Probiotic for IBS (in Australia!!!)

FauxAngel13

Hi, so I have just been diagnosed with IBS, and it was recommended that I take a probiotic. In my research I have found umpteen highly recommended probiotics, all in the USA and UK, which are unavailable here in Australia. The only refrigerated probiotic I could find was inner health plus, and I wasn't sure if it would be suitable as it only has two strains? Any help and advice on this would be much appreciated.

benol1

What about yakult?

kellehbeans

What about yakult?

This. I used to drink a probiotic drink every morning and it used to really help me out. I have now reduced my intake of wheat and that has also helped a lot. You just need to find your trigger foods (mine is usually wheat at breakfast or late at night!) and try to avoid them as much as possible!

FauxAngel13

I like yakult, but I was hoping to find something which was multiple strain with a higher bacteria count?

FauxAngel13

This. I used to drink a probiotic drink every morning and it used to really help me out. I have now reduced my intake of wheat and that has also helped a lot. You just need to find your trigger foods (mine is usually wheat at breakfast or late at night!) and try to avoid them as much as possible!

I have been eating gluten free for the last 5-7 years, and it has certainly helped but is not the only cause? I am still working with my specialist to try and identify what other foods are triggers, so I can work to better manage my eating

kellehbeans

This. I used to drink a probiotic drink every morning and it used to really help me out. I have now reduced my intake of wheat and that has also helped a lot. You just need to find your trigger foods (mine is usually wheat at breakfast or late at night!) and try to avoid them as much as possible!

I have been eating gluten free for the last 5-7 years, and it has certainly helped but is not the only cause? I am still working with my specialist to try and identify what other foods are triggers, so I can work to better manage my eating

Do you eat things like spicy foods? Those are quite common to upset a stomach with IBS. Unfortunately, it can also be things like greens.

For now, you may want to try the yakult or a supermarket own brand until you can narrow your trigger foods down. I don't know what you can get in Australia, but I quite like the Actimel ones we get over here in Blueberry. They are really yummy! There's also over the counter medication called 'Buscopan'. Before I coped with diet, I found these very useful.

Has your specialist told you to write down when you have a stomach ache and note what you have eaten that day? And do it for so many weeks to try so you can compare different days and find the foods?

SteveJWatson

I used to rely on live yoghurt - my GP thought it would be as good as anything, really.

Elleinnz

I was in Sydney a couple of weeks ago and picked up some probiotic capsules (dont need refrigeration)...

The brand is Totally Natural - Alive Probiotic Formula - I got it from the GNC Health Store in Bondi Junction

http://www.totallynatural.com.au/quick-cleanse-alive.html

neandermagnon

Can you get live yoghurt? Same kind of bacteria, more natural source.

Desmonema

Maybe you can get some raw sauerkraut? Or make it yourself, it's easy and brings you loads of beneficial cultures for your gut. Few tablespoons after breakfast really help. Also drink licorice tea, it helps to reestablish a healthy gut lining.

I would really try an eliminiation-experiment in your case to find the food triggers. 30 days of no dairy, no grains whatsoever (corn, rice, wheat, quinoa... simply all of it) and also no legumes (all kinds of beans). Just good protein (fish, poultry, beef, seafood, eggs) and loads of veggies and some fruit. After 30 days try to re-introduce one food item at a time, then wait and see whether you get a reaction to it.
Hope you'll get better soon!

elephant_in_the_room

Sorry I can't really answer the question for a probiotic drink, unless Activa is one (but I never buy it, isn't it terribly sweet?)
... Just another useless little bit of advice on the side,...
I was suspected of a mild form of IBS for years. They even suspected a gluten allergy for a while, but that turned out to be not the case.
Then I started losing weight and eating apples, and now the problem has completely disappeared.
I don't know if it will help everyone, but what about trying an apple a day for a while?

FauxAngel13

This. I used to drink a probiotic drink every morning and it used to really help me out. I have now reduced my intake of wheat and that has also helped a lot. You just need to find your trigger foods (mine is usually wheat at breakfast or late at night!) and try to avoid them as much as possible!

I have been eating gluten free for the last 5-7 years, and it has certainly helped but is not the only cause? I am still working with my specialist to try and identify what other foods are triggers, so I can work to better manage my eating

Do you eat things like spicy foods? Those are quite common to upset a stomach with IBS. Unfortunately, it can also be things like greens.

For now, you may want to try the yakult or a supermarket own brand until you can narrow your trigger foods down. I don't know what you can get in Australia, but I quite like the Actimel ones we get over here in Blueberry. They are really yummy! There's also over the counter medication called 'Buscopan'. Before I coped with diet, I found these very useful.

Has your specialist told you to write down when you have a stomach ache and note what you have eaten that day? And do it for so many weeks to try so you can compare different days and find the foods?

I don't really eat spicy things, closest I get is a mild curry once every few months. I wasn't able to find whether Actimel is avaliable here but some of their other products are, so I will be looking for it just in case. Unfortunately buscopan doesn't agree with me, it gives me really bad headaches so I will steer clear of it. And as yet I haven't been asked to keep a food journal but I am effectively doing that already with the MFP diary.

FauxAngel13

I was in Sydney a couple of weeks ago and picked up some probiotic capsules (dont need refrigeration)...

The brand is Totally Natural - Alive Probiotic Formula - I got it from the GNC Health Store in Bondi Junction

http://www.totallynatural.com.au/quick-cleanse-alive.html

Thank you, I buy a few things from GNC so will check out my local store and see what they have to say...

FauxAngel13

Maybe you can get some raw sauerkraut? Or make it yourself, it's easy and brings you loads of beneficial cultures for your gut. Few tablespoons after breakfast really help. Also drink licorice tea, it helps to reestablish a healthy gut lining.

I would really try an eliminiation-experiment in your case to find the food triggers. 30 days of no dairy, no grains whatsoever (corn, rice, wheat, quinoa... simply all of it) and also no legumes (all kinds of beans). Just good protein (fish, poultry, beef, seafood, eggs) and loads of veggies and some fruit. After 30 days try to re-introduce one food item at a time, then wait and see whether you get a reaction to it.
Hope you'll get better soon!
[/quote

I appologise, but I cannot think of anything worse than having to try and eat sauerkraut, even the thought is unpleasant. I have liquorice tea but find that is it sickly sweet, maybe I need to try a few other brands?

The elimination diet would be the way to go, I just don't know how I would manage it as I don't live alone (or with someone who is at all helpful or supportive of these things). I have a follow up appointment in a little over a week, I am assuming I will be asked to do this but not sure how to actually make it happen. Thank you!

SteveJWatson

Can you get live yoghurt? Same kind of bacteria, more natural source.

Yeah, even some of the 'value' brands of plain yoghurt are live, if you check the ingredients label. I guess they dont put 'live yoghurt' because then there would be no reason for people to spend 50p more on the live yoghurt labelled 'uberhealthy live yoghurt' or whatever.