can taking probiotics help my symptoms?

CMACK,

Probiotics do seem to help both people with IBD and IBS. Probiotics is basically a fancy name for 'good gut bacteria.' As you probably know your gut has both good and bad bacteria in it and it needs to have both to function properly. However, when having diarrhea that good/bad bacteria can get off balance and usually the bad bacteria begins to dominate and cause more gut problems. So, by taking a probiotic you are putting good bacteria back into your gut and helping to set things back on track.

In my opinion, and the opinion of my GI, the best probiotics are 1. refrigerated, to keep the cultures alive; 2. have at the very least 3 billion active cultures; and, 3. have different strains of bacteria like bifidus, lactobacillus, and, acidophilus.

A health food store is your best bet for these types of probiotics. But you might also find them at Whole Foods or Wild Oats type stores as well.

The best part is, probiotics can't hurt they can only help.

Good luck,

Elizabeth

I have tried probiotics in pill form and in food products like yogurt.  I have seen some improvement in symptoms from the pills, but the yogurt product didn't help as much (since I also have some lactose intolerance).  It may work for others ...  I agree with the expert's posting on refrigerated and the > 3 MM live cultures.

For me personally, the Flora-Q probiotic formula has been very beneficial.  It is the brand recommended by my gastroenterologist.  When you first begin taking them, you may feel a little more gassy and bloated than usual but this typically resolves in a couple of days.  After that, you may not notice a significant difference in how you feel until you miss a couple or stop taking the capsules.  Again, from my experience, that's when the really bad bloating and discomfort set in.  Getting right back on them resolves that issue. 

I think they are great.  I've never felt more "balanced" since I've started using these probiotics.

BTW, the Flora-Q formula does not need to be kept refrigerated provided it is kept at 77 degrees Fahrenheit or less.