I was reading this about IBS for my Mom, but look at the last comment!
Please, even if you are not an APer - think about starting large doses of probiotics. I'm telling you - the link is there! Mom started probiotics and had a massive improvement within 2 weeks.
Pip
http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2006/edition_11-19-2 006/Second_Opinion
PIP....take a peak at Leaky Gut Syndrome. Mant people believe that that affects many things...lYeah, Pip...why don't you look at Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Pip, can you tell me (us) how probiotics may be able to help RA, even if we are not on AP? Thanks!
Nancy
GoGo was teasing me - I believe totally in Leaky Gut and think that's the main reason we get sick (besides the microbes, of course :-)
If you look at the faulty Breast Cancer Study that Lev Larry posted on Halloween, look at the snarky comments I made in fuschia in rebuttal. Buried in that summary was a toss off by the researchers that said there is a theory that BC is caused by poor gut bacteria supposedly out of control.
With things like IBS and intestinal diseases, the links become even greater.
We take a ton of NSAID's and things that burn holes in our stomachs and intestines. There is even a theory that aspirin/NSAID's contribute/start these diseases. Well, if they burn holes and allow things to get out into the bloodstream, that makes a lot of sense.
So, my thoughts are, how many of us can link our flares to stress? How many of us can notice a difference with diet? How many of us can link to NSAID use? That's all stomach/intestine related.
While I don't think we'll get cured with probiotics alone; it looks like there are a lot of studies saying we can mitigate some of the damage by replacing the good bacteria or at least beefing it up. And if we do have fungal and yeast leaking out, maybe we can stop it's spread.
For people on the biologics - I'd think you would want to add them just as 'insurance'. Sure, they won't help everyone - but what if its the little bit that does make the flares less worse or the helps control the migration of these buggers out of the intestines.
For Aper's, we're told to do probiotics from day one to replace the good stuff killed by antibiotics. But what if its not only that but replacing the ratio of good vs bad that also helps. Think of the studies that say obesity is gut related and the culprit is a bad bacteria. If you're adding in good and the ratio changes, that would make a difference too.
Does this make sense?
Pip
P.S. My Mom started probiotic's a month ago (???) and noticed a dramatic difference. She's not 100% but if she has a bacteria, she won't be unless she does ABX. But she no longer has to plan her day on where she will be after lunch or where the nearest bathroom is. That tells me it can help us too.
Edited for tense and spelling.
Milly -
This stuff is all linked and these docs can't look further than their own little speciality.
What happens when you take probiotics? If you get bloaty and gassy; that's pretty common when you start. If you keep going it kind of 'fills in' all the empty places (not science, just how I think of it) and helps later.
I'll PM you my brand.
Hugs,
Pip
There is an actual physical reason for the fibro in this condition. There are alot of nerves in your chest. When your entestines or esophogus swell it puts pressure on the nerves. There is an antibiotic that has a rare side effect and can cause a deadly form of collitis. A freind of mine got that rare side effect and was my nieghbor and life long friend. He was walking as stiff as i. He had always walked as limber as anyone but he went just so stiff. On a tv show a guy had hardened lymph nodes from an unual condition. Had started with sever shoulder pain. Was caused by lymph nodes in his chest. I can take a pain reliever and end up on the floor in worse shape because it flares up esophogus and entestines. Causes me bad swelling in the tendons in my back and shoulder. Extreme pain lasting two or more hours. That is where i base my theory of the fibro link. Much of your nuerologigal nerves are in your chest and they control a large part of your body. Also i see swelling from RA could cause simalar nerve compression. Just the way i sees it. From my experience. Also remember alot of your guts are pushed up in your chest it isn't all pretty like on a chart of the human body you swell you hurt.To the top!
Pip
That is interesting. Pip. But i do end up at IBS doc more often when having a flare. At least i can recall several visits when i was flareing. Wouldn't a bacteria bother me all of the time? That is all i am wondering.Pip - I agree with GoGo, you really should take a look at Leaky Gut SyndromeAll I know is I keep seeing posts on the diet connection. And probiotics REALLY helped my mother. She's not 100% - but she's doing a lot better.
They just approved an antibiotic for IBS that lasts about 10 weeks. So, they're not killing the buggers off totally - so they build back up.
Hugs,
Pip
I found this 2004 article just now when looking for kefir grains on craigslist.