probiotic supplements, what do you take?

[trinalockary]

Do you take probiotics? If so what do you take and how has it helped you?
Any suggestions as to amounts, types or hints on how and when to take them?

[trinalockary]

I am desperate because after nearly 4 years without problems I am suddenly over the last few months having issues. Now every week I end up constipated, bloated and feeling sick and then I hustle around trying everything and spend 2 days with horrendous gas and diarrhea then it starts over. The thing is I really am not doing much different from the times I get constipated to the times I have the runs, maybe a drop less oil (which is causing gas when I take a lot) or I miss a day where I eat half a cup of oats.
I think I need to try probiotics before I talk to the Dr and try something harder.
This is what I ordered so far
Healthy Origins Probiotic 30 Billion Cu's Shelf Stable, 150 Count (1 pill a day)
These have a super high customer rating

[newyorkbitch]

Have you started logging every thing you put in your mouth, and the times, and then every symptom you experience, and the times they occur? Do that for two weeks.

[trinalockary]

I am going to have to try that, also cutting out all simple carbs except the scant tablespoon of raw local honey I take for my allergies (honey helps with constipation or so they say)
I am also cutting out apples (that makes me want to cry) for 2 weeks and keeping track of the veggies I eat, I may have to go back to eating very little veggies or fiber because it seems that a lot of this started when I found out I could eat fruit and veggies again 4-5 months ago.
Still going to try probiotics

[jpcello]

Apr 6, 2014 21:11:14 GMT -5 trinalockary said:

I am going to have to try that, also cutting out all simple carbs except the scant tablespoon of raw local honey I take for my allergies (honey helps with constipation or so they say)
I am also cutting out apples (that makes me want to cry) for 2 weeks and keeping track of the veggies I eat, I may have to go back to eating very little veggies or fiber because it seems that a lot of this started when I found out I could eat fruit and veggies again 4-5 months ago.
Still going to try probiotics

Apples absolutely kill me. Remember that fruits and vegetables are carbs - albeit good, complex carbs, but carbs nonetheless. Are you peeling the apples? I discovered (the hard way) that I absolutely cannot digest the skins on certain fruits and causes major gas and bloating.

I take two Primal Defense H2O every morning.

Definitely follow NYB's suggestion of a food diary for a couple of weeks to find the exact culprits.

[trinalockary]

Yeah I eat apples with skins but I am going to pretty much just give up on them, I eat one spoonful of fruit butter (fruit puree cooked down until it is thick) in a cup of yogurt, that is going to be it for fruit from now on I guess. I think I need to go back to sparingly eating only well cooked veggies.
My guts only have 2 speeds these days, slow slow crawl and racing full speed ahead ... It is so frustrating!
I have heard the probiotics can help with weightloss and energy as well as inflammation and lately (especially when constipated) I have a lot less energy and feel stiff in my joints so we will see if it helps, I am using some 10billion probiotics now but the ones I ordered are broader spectrum.

[newyorkbitch]

How are your labs?

[trinalockary]

I will call and have them ordered because my appointment for my WLS annual is the 29th of April

[newyorkbitch]

I'm just thinking that your fatigue may be due to anemia.

[newyorkbitch]

Also wanted to say that there is no guarantee that somebody's guts will stabilize at 2 years and then stay that way forever. I'm 14 years out and things have shifted for me multiple times. Different sensitivies, plus hormonal shifts, aging, etc etc.

If I were you I would do a very careful elimination diet, eliminate simple carbs and dairy and log everything and every symptom/reaction, with the times.

How were your labs last year?

[trinalockary]

Pretty much perfect labs, D gets low most year but was fine 2 months ago, actually as of 3 months ago I was high in Bs and perfect in calcium and iron, and not low on anything else, I need my ADEK screened

[newyorkbitch]

How was your PTH intact? How about albumin and pre-albumin? How about ferritin?

FYI re calcium - your serum calcium level is not what matters.

[trinalockary]

No clue, I will ask, I know the surgeons office said all of my blood work, of which there was a lot, was really good.
But I will ask about those.
I still drink 16 oz of milk, 6-8 oz of half and half... plus yogurt and cottage cheese every day.
Not sure how else they would be checking my calcium.
The thing is the low energy goes along with the constipation, when I stabilizes I feel better.

[newyorkbitch]

You need to have a copy of all of your labs…always.

Post your results here - get a copy of all of your labs for the last 12 months.

It also may be that you have become lactose intolerant. Do an elimination diet and eliminate dairy and simple carbs and see how you do.

[trinalockary]

I didn't eat dairy for nearly a month and still had this but I can do the Almond/coconut thing again

[newyorkbitch]

And how about your carb intake? Did you eliminate that too?

[trinalockary]

Nope :-(
Starting it now
I only went back to milk because I thought that the fat might help the constipation but now the gas is worse.
I gained 10 pounds in 3 days doing nothing different and despite having the runs the last 16 hours I have only lost 3. I know in my adult mind I am not pigging out or eating different but in my fat girl mind I am a freaking failure.
Yesterday I walked 3 miles (a lot considering I am still getting better after knee surgery) and today 1 mile because I feel so sick and weak. Regardless of how I feel tomorrow I will walk 3 miles again in the hopes it helps my guts.
I am taking miralax, magnesium oxide, probiotics (10 bil) eating a little extra fat, reduced my carbs, and because I am getting desperate tomorrow I am thinking of doing 2 or 3 days of high protein liquid diet.

[newyorkbitch]

For one week, eat protein and cooked vegetables and that's it. See how you do.

You really need current labs.

[trinalockary]

I go in for the blood draw tomorrow, I will ask that they send me the full report as well as sending it to my dr

[newyorkbitch]

Make sure they draw for PTH intact, ferritin, TIBC, albumin and pre-albumin (along with many other things). Have you looked at the recommended list of labs on this board?

[newyorkbitch]

Get last years too.

[trinalockary]

I had the blood draw today plus requested print outs of my last 2 years worth
They did a bunch of vitamin draws and CBC but I didn't see metabolic on the list of today's draws...they said because of insurance they have to do these first and if the CBC isn't perfect they can request it or I can pay for it but I can't afford it so we will see.

My primary care physician documented my back pain (towards getting my tummy tuck) and agreed that the type of probiotics I have coming are good, she wants me to do a series of 6 miralax doses in 6 hours and a gallon of water before I start taking the probiotics so that they have a better chance of affecting me.
She agreed it is very possible I have thrown my intestinal flora out of whack by drinking stupidly large amounts of dairy for months (48-56 oz a day) and eating too much sugar for 3 months early in the year and said that if my blood work comes back fine and my problems clear up this month she won't ask for a scoping but if I can't get stable by May she will order it.

[newyorkbitch]

Did they draw the things I mentioned? They are mandatory.

[goodkel]

Apr 8, 2014 18:59:40 GMT -5 trinalockary said:

I had the blood draw today plus requested print outs of my last 2 years worth
They did a bunch of vitamin draws and CBC but I didn't see metabolic on the list of today's draws...they said because of insurance they have to do these first and if the CBC isn't perfect they can request it or I can pay for it but I can't afford it so we will see.

My primary care physician documented my back pain (towards getting my tummy tuck) and agreed that the type of probiotics I have coming are good, she wants me to do a series of 6 miralax doses in 6 hours and a gallon of water before I start taking the probiotics so that they have a better chance of affecting me.
She agreed it is very possible I have thrown my intestinal flora out of whack by drinking stupidly large amounts of dairy for months (48-56 oz a day) and eating too much sugar for 3 months early in the year and said that if my blood work comes back fine and my problems clear up this month she won't ask for a scoping but if I can't get stable by May she will order it.

Due to your malabsorption, you need everything drawn no matter what the results of the CBC.

Coded correctly, your insurance should pay for them. Find out what code your doctor uses to submit them.

This one: 579.8 Intestinal malabsorption should work.

There is a whole thread about codes others have used to get their labs covered:
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/search/results?what_all=codes+labs&who_only_made_by=0&display_as=0

If your pcp refuses to cooperate, fire her. She is a danger to your health.

[newyorkbitch]

You must have full labs. How do you expect to be healthy and feel better if you can't find out what's going on?

[trinalockary]

My PCP doesn't order my blood work my Bariatric surgeon does, I will print off the DS spread sheet and request that they arrange to do all of it, I should have the results of what they did do in a little bit and will stop by this week to give them the sheet

[newyorkbitch]

You mean the list of labs from this site?

Also, you should get copies of everything, and get last year's too.

[Deleted]

FWIW, milk kills me. I can only tolerate heavy cream and Half & half. The sugars in milk gives me a very cranky stomach. I also don't eat fruit, the sugar makes my stomach hurt.

As for probiotics, I take two different types for different reasons. I take Florajen3 for my all-around probiotic. I take one a day. I also take one capsule of S-Boulardii each day for prevention of c-diff.

It's also possible that if everything is irritating you that you have some bacterial overgrowth going on. I was about 4 years out when I experienced something similar. I took a round of Flagyl and have done well since. It's another avenue to explore if your labs are fine and probiotics don't touch the issue.