Re: Probiotis/VSL3 aggrevating colitis?

Crane wrote:
> I have started taking this brand of high potency probiotics for a few
> days now. I only took less than 1/4 teaspoon each time, once a day.
> The small sachet it comes in has over 450 billion cells.  Therefore, I
> imagine I was taking less than 110 billion cells.
> 
> Since starting it, I am now in a flare up.   I don't know if it is a
> coincidence or because I have had some beer/wine and peanuts and
> peanut butter over the last few weeks.
> 
> Any thoughts?

I have "mild" Crohn's and tried Activia yogurt once and had an almost 
immediate bleeding episode - it has a "probiotic" of sorts in that it 
has cultures that stimulate or promote activity within the gut for 
regularity.  I started bleeding after only two servings of it, and had 
increased diarrhea, which I should have expected.  I stopped and the 
bleeding ceased and I reverted to my usual level of gut activity after a 
couple days.  I can eat regular yogurt (with fruit) just fine.

Not that I'm against probiotics, but I do think that like with any drug 
you probably have to find the one that works in/for your situation, and 
that others may even be marginally harmful - i.e. facilitate a flare. 
But that's just based on my very limited experience

Just for info - I also seem to be able to drink wine without any 
problems, and have actually been encouraged by my docs to drink red 
wine, but I seldom do drink any alcohol...so I'm very moderate in my 
intake.  I finished off a bottle of red with dinners over the course of 
a few nights last week with no ill effect.  I also can eat nuts, but do 
avoid peanuts simply because I don't prefer them - I like almonds.

Thought - the alcohol in beer or wine might affect the probiotic and you 
may not be getting any effect from them, or a reduced effect...might 
want to ask about that.

I also have a theory about peanuts that they're too readily absorbed a 
source of protein, and that this may be problematic for some people even 
if they aren't allergic to peanuts, but have IBS, IBD, or any gastric 
alteration.  I come to that theory from observing problems an ex of mine 
that has both IBS and a gastric bypass and can't tolerate them...for her 
they cause "dumping" - very painful, and hard to watch someone go through:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dumping-syndrome/DS00715

We stopped her from eating peanuts and she dumped far less.  High 
protein foods like peanuts seemed to trigger her...but everyone is 
different.

-- 
      - Rufus