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lpr/gerd, does probiotics help make things worse?

Posted , 5 users are following.

maria74670
maria74670

HI, i am being dealing with gerd/lpr for 7months. on nexium daily but not helping with my symptoms. i have heard hat probiotics might help but don't know if it really helps. i have tried probiotics and when i start taking them i get loose stools for a few days and after 2 or 3 days i get gassy, bloated, nauseous and a little costipated. could this be making my condition worse or is it an adjustment period? i have heard that it could be bad first before it gets better as your body adjust. honestly i haven't given time, i only take it for 1 week and stop. i have tried it several times but every time i stop due to gas, bloating. anyone who have try probiotics get this issues?

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • ben_74049
    ben_74049 maria74670

    Posted

    Hi there,

    I suffered with Gerd for around 12 years, I tried omeprazole, nexium, lansoprazole, ranitindine, and guzzled bottles of gaviscon over and over. At one stage I was eating 12-20 rennies a day just to cope with the pain and reduce the symptoms.

    I went to see a gastroenterologist and bariatric surgeon, I did loads of research and found one of the best in the UK ( where I live). In the end I had the operation and have been symptom free since then and it was 8 months ago. Best choice of my life. I can eat whatever I like and eat whatever I like. The answer to your question is deal with the actual problem in hand and don't try and cover it up as the medication just ends up not working and higher doses will have to be taken. Over the long term heartburn and Gerd can potentially lead to Barrett esophagus which is a pre cancerous condition which can develop into worse things if not treated. Pro biotics will do nothing so don't waste your money, go and see a specialist or go to your gp and say you can't deal with it anymore. All the best! Hope this helps.

    • maria74670
      maria74670 ben_74049

      Posted

      what is the name of the surgery you had? is it really painful, how long it took for you to recover and eat things normal?

  • Jonathan57679
    Jonathan57679 maria74670

    Posted

    Hi Maria: I'm sorry to hear that you are dealing with digestive issues. There are two different types of acid indigestion. One occurs right above the stomach, in the lower esophagus. The other is lower and is in the stomach. They can have different causes and different treatments. When I was taking Nexium, I found that it worked for a few months and then things got worse. Nexium interferes with proper digestion and causes undigested food to enter the intestines where it ferments and makes gas and bloating. You can take digestive enzymes with Nexium. That may help with the bloating. Another issue is that a damaged stomach can not function properly and gas can come right from the stomach. You can not successfully mico-manage your digestive system. It is designed to work automatically. You need to heal the damage and then slowly reduce any digestive medications. Try this:

    1. In the morning slowly drink 12 oz of filtered warmed water.
    2. Eat 1/2 cup of organic probiotic yogurt.
    3. Open a vitamin E capsule and slowly swallow the liquid.
    4. Make a vegetable smoothie and have a 12oz cup. You can add powdered soy protein to the smoothie.
    5. Go vegetarian for 3 days or longer if possible.
    6. You can eat boiled eggs for protein.
    7. Nexium capsules should be opened and swallow the tiny time pills with water. The concentrated capsule can chemically burn the stomach lining.
    8. Slowly wean off of the Nexium by reducing the amount taken each day until you are completely off of them in 60 days. If you stop too quickly your symptoms will get worse.
    9. Keep me posted, John
    • maria74670
      maria74670 Jonathan57679

      Posted

      THANK YOU Jonathan for all the suggestions. i tried probiotics as a supplement that make me gassy and naseous and bloated. not sure if those were symptoms of my body adjusting i may try coconut yogurt, since i was told two weeks ago that i have a low milk allergy. what were you gerd symptoms? did you healed?

    • Jonathan57679
      Jonathan57679 maria74670

      Posted

      The yogurt must be unflavored Plain Organic and Probiotic. When they mix flavors with yogurt it can kill the beneficial bacteria.New studies show that probiotic capsules open in the stomach and are destroyed or in small intestine and cause bloating. The good bacteria need to be in the large intestine. Probiotic yogurt taken with a vegetable smoothie or on an empty stomach will reach the proper destination. They have used this method for thousands of years.

      Most people who go to their doctor for digestive issues likely have 5 or more problems. Ulcers, bad bacteria, gastritis, weak lower esophageal sphincter, ulcers in the esophagus, bloating, constipation or diarrhea.

      Acid blockers merely put a band aid on the problem, they stop the burning. Most people are not allergic to yogurt even though it is milk based. The lactose is removed by the good bacteria. If I did not eat yogurt I would likely still be sick. My stomach is now 90% healed, I no longer have to sleep elevated. I can go out to dinner and have pizza and other banned foods. But, I always keep working to keep my digestive system working. It is likely a birth defect or damage done when I was younger. I did not elect for surgery because I felt that the doctors were clueless as to what my real issues were and only wanted to do exploratory surgery, even though modern scanning make such a thing medieval.

      I had to do my own research and request all doctors documents and scans to find my own problems that they missed. I found that my large intestine is detached and loops down too far and then rises up a little and back down. It can cause constipation, which I have had most of my life. So now, I deal with each issue individually. Carbonated water treatment to strengthen my LES, a vegetable smoothie for proper fiber, yogurt for good bacteria, magnesium for intestinal support, vitamin E for healing properties. It took me over a year to get all my issues under control, but it was worth it.

      And by avoiding surgery I did not have to deal with infections, intestinal adhesions, mesh rejection or migration and many other issues that accompany surgery. Now I have found a caring female GP and she supports anything I need.She also found that I had an undiagnosed hernia, which I also now do exercises to help it heal. The other 6 doctors I had seen, missed it.

    • Jonathan57679
      Jonathan57679

      Posted

      Also, both of the Bee Gees brothers, Maurice and Robin, that died, had intestinal issues. Both had multiple surgeries. Both died young from their original issues. Money and surgeries did not help them. The death of Maurice led to a massive medical malpractice lawsuit.

    • Jonathan57679
      Jonathan57679 maria74670

      Posted

      I buy it at whatever grocery store I happen to be in. But I prefer nancy's.

  • youngatheart1
    youngatheart1 maria74670

    Posted

    Probiotics DO work, but you need to take a high dose good quality one and it takes a couple of weeks to really work properly. Loose stools etc are all part of the process and will settle down. I drink kefir and after having Gerd and lpr for over 20 years and taken esomeprazole for at least 15 years hardly take anything now and eat what I want, whilst other people say they are rubbish, they work for me, surely got to be better to try first before going down the surgery route

  • youngatheart1
    youngatheart1 maria74670

    Posted

    Yes probiotics do work, for me anyway. Have had Gerd for most of my life and am 60 this year, had taken esomeprazole for years now but recently started drinking kefir which is a probiotic and also taking high dose good quality probiotic capsules. The bloating is part of the gut readjusting and will settle down. Take some windeeze you will soon feel better. Not necessary to down surgery route until you have at least tried. Am now off esomeprazole after some days needing 80mg and 300mg ranitidine. Worth a go

  • maria74670
    maria74670

    Posted

    Can I ask you what is the brand/name of the probiotic your take? Thank you!

  • youngatheart1
    youngatheart1 maria74670

    Posted

    Hi I take the 2 billion one from Holland Barrett, (I live in UK) Two a day so 4 billion one. Did try the 10 billion but they hurt my stomach. I also drink kefir a probiotic drink made my Bio-tiful which is really nice. If you are UK all supermarkets sell it in plain, cherry and raspberry. About 2.50 for a bottle that gives you enough for 3 doses, which is what I have a week. I do still get the odd bad day but probiotics do help me

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