Digestive Advantage

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.

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.

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.

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?

Mine are usually in the mornings or REAL late at night.
IBS sufferer, why don't you start another thread with a poll?

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Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum

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