Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: What digestive enzymes do people recommend?

I've also used probiotics several times on and off since IBS struck my life. Sometimes I took them because I was on antibiotics for bacterial infections, other times I took them because some believe if the gut is lacking in digestive enzymes, it can be problematic - the only kind I ever got the chance to try was acidopholus (sp) I always have some sort of thing in my way - not enough money, no transportation to try various stores, etc. It did help me though, but while reading the ingredients, I noticed that the acidopholus contained milk protein - I might have misunderstood and it was actually the good stuff that helps us digest lactose.

A while ago I asked a doctor if he thought i had lactose intolerance after describing my symptoms - he said it's possible since asians usually don't drink milk, their bodies aren't naturally used to digesting milk. He never did quite answer yes or no. Needless to say I never saw that doc again.

Recently, while the prescription Zelnorm came out, I talked to a great doc who listened to me and prescribed it, I've been on that for quite some time now and it does help. I was also told by my new doc that he is totally fine with me trying to take Lactaid tablets if I think I might be eating dairy. I have also been assured that taking probiotics with IBS should be ok as well. Since I'm on several RX meds, I have to be careful to tell my docs I have IBS so they understand when an RX they prescribe might hurt my stomach. It was even suggested I go on the RX-strength proton pump inhibitors. I haven't tried those yet, though. I never had a huge problem taking probiotics before and my understanding is they are safe. But I am no expert.

Good luck, wish I had a more direct answer for you. Let us know how you do and what brand you use. I'd like to know more, so that I can try it out. I really need to find a way to get to a health food store some day when I have extra money. Why is it that this stuff us IBS sufferers need is so expensive? Well, anyway, I hope it works well for you.

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XOXO from lil' ol' me.

(IBS-C, mood disorders, etc., etc.)

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