To be p***ed off that I cannot get a prebiotic on prescription...

[Fourfingerkitkat]

I sat here with a massive bloated tummy, constant wind and with about 2 weeks of poo inside me. Following a kidney infection I was prescribed two courses of antibiotics and think that my stomach has been upset my them. Laxatives haven't done much other than give me stomach cramps. I've read a lot about antibiotics upsetting the bacteria in our stomach so asked the chemist if I could get a probiotic or prebiotic on the minor ailments service, she said no and that they could only give me from Fybogel, which treats the symptom rather than the cause. Also told me that a doctor would not prescribe it and I'd have to buy it myself....

What I don't understand is that if the antibiotics had caused thrush (which they have done in the past) then I would have been give Canesten or similar on prescription !

Do you mean like Actimel or Yakult?

The NHS does not have limitless money, so the line has to be drawn some where. There's little to no research based evidence to suggest a probiotic would help with your symptoms anyway.
So, YABU.

Just buy it yourself.

You wouldn't ask for a plaster on prescription would you?

Yabu if you got this idea from dr google

He is a quack

Are you on free prescriptions then? Because otherwise, it would be cheaper to just buy them yourself.

No, last time I looked at the ingredient list of them they had sugar and all sorts in them. Was meaning "proper" prebiotic, Acidopholus capsules or another called Prebio 7. I've seen them in Holland and Barrett, Boots and other chemists.

I agree with you I think pro and prebiotics are massively underused in human medicine.
In veterinary we use pro and prebiotics and first line diarrhoea treatment and routinely supplement antibiotics with high dose pre and pro biotics.
Many owner of animals with history of long term diarrhoea are now feeding pro and pre supplement sachets as a preventative measure.
I often wonder why we are so behind and when my gran went into hosptal for iv antibiotics I bought her a supplement from the chemist as none would be provided at the hospital.

Yabu. Just because you think/ they are advertised as a miracle cure for these issues doesn't mean the NHS agrees. there is little evidence they do anything.

You don't need expensive over priced probiotic yoghurts .

You can buy a probiotic powder from health food shops - about a tenner for a tub that will last you about 6 months.

For real? Go dose yourself up on prunes/orange juice then buy some Yakult.

If you got it on presription it would be £7 odd. If you bought yakult in the supermarket, its less than £2. So, yes YABU...
And exactly what vintagewhine said...

Then buy it at Holland and barretts.

It's probably not available on prescription because these foods are available. You can't get antibiotic drinks at th supermarket so they're on prescription...

or try live yoghurt alot cheaper
www.livestrong.com/article/85708-yogurt-good/

Go and buy your own. The NHS only has limited funds and they shouldn't be used for something you think may help because you have googled it which is widely available fairly cheaply.

What is your diet like. IMO 99% of stomach issues would be solved if we ate like cavepeople. Lots of water, fruit, veg and less white starch.

It's a bit of a piss take expecting the NHS to fund something you can yourself. I buy my own paracetamol I don't expect the NHS to give it to me..

When I was pregnant I had to launch something now referred to as OPERATION EATALLOFTHEFRUITZ

kayano that made me chuckle

The NHS isn't a bottomless pit. Buy your own.

probiotic is a nonsense phrase that was made up to imply a health benefit. It basically means, in favour of biology. Heck I´m in favour of biology so that makes me probiotic. They do not give any health benefits and are just a marking tool to sell milk/yoguhrt/dairy product shots at a steep mark up.
As for wanting them on prescription. The exact opposite should be true The NHS should be cutting out lots of the extra services it does these days and getting back to being the safety net for acute illness only.

I cant get an OT for DS, or a SALT and we havent seen a community Paed in nearly a year.

Yet you are whining about something you could pick up in the chemist?!?

Well as I said, I can't understand the logic that I would get Canesten on prescription if the antibiotics brought on thrush but can't get anything for bloating/severe constipation.

Didn't get the idea from Dr Google, have several friends who use this and suffer from IBS and similar and have found it helps them.

Realise the NHS does not have limitless funds but when I haven't had a proper sh*t in two weeks my capacity to reason goes out the window...

Live in Scotland so prescriptions are free....the probitoics I saw in Boots etc were around the £10 mark. Am not working so would have preferred to get it on prescription if poss...

"probiotic is a nonsense phrase that was made up to imply a health benefit. It basically means, in favour of biology. Heck I´m in favour of biology so that makes me probiotic"

so anti-biotic means you are not in favour of biology then?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probiotic

actually, a lot of research has proven that taking pro-biotics after a course of anti-biotics does help the natural bacteria to reform, after the AB's have upset the bodys natural balance.

Don't both with Yakult or Actimel - they are full of sugar. Go and buy them from the healthfood shop. Buy one which is kept in the fridge.

Actually I have some sympathy with your situation. Antibiotics are fab for sorting out bacterial infections; unfortunately they destroy all bacteria, good as well as bad, and therefore a good probiotic can help you - I think there is a case for prescribing both to be taken simultaneously.