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Digestive Advantage

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 6/23/2006 10:07 AM (GMT -6)
Hi there.  I am new here and am looking for any feedback on Digestive Advantage.  I just started taking it lastnight & am hoping some of you will have some advice for me.  I have had IBS-D on & off for the last 4-5 years.  A little over a year ago I had a major IBS attack and have not been the same since. With this attack I lost 32 pounds and have just been able to start gaining some weight back.  (I am 5'6 and was down to 108,  but I am  now up to 119) But I still cannot eat ANYTHING without having to run to the bathroom within 30 minutes.  I have eliminated dairy, spicy, greasy, lettuce, sweets, etc. from my diet, but it still is not making much of a difference.  I regularly take Imodium (usually 2-3 a day).  I have tried taking prescription meds, but couldn't handle the side affects.  I have another doctor appt on the 29th, but am hoping this probiotic will help me!  Please let me know your feedback on my post!  Thanks!!  :-)
Posted 6/23/2006 10:14 AM (GMT -6)
Oh, everyone here, I think, has tried the Digestive Advantage. Some people it helps, some it doesn't. The number one thing is it never hurts, so try it. I think the box is a month's supply? You should take all of it before giving up because it can take a while to work. I think if it hasn't worked after a month, then your problem isn't going to be cured by good bacteria (because an imbalance isn't your problem). Some people find that it helps some, especially used in combination with certain diet changes or other herbs or supplements. Have you see our posts on calcium? Caltrate 600 w/vitamin D is the thing to try if you have diarrhea. Take two of those a day and see if it helps; it got me out of my IBS flare last summer.
Posted 6/23/2006 11:40 AM (GMT -6)
These are the ingredients in digestive advantage....you'll notice sugar substitutes (aspertame, mannitol) something IBSers should stay away from since it's known to be an interferance with symtpoms of D, gas, bloat, ect. Especially the mannitol which is a sugar alcohol that is very negative for IBSers. My sister has IBS as well and hers can be alternating between C and D and she does better when she eats oatmeal everyday....good luck!


Active Ingredients: Di-pac, Mannitol, Ganeden Lactobacillus, Cultures, Lysine, Stearic Acid, Flavor, FD&C Blue 1, Aspartame
Posted 6/23/2006 12:55 PM (GMT -6)
I have to admit I do not take DA because of the mannitol. Certainly it only has a trace amount in such a little pill, but I have been laid up in bed for two days and had my guts messed up for two months after only consuming 1 gram of sugar alcohols, so I think I'm allergic to them. For most people the amount is not going to be anything to mess them up, but you should probably avoid it if you do have a bad reaction to sugar alcohols. When I feel like I need a bit of gut correction, I take an acidophillus pill or eat some yogurt for several days. But the DA is supposed to have more strains than either of those, so it's better for a hard case. You can also look to see what ingredients are in Culturelle; it's the same thing as DA, only different strains. It is a lot more expensive, though, and I'm not sure what all is in it in terms of fake sugars, but you can always look.
Posted 6/23/2006 1:51 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks for your replies.  I have the Caltrate at home, but haven't taken any yet.  I wasn't sure what is the right amount to take?  I have heard it helps for the diarrhea, but I have also heard that it can plug you up severly to where it is very painful to have a BM?  I am just wanting this to end...I have been reading all the posts on this sight and am very happy Ifound this site!  It has helped me feel ALOT less worried.  I feel like everyone here totally understands.  Having diarrhea for a year straight isn'tsomething alot of people understand.  Even my husband doesnt get it.  At first he thought I was taking laxatives to lose weight!  If only that was the reason! 

Thank you all so much!

Posted 6/23/2006 3:22 PM (GMT -6)
The recommended dose for the Caltrate--when used as a supplement--is two pills a day. If you are having to take 2-3 imodiums a day, then I don't think you have to worry about it constipating you any time soon. If I were you, I'd try one before bed and one when you get up, preferably 30 minutes-1 hours before you eat breakfast. Most IBSers have their diarrhea worst in the morning, so that will have two pills in you before you get your guts cranked up with breakfast and one before you even get up. But if you are that worried about getting constipated, just try one at bedtime or right before breakfast. If that helps but not enough, go up to two. Don't take more than two unless a doctor or pharmacist says you can and never take more than three. You can mess your kidneys up by ODing on calcium; but it's okay to take everyday so long as you don't take more than is recommended.

The calcium has never given me severe constipation (unlike imodiums), but I am careful when I start to get a little hard, to stop taking my dose until I start getting watery again. It's just a constant blanacing act, but luckily nothing too far in either direction.
Posted 6/26/2006 8:55 AM (GMT -6)
I am going to start the Caltrate tonight.  I need something to help me.  I have had a HORRIBLE 4 days.  Thursday I started getting another bad attack and have had it since...I can't eat anything without running to the bathroom. I have taken 4 Imodiums a day & it has not helped at all!  I started wondering if maybe I have the stomach flu???  But, I know the symptoms I am having are the same as a bad IBS attack.  I am really at my wits end.  I spent most of the weekend in bed, crying or in the bathroom.  I am gonig back to the doctor on Thursday to find out if there is any other medications I can take that don't have the same side effects as Levbid/Levsin.  I couldn't function on them.  I am also going to get back on my anti-anxity med's, hoping that will help a bit too?  I need anything now...I have had my diarrhea continual for over a year.  No matter what I eat, it gives me the runs!  (the past few days are alot worse though)  mad
Posted 6/26/2006 11:16 AM (GMT -6)
Keriamon, you mentioned that most IBSers have their attacks in the morning. I rarely have mine in the morning. Occassionally I do, but most of the time, my attacks happen right after eating, sometimes right in the middle of dinner! I wonder what the percentage is of when attacks happen for most people?
Posted 6/26/2006 11:49 AM (GMT -6)
I rarely have my attacks in the morning.  Mine are throughout the day-usually after I eat too.  Mostly in the afternoon I would have to say. 
Posted 6/26/2006 12:27 PM (GMT -6)
Mine are usually in the mornings or REAL late at night.
IBS sufferer, why don't you start another thread with a poll?
Posted 6/26/2006 2:18 PM (GMT -6)
IBS Sufferer, you mentioned on another thread that you suspect gall bladder problems. That has no set time of the day to make you sick, unless you count "after every meal" as a time of the day. I was also bad to wake up deathly sick in the middle of the night too.
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