|
|
--------------------
IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I had already realized that broccoli, cabbage,(cruciferous veggies have difficult to digest sugars and starches...look them up on google) beans, etc, caused gas and bloating, I love these foods and every so often still wanted to eat them. I just realized a few months ago that I needed to avoid them altogether.
When I started on the Natures Secret in July, I was not expecting any results, having tried probiotics before with mixed results.
Over the years I have tried all the stuff here on this website, also laxatives like milk of magnesia, high fiber diets, low carb, and just about everything you can imagine. Nothing worked to regulate my bowels, stop the bloating, cramping, flip flops of my colon (which sometimes lasted all night), etc etc etc!
This probiotic did not stop everything all at once. I first noticed an increase in the bulk of the stool, then reduction in pain, then it felt like the lining began to thicken, then I noticed some regularity in my being able to have a normal complete evacuation.
This was not a straight line recovery. There were some relapses, but it was nothing like it had been before. When I say relapses, the most difficult problem I had was when the cramping and peristalsis would create small hard impacted rocks just overnight,then everything would shut down, and it would be impossible to have a normal bm for weeks. When I started taking this probiotic, it took only a few days after this kind of relapse before things started to move again.
If it feels like this may happen, I just go ahead and eat some Nancy's cottage cheese with maybe some squash or green beans, or Nancy's fat free yogurt with raspberries. A recent addition has been the bran flakes. Then, presto, the next morning all is back to normal.
4 months ago, this was not the case. Nothing I did short of laxatives or enemas worked.
My daughter (age 32) has had colitis since she was 18. She has also seen an improvement using these particular probiotics.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
btw, I use Nancy's cottage cheese and yogurt because they are made the old fashioned way with no fillers and plenty of acidophilus. They seem to stop the spasms and help with elimination the next morning.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hey, I bought this probiotic today. When do you take it and do you take it on an empty stomach or with food?? Did you experience side effects when you started taking it??
Michelle 
--------------------
IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Where can I find Nancy's cottage cheese and yogurt?? I don't think my grocery store has it.
Michelle
--------------------
IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi Michelle,
I just guessed at what would work. When I started taking it, I took it in the morning, afternoon and at night. I tried taking it on an empty stomach, between meals, and with food. I really don't know whether it makes any diff.... just mix it up for a few weeks and see what happens. I live in Utah and Nancys can be found at Wild Oats,Good Earth, and Smith's market Place in Centerville. It will take several months before you can finally say "it's the probiotic making the difference." Or you may start to see results within a week.
But, and this is important, you have to stop everything else: all the fiber, laxatives, milk of mag, cal/mag, etc. and you have to slowly incorporate whole grain bread or cereal because that gives the organisms something to feed on and promotes their growth.
You will have relapses along the way, but don't be discouraged.
good luck! and please keep us all posted.
Jeanie
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Thanks, Jeanie! Did it hurt your stomach when you took it on an empty stomach??
Michelle
--------------------
IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
That's great if this worked for you.
However, most of what you're suggesting eating is irrelevent to most of us... cottage cheese/yogurt/bran -- all really bad for probably everyone on this board. Also... as far as I know, milk doesn't help the growth of probiotics... I don't see why it would. Some doctors say yogurt is good because of the active cultures, but I don't think it's really enough to make a difference (?).
Also.. probiotics generally don't work unless they ARE refridgerated. Maybe I misunderstood what you said ... it sounded like you said the ones you're taking aren't. Anyway, there's no way for the cultures/bacteria to be kept alive if they're on a shelf, and that's the whole point of them.
Lindsay
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
This probiotic has absolutely no effects on the stomach because it's protected till it gets to the intestines. Then, all it does is grow and begin to colonize like its supposed to. The problem with most of us with irritable bowel is that we dont even realize we don't have our normal flora. We think that the bulk we need comes from food.....! Not so. When we have our full colony of flora, the stool is 80-90% bacteria. That is what maintains the health of the intestine. The problem I have with fiber is that it dries out the colon, especially soluable fiber. (There are references on the web for all of this.)Plus, I have experienced the drying effect of soluable fiber myself.
Even people who are on starvation diets still have bowel movements.
If you do decide to change your diet, it really doesn't matter what you decide to eat as long as it makes you feel better. Only people with actual food sensitvities need to restrict their diets. The only way to find out if you have food sensitivities is to do an elimination diet. These are difficult to adhere to and must be done in a systematic way.
My main point in describing my diet was that it goes completely against what is here on this site, yet these foods have caused no problems for me. The reason? Because the general pathology of my irritable bowel was caused by the depletion of the natural flora, reduction in the bulk, tenderness in the lining, etc. which caused the gas, bloating, spasms, constipation, and general misery. Other people may disagree, but I'd rather try something that could change my life rather than debate the efficacy of something without trying it.
Because of my unbelievable results with this probiotic, I wanted to share with others who are living the same nightmare as I was. I hope my information helps, but at the same time, no one will know if it helps them unless they have the courage to try it, as you are doing.
Jeanie
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
Even people who are on starvation diets still have bowel movements.
If you do decide to change your diet, it really doesn't matter what you decide to eat as long as it makes you feel better. Only people with actual food sensitvities need to restrict their diets. The only way to find out if you have food sensitivities is to do an elimination diet. These are difficult to adhere to and must be done in a systematic way.
Actually no, people on starvation diets get constipated and can't go very often.
And the reason people on this site "restrict" their diet is because with IBS, most people do have food sensitivities. Maybe you don't have one to dairy, that's fine, but it seems like many people do. Also, have you considered that maybe what you have is not necessarily IBS, maybe you just have a bacteria problem?
--------------------
IBS-C
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
Posts
