I met a new friend! | Arthritis Information

I met a new friend a week ago. I’m really glad I met her. She was really easy to get to know. When I became friends with her, I also because friends with her entire network of friends, all 5 billion of them. This girl is really tough too! In less than a week, she ran off a couple of old time foes of mine called Abdominal Discomfort and Chronic Diarrhea. Her name is Probiotic. I really like her! Kweenb, that is great!Sounds like a nice friend to have!

Pip

That's the best kind of friend to have. Someone who'll make you feel good all over. Too bad she has such an odd name. Otherwise, she'd be perfect! I couldn't resist posting. I was really skeptical that a probiotic would make any difference. Wow, was I suprised. My husband has Irritable bowel and he tried it too. It's working for him as well. Great stuff!Keep working the dose up. Aim for 'regular' and not too...um...firm. If you head towards constipation, then the dose is too high. Over the months it should really start helping with the pain too!

Pip

That is such great news!!! It really is amazing how something simple can change lives. Good work. Cathy PS Bet I never get you to go for a professional colonic irrigation, but it's the best feeling in the world, you are so cleaned out and full of good water. Watching the view through the glass tank is mesmerizing LOL - if your husband has a "beer belly", concave chest, slumped posture, get him cleaned out ASAP. It's not beer in there, it's, well, poop :) Alright alright alright.

I'll start the crap tomorrow.

Ya happy now Pippykins?

Estatic!

Pip

I'm seriously thinking about starting probiotics. I have a couple of questions though. One website said that too much can overstimulate your immune system. Has anyone heard that, or experienced that?

Secondly, do I want lactobacillus or bifidobacterium? Is this something in pill form or liquid form? Where do I buy it?

Thanks!

PhatsWell, you know I don't believe in the overactive immune system!

All I can tell you is...my research is showing a SERIOUSLY strong bad gut flora /get an AI disease correlation. In my learning about it for AP - I'm finding it's working for non-APers. There is a TON of people doing a lot better and reducing their meds on them. Do a search for 'leaky gut' and 'probiotics' and you'll hit both studies and forums so you can verify a lot of this yourself. When non-APers here started trying and doing better...I was overjoyed! Because for some of you...that's going to buy more time on some of your meds...maybe not the meds I'd like you on but...LOL

I've only seen one thing negative on probiotics and there is something 'wrong' about it...so I'm researching more. When I get the whole story, I'll post it here.

I use a Solaray available at Whole Foods in the refrigeration section. It doesn't have to be that. Just as many 'live' cultures and different stains as possible. Start slow and work up.

I can't answer the lacto or bifido question as it STILL confuses me. Hopefully GoGo or Happ will jump in as they know soooo much more than I do. I'm just more ...ah...vocal. LOL

Pip

Someone remind me, but when I get home I'll grab my bottle and post what it is. Tell me if it's worth taking or not.So, Pip, is it like eating yogurt, or a completely different thing?

Exact same thing (mostly) but...by the time we get sick our 'good gut bacteria' is kind of banckrupt. We need to restock. The horse got out of the barn...just have to stop more horses.

I'm very metaphorical today. LOL

Hey, would I be alright to just go by whatever the bottle says to take? Or should I just wait, and post what kind it is etc etc when I get home?A bottle is a bottle. As long as it's not 'expired' just take one and work up slowly. No need to throw the body into shock.

Pip

OMGosh! You're kidding! She's my best friend too!

I met her back in November (i think it was) and started a trial friendship and OMGoodness, she became the best friend in the world.

She chased off my swellings in my legs and arms etc. that the doctors couldn't figure out (all digestion related) and she made me slightly feel happier or not as drained.

I think i might give her a hug tonight :)

I've been taking a probiotic since I started back on 200mg Plaquenil. It did help with the tummy issues. Now that I'm up to 400mg Plaquenil, I'm having some tummy issues again. I'm hoping it won't be too much longer for me to get used to the med.

The brand I'm taking recommends 1 pill per day... its an extra strength probiotic equivalent to 3 per day.

So, what strength does everyone take? My bottle says it has 5 billion organism (4 different types), and recommends 2 a day (1 in the am/1 in the pm). I started with just 1 in the pm and couldn't believe what a difference that made. I'm going to try adding 1 in the morning in a few days.My brand has 20 billion per capsule and I take 4 a day. I win! I win! I win!

Ok, being goofy there...but I did notice a distrubing trend on the RB for people to keep saying they're taking more than anybody else. LOL

You don't need more than anybody else is taking; you need enough for your body.

Let's talk BM's here. If you have loose or runny stools, you do not have enough good bacteria in your gut. I was somebody that went back in forth...too loose and too constipated. Probiotics solved that. Work yourself up to whatever dose makes you 'regular'. If you're getting too much, then you will be constipated. So, then lower the dose. Just don't start out high...work up. Give your body a little time to adjust.

Hugs,

Pip

Shoot me, Pip, but I have only taken one dose of probiotic on this antibiotic spree I have been on. No yogurt or anything, either, because it just sounded yucky (no wait, I made Katie's mom's yogurt/salsa last night - yummy yummy yummy).

I guess I am a freak of nature. Normally, I am regular and have no issues. Tri-pak of Zith, and now I am on my eight day of Levaquin and I am constipated. Seriously, this NEVER happens. Maybe that is why they say drink more water on Levaquin? Two more days, then I don't know, maybe I need to induce a case of Coors Flu?

And this is scaring me off supplementing probiotics for my daughter! She has been fine, fine, fine on yogurt all along. I'm scared to add the superduper. She has had one dose, sprinkled in cereal she didn't even finish, so I don't know if she got that much. With her, I like to live by, "If it ain't broke....." What to do, what to do....

Suzanne -

If you were in LA, I would shoot you. And I'm saying that with love. Remember that post you made about the 'partially treated infection" - that's the DEFINITION of mycoplasma. My 3 Zith packs contributed to my PRA. Hopefully you have much better genes than I did.

I can't explain your regularity...but I can say I've seen on some probiotics research that alternating between constipation and the other is a sign of the gut 'sputtering'. And some places say that constipation is caused also my too little gut flora. To be honest, I have no idea HOW that could be...but apparently we don't have enough liquids to get the stuff out of our bodies and somehow, if we had more probiotics or more correct probiotics, we would not go towards constipation.

You're scaring me.

Pip

Edited for typo

Pip!2008-02-14 13:23:50"and I'm saying that with love"

LOL

Okay I start mine tonight! I got sick while cooking dinner last night. UGH. I made a doc. appt for tuesday with a GREAT lady. The one who said "girl you have a double infection, are you crazy??" and gave me meds 2 weeks ago. LOL So at least she knows I've been sick, and maybe we can find out wth is going on with me. But I'm gonna try the probiotics too.

(Just fyi, it's not that I dont think they'll help, it's that I KNOW my body, and something is very very very wrong with me right now. So that's where the PCP appt comes in)

And pippy, as soon as you said "well MINE says it has..." I cracked up. Cause I could just see every one like little kids "My daddy's better than YOU daddy!" Oh, my Katie, some of these guys are on 8/10 probiotics a day...of the good stuff. I'm like...oh, sure! But it's funny because it's like little kids one-upping each other.

No, probiotics aren't going to cure anything, all they will do is help your body utilize the incoming food and turn it into usable vitamins and minerals. So your body gets a shot at running better.

But...I thought you were starting LAST night?

Hugs,

Pip

I WAS but I got so sick I didnt even have dinner!! I could barely swallow without wanting to vomit, let alone take a pill or eat. And my migranes are back! I thought I had kicked those to the curb when I found out what my triggers were. Guess not!

Well, I'm glad I got back on, because I had forgotten to take the Levaquin. One left for tomorrow.

Okay Pip, maybe I got lucky because they switched abx? Let's hope. Isn't Levaquin kinda up there in abx status? Not a first-liner, right?

Levaquin has actually done a lot for me. My skin hasn't been this clear since Accutane. And it definitely suppresses my appetite. My chicken grease jeans are a little baggy. It's like a little mini-makeover in a pill.

Suzanne, you slay me ROFLMAOPip.................

I got me a bottle of that stuff you speak highly of. I'm gonna start it tomorrow. How soon will I start seeing results??????

PhatsRIGHT AWAY!!! You'll be able to see through walls first.

Then after about an hour, you'll be able to walk through them too!!

Pippy! I wanna know too!! How long? OMG Katie! You are a riot!

Phats, (and Katie) -

When I first started I...um...didn't realize how important they were. It was in my 'hey, a couple years on ABX and I CURED' phase. This translates to...I was not taking them all the time.

After the move/of skipping the probiotics for 6 weeks fiasco - when I was CONVERTED to probiotics (hallilelliuia!) it went like this. Mind you, I had constant loose BM's at that point and didn't realize THAT's what everybody was dancing around saying.

So I immediately started taking 6 caps a day. Which is A LOT...but I am on antibiotics all the time. I was mostly regular in a week and stomach/gut wise, back to normal, in two.

Guessing from posts I've seen all over the place, and working up, like a smart person would do (instead of going for the OMG I screwed up royally so lets see if I can save my backside method) most people report some sort of intestinal rumblings when starting. It appears that the 2 week window is right on. If you can tolerate the gassy, bloating etc. when starting (until it regulates you) and you're still not regular after 2 weeks, slowly increase the capsules you take in two week increments until you feel 'right'. Not too much, not too little. You'll recognize it. I just didn't know that's what I was looking for. :-)

The pain thing was more subtle. It was different from the 'kill me now' PRA pain. More difuse and in my feet and hands which was 'unusual' for me. I had trouble walking and it felt like the tops of my feet didn't want to bend. I know that sounds weird, but that's how it felt. It took about a good 4 - 6 weeks on 6X the RDA until I felt great again.

My guess is the extra pain is somehow related to not being able to get vitamins and minerals to the extremeties. I'd seen research years ago on people with traumatic injuries and the body tries to protect the torso and the organs as much as possible. Don't know if it could be the same thing...but its the only thing I can come up with. :-)

So, for somebody not on probiotics to start and not going for the gazillion live culture intake prize...I'm guessing a slow and steady decrease in pain levels by 6 months.

Phats - that's the brand that's working for me. It will help you but maybe not as much as it did me - it depends on your body. When I started out I mixed and matched and tried a lot of the less expensive ones. They helped, but not as much as I'd thought. When I went to the 'big guns' I tried the one they recommended at Whole Foods (Jarrow w/ FOS) but it did nothing for me. And, by the aforementioned barometer - I could now see that.

So, if any of you see a change after a long time that's showing it's not doing what it used to, maybe it's time to switch brands. See what I mean? Like with a few different strains and figure out what your body needs.

A friend was just telling me that different strains work on different things. Now I have to go research more. Who'd have thought we'd have to learn this stuff?

Pip

So for that first couple of weeks, with the gassy and icky..........would it be bad to be taking gas pills to relieve the....erm...."pressure" HAH. Or is that a no-no?Hey y'all...

My bottle says to take 2 caps on an empty stomach. So, I guess I'll start with 1 tomorrow. I have to admit, I'm not sure how I feel about taking this. So, I'm going to start slow and give it adequate time to do what it needs to do.

Thanks for the support Pip!!! *and everyone else *

PhatsPhats - best of luck. I take a pill probiotic, plus daily yogurt, kefir, and alot of other stuff I won't get into. I have been advised that with "leaky gut", liquid forms of any type of vitamin, herb, or alternative therapy is the best as it can be absorbed better than a pill, because of a theory that our dry mouth and lack of saliva works against us the minute we put anything into our mouths. I am encouraged by this thread as everyone has to make their gut settle down with this disease. Keep posting all you newbies to "leaky guts" LOL Cathy

Katie - I think the gas pills would be OK, but, as much as I'd like to say otherwise, JSNM's Aloe Vera juice works wonders.

Pip

Guys, my bottle said 1 pill twice a day. I started with 1 pill (5 billion organisms) and I noticed results in about 4 days. It's awesome. I love my probiotic. My husband has really bad IBS and he started taking it too. It's been the only thing that has ever worked for him - he's pretty regular now.Kweenb - you might have him up the dose. This saved my mom's emotional life with IBS. She had it baaaaad and now she can go out and enjoy life, not needing to map the ways to bathrooms any more.

Hugs,

Pip

As far as "dosing" goes, after the initial build up I'm of the opinion you can't get too much probiotics. You never really know how much you're ingesting, anyway. The numbers on the OTC pills are what it contains at the time of packaging. Since the bacteria are live, some of them expire before you take them, so the older they are the less potent they will be. If you're like me and eat a lot of probiotic foods it's impossible to know how many billions you are getting.

I regulate my intake by flatulance. If I start farting a lot I know I need more.Gimpy,

What probiotic foods do you eat? Yogurt? Anything else? Do the yogurts have much in them?

KweenB, yoghurt is pretty good and easy to get. I think Kefir is more potent and has a broader spectrum of probiotics. I also eat living sauerkraut, brined pickles (in salt, not vinegar), miso and I just started getting into kombucha.

There are many other probiotic foods I have not yet explored. Raw, biofarmed vegetables and fruits fermented in whey are two of them.I have a question, too. I have refrigerated powder that my daughter is supposed to take. It says to mix it in water or juice on the label, and the dr. said to mix it in milk or juice. Can I just mix it in anything cold? I sprinkled it in cereal, and she didn't notice, and I was thinking about stirring it into yogurt, too. I don't think she would drink probiotic flavored water LOL, she doesn't really care for plain milk, and I think if her juice tasted different, she wouldn't finish it. I tried it and it doesn't have a strong flavor, but it seems like it needs to be in something to get it in her. Yeah, most people just mix that stuff into yoghurt.

BTW, it's okay to freeze probiotics, just don't heat them up. So you can make frozen yoghurt pops in the summer!Thanks!

Yogurt pops sound like a good idea! I've got some molds, but we usually just do apple juice in them.

You know Go-gurt? That kids' yogurt in a tube? There is a warning not to freeze those for young kids. It is a choking hazard - I guess the size it comes out as, if a piece breaks off, it can get stuck in their throat.

Hi! I'm Nana. I haven't posted for a long time. I have osteroporosis, O.A., and R.A., along with other things. Right now, I'm doing fairly well. One of the "other" things I deal with is chronic diarrhea. Your post really caught my attention. I have been on 2 meds, Lomotil and a generic for something that sounds like "question", for years. The generic is Cholestyramine. It is a yukky orange tasting powder, that is mixed with water or juice. It does help. I really don't know. Can chronic diarrhea be another of the symptoms of R.A.?

Well, it seems like a good time to repost the infamous "Brown Cow" recipe given to me by an RN. She said they use it in nursing homes to blow out constipated colons in the elderly. IMHO we have slow moving peristalsis wave action via our disease, thus creating the constipation/diarrhea/IBS syndrome.

CAUTION: only do this on a day you can stay home, close to the toilet and buy some baby wipes because towards the end the stomach acids start coming out and it burns. That's when you know its over.

8 oz warm prune juice
2 tablespoons milk of magnesia

It can work as fast as 15 minutes and last for hours, so be prepared. I suggest a good book for entertainment in between trips to the bathroom.

Good luck ~~ Cathy PS I then drink aloe vera afterwards to heal anything that got irritated.
Nana -

Yes, it seems to be. Almost everybody I've had in depth converstations about this with has it.

Is that generic like Metamusil? Mom used that for years but it didn't do the job. The probiotics are REALLY helping. If you want, go back to the front of this thread...there's a lot of good info in it...plus some silliness.

Hugs,

Pip