I got a virus last week that threw off my pouch and I’m now dealing with a major bout of pouchitis. I can’t afford VSL. Is there another tried and true probiotic that I can get at my local pharmacy?
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Pouchitis can sometimes be prevented or delayed with aggressive bacterial probiotic use, but I don’t think anyone recommends treating an active case of pouchitis with probiotics. You may have reasons to avoid antibiotics, but that seems to be what works.
The price of probiotics generally reflect the amount of live bacteria they contain, and the dose seems to be a significant factor in how effective they are on pouchitis, so it may be true in this case that you get what you pay for.
I'm not trying to treat pouchitis. I want to make sure I retain good bacteria while I take Flagyl and Cipro.
Hi, Deathstalker. I used to take Bio-K in liquid form. It contains 50 billion live cultures each little bottle. Needs refrigeration. It comes in a little plastic container that looks like a milk bottle. It has the consistency of thin yogurt, and tastes good. It also comes in capsule form for people travelling and the capsules do not require refrigeration. I don't need it anymore, but when I was taking it I produced formed poops, as if I had a healthy colon. Keep in mind it will take a few days or week to work, and might make you a bit gassy at first because it is a milk product. Orange, blueberry, strawberry, plain flavours. You'll find it at health food stores (try whole foods?) in the fridge section.
Why did you stop taking it?
I use over the counter Align. (Just the regular formula - not extra anything.) I've also started to drink kefir. I use the plain stuff and mix it with my own stevia sweetener, fruit, psyllium, chia, and flax seed. I started it for an extra boost after being on antibiotics. These seem to help me, but my biggest problem is that I like sugar way too much
If I don't try and moderate it, pouchitis has way too good of chance of gaining ground.
Hi, Deathstalker. I just don't need it anymore. I don't have any serious issues with my pouch, or with poops, and I can eat anything I like, so I stopped taking probiotics three years ago. I use food to manage any issues if they pop up, and so far nothing too serious that would require meds or probiotics. I don't use Metamucil or psyllium or any thickening/loosening agents. I think if I needed to take bio-K again, it would work quickly and effectively. A few weeks before my surgery, I took it to boost my system and prepare for surgery. It gave me the best poops ever and I remember thinking I wish I had started taking it 20 years ago, I might have saved my poor colon.