self control if there is a box full on the shelf. I definitely have much less gas. I would rather have one of these than another carby treat.
Anyhow, I am happy that I have finally found a protein bar I can enjoy.
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Post by songbird177 on Nov 3, 2013 11:06:53 GMT -5
I take a probiotic because it was recommended by my surgeon and without one my insides sound like they are speaking alien. Also my husband says I would kill the household if I don't lol.
I am still trying to find one that fits me. I just picked up the ultra. I know it said delayed release but it is a capsule. I'm no scientist but how can a capsule be delayed release? I tried primal defense ultra but ended up being one of the small percentage who got yeast infection in places so the doc told me to try a diff one. I took culturelle before. That worked well but not quite enough.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2013 11:16:40 GMT -5
The ultimate Flora, I think I brought that but the box said it was some sort of time delay So I was advised to return it. You find that one works pretty okay then? I brought some hundred billion and some 10 billions that I combine throughout the day. In fact I just opened to 10 billions and put them into my protein shake it did not affect the taste. I use plenty of delayed-release products in my life, including medications, just fine. YMMV. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2013 11:18:49 GMT -5
Scott, I base my probiotic use on my symptoms, just like I do for the use of Flagyl. I have learned over time to tell by the quality of my gas and poop when it's time to do more aggressive stuff than yogurt/kefir to enact warfare on the critter universe in my gut  . |
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Post by sheanie on Nov 3, 2013 20:12:09 GMT -5
Scott: After my UTI and the antibiotic destroyed the "good" bacteria in my intestine, I had flatulence that was so horrific I could not leave my house. From what I understand, this is something that can happen to us after an antibiotic regimen, and for other reasons as well.
I sought out advice not on the open forum here, but by PM to Kathy F. She is the one who told me about Florastor, and I literally ran out to buy it. I had already tried other probiotics and asked my (useless) doctor as well. My PCP told me to just eat yogurt (I already eat tons of greek yogurt). The Florastor worked when everything else didn't. The smell was gone almost overnight.
I do not take a probiotic on a daily basis, so I cannot address that issue. But I am only 4 years out, so maybe in the future I will need to, and Flagyl as well. That's why this forum is so important. You will hear about things here that aren't widely known, especially by our doctors.
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Post by kennyk on Nov 3, 2013 22:51:48 GMT -5
The ultimate Flora, I think I brought that but the box said it was some sort of time delay So I was advised to return it. You find that one works pretty okay then? I brought some hundred billion and some 10 billions that I combine throughout the day. In fact I just opened to 10 billions and put them into my protein shake it did not affect the taste. I use plenty of delayed-release products in my life, including medications, just fine. YMMV. Ok not to be dense but how do you know the time release are working for you? I am currently opening up my probiotics for instance and stirring them into my protein drinks. It ain't easy being me  Kenny |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2013 23:02:19 GMT -5
I use two different probiotics. I use s-boulardii (Jarrow brand) and Florajen3. I think the two combined are great and combat different things. My gut just feels better when I take it.
I don't eat yogurt or kefir with any consistency because I don't know when I'd eat it. I am not like most who eat every two hours. I just don't like eating all that often either.
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Post by KathyF on Nov 3, 2013 23:49:18 GMT -5
I use plenty of delayed-release products in my life, including medications, just fine. YMMV. Ok not to be dense but how do you know the time release are working for you? I am currently opening up my probiotics for instance and stirring them into my protein drinks. It ain't easy being me Kenny If your probiotic is enteric coated, it is better to take as is and not open them up. Enteric coating does not dissolve in the acidic environment of the stomach but will quickly dissolve once it is in the alkaline environment of the intestine. The idea being that more of the probiotic will survive the trip through the stomach. |
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Post by bearmom on Nov 4, 2013 2:10:22 GMT -5
Probiotics make a world of difference for me, and I believe it helps to have a variety of strains, some of which can't be purchased. I posted a while back with foods that can be consumed and made fairly economically, which all have natural probiotics in them. I prefer to eat some variety of these even if I take a probiotic supplement just so I get some of the less common strains. Heres the link to that post weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=6800&page=1 |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2013 7:20:42 GMT -5
I use plenty of delayed-release products in my life, including medications, just fine. YMMV. Ok not to be dense but how do you know the time release are working for you? I am currently opening up my probiotics for instance and stirring them into my protein drinks. It ain't easy being me Kenny I know they work because of the symptom relief I get. This is true of meds and supplements alike. You can get away with doing that to a probiotic capsule, my friend, but if you are so foolish as to do that with a medication, it could kill you. I suggest you knock that habit off right now. |
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Post by aa on Nov 4, 2013 12:21:03 GMT -5
Okay, I am going to ask. Why do you all feel you need to take probiotics? I know they are popular now but what specific reason makes you feel you need to take pills beyond just drinking Kefir or eating yogurt as EN mentioned? Just following this latest health push, or is there specific data or science showing that DS'rs need to take probiotics. NOTE: THis post may come off as snarky, but it isn't intended. I am just naturally pessimistic when an industry pushes something so hard like probiotics. Eating yogurt, etc., doesn't contain enough of the probiotics I find I need. I had issues after an antibiotic and the probiotic and patience helped to regulate my system again. I also tend towards bacterial overgrowths; they didn't begin until I was many years out. (I didn't take probiotics till many years out as well). My symptom is pain on the upper right side. Not bad pain; just comes and goes. After extensive tests, we went with probiotics. The pain is very rare now. |
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Post by PrettyGirlBounce on Nov 5, 2013 4:24:08 GMT -5
Ok not to be dense but how do you know the time release are working for you? I am currently opening up my probiotics for instance and stirring them into my protein drinks. It ain't easy being me Kenny I know they work because of the symptom relief I get. This is true of meds and supplements alike. You can get away with doing that to a probiotic capsule, my friend, but if you are so foolish as to do that with a medication, it could kill you. I suggest you knock that habit off right now. So EN, did you stop taking the Florastor once your symptoms were alleviated? Kind of like completing a "round" of probiotics? This method definitely sounds appealing to me. I bought a box of Florastor today after I read this thread. I had also ordered a different one online to try that is in the billions before I saw this (goddamit anyway!) Thx for the info! |
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mistercy
Full Member
Posts: 228
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: 03/26/2013
Surgeon: Mitchell Roslin
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Post by mistercy on Nov 6, 2013 9:34:52 GMT -5
Thanbks, everyone for responding! There was a lot of good info here! Talitali, thanks for the info on s-boulardii, went to the health food store after I read your post and picked up some, hoping it helps in conjunction with the acidophilus!
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Post by deedee484 on Nov 6, 2013 11:40:02 GMT -5
I'm fond of the Ultimate Flora brand, which is capsules that have to be refrigerated. Once upon a time I would use their Critical Care for a month anytime I had to do a round of Flagyl, but that one got to be a bit much (I think) and would give me issues. So I went to another one of their products.....And of course now the name fell out of my head, but it had something to do with daily or maintenance care. My routine maintenance is daily consumption of good yogurt and/or kefir. EN...not to sound dumb but where do you get Kefir? Is this safe to start right after surgery?? I eat two Activia yogurts a day now. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2013 11:57:41 GMT -5
I'm fond of the Ultimate Flora brand, which is capsules that have to be refrigerated. Once upon a time I would use their Critical Care for a month anytime I had to do a round of Flagyl, but that one got to be a bit much (I think) and would give me issues. So I went to another one of their products.....And of course now the name fell out of my head, but it had something to do with daily or maintenance care. My routine maintenance is daily consumption of good yogurt and/or kefir. EN...not to sound dumb but where do you get Kefir? Is this safe to start right after surgery?? I eat two Activia yogurts a day now. A place like Trader Joes, Whole Foods, any top end grocery store should have it. You can drink it immediately.....I love it. I get Lifeway blueberry(very mellow not really acidic tasting like a lot of yogurt) |
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Post by deedee484 on Nov 6, 2013 13:02:53 GMT -5
EN...not to sound dumb but where do you get Kefir? Is this safe to start right after surgery?? I eat two Activia yogurts a day now.[/quote]
A place like Trader Joes, Whole Foods, any top end grocery store should have it. You can drink it immediately.....I love it.
I get Lifeway blueberry(very mellow not really acidic tasting like a lot of yogurt)
[/quote]
We don't have a Trader Joes or Whole Foods. So is the Lifeway blueberry a kefir drink?? I'm confused. I was thinking Kefir was in a pill form??
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2013 13:20:15 GMT -5
EN...not to sound dumb but where do you get Kefir? Is this safe to start right after surgery?? I eat two Activia yogurts a day now. A place like Trader Joes, Whole Foods, any top end grocery store should have it. You can drink it immediately.....I love it. I get Lifeway blueberry(very mellow not really acidic tasting like a lot of yogurt) [/quote] We don't have a Trader Joes or Whole Foods. So is the Lifeway blueberry a kefir drink?? I'm confused. I was thinking Kefir was in a pill form?? [/quote] Yes, Kefir is liquid yogurt. I don't have a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods in my area either, but there is a new place called Fresh Foods that has a lot of organic type foods and gourmet stuff.....so I am sure this is a grocery store of some sort in your area that should have Kefir.....you may have to look around a bit... I had too. and I don't know if you have a Costco but I just checked and it looks like they carry Kefir. I guess I may have to break down and by a membership..it pisses me off to no end when stores charge a fee..EFF you for making me pay you for the privilege to buy from you.....sorry rant off. |
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Post by deedee484 on Nov 6, 2013 14:18:17 GMT -5
Ha ha Scott! We don't have a Costco but we have Sam's Club....kinda the same I think! I totally agree about the membership thing! Irritates me to no end...but my hubby buys our tires there so we pay for it every year anyway!So how many of the kefir liquid yogurt do I need a day?? Would it be good to have that instead of my Activia...or keep both??
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2013 16:43:44 GMT -5
Ha ha Scott! We don't have a Costco but we have Sam's Club....kinda the same I think! I totally agree about the membership thing! Irritates me to no end...but my hubby buys our tires there so we pay for it every year anyway!So how many of the kefir liquid yogurt do I need a day?? Would it be good to have that instead of my Activia...or keep both?? I don't drink the Kefir fro Probiotics (if you didn't notice, I am not completely sold on probiotics... but I get that others get benefit from them). I drink it for nourshiment and liquids. I think in 8 oz there is 11 grams of protein. That is how much I tend to drink a day. I can't stand protein drinks (more protein) so this is a good way for me to get liquids since I really like it and some good protein. I think if you want probiotics you should do the flora stuff that has been suggested. My udnerstanding is that there is not a huge amount of probiotics in yogurt. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2013 10:05:45 GMT -5
I know they work because of the symptom relief I get. This is true of meds and supplements alike. You can get away with doing that to a probiotic capsule, my friend, but if you are so foolish as to do that with a medication, it could kill you. I suggest you knock that habit off right now. So EN, did you stop taking the Florastor once your symptoms were alleviated? Kind of like completing a "round" of probiotics? This method definitely sounds appealing to me. I bought a box of Florastor today after I read this thread. I had also ordered a different one online to try that is in the billions before I saw this (goddamit anyway!) Thx for the info! Yeah, my current method is to take them for some weeks--basically till the bottle runs out--and then revert back to the daily yogurt/kefir. |
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