Have probiotics helped anyone with digestive issues?

[JustDanceAddict]

I’ve been struggling w digestive issues since covid. All tests (inc calprotectin) are now negative (the c was high but is now normal). Have had colonoscopy, small
bowel biopsy and abdo ultrasound.
i have acid reflux and am taking a ppi and on the acid watchers diet as of a couple of days ago.
My stomach & intestines are still really rumbly. I recently went on hols and my digestive system did not like it one bit, the GP ordered a stool sample and all was well. My gastro recommended pro biotics - they are quite expensive though and can cause bloating - I can do without more gas!
They are the VSL3 ones. Will they help? I’m a bit desperate to get back to normal.

I drink actimel every morning and always have thick natural yoghurt with added probiotics with fruit which has helped me. Not trued tablet form though.

I drink kombucha before breakfast, eat sauerkraut and/or kimchi a couple of times a day, and have kefir in the evening, and fast for 16 hours each day to give my guts a rest.

Follow a low FODMAP diet and shot an apple cider vinegar every day! Really has helped me

Thanks - they’re not a pill, they’re a powder you add to water or squash.

There are lots of various expensive ones out there, symprove, bio melt and the one you’ve mentioned. My DH has diverticulitis and his consultant says if he has plenty of fruit and vegetables, brown bread and rice he shouldn’t need anything else. I do buy probiotic yoghurts and kefir yoghurts for him.

My consultant diagnosed me with sibo - try looking it up although beware there is a lot of random info too. I have narrowed down some foods from the FODMAP that set me off and yes I do take a probiotic on his recommendation after I did a course of antibiotics too.

@JustDanceAddict….I had stomach issues after covid. Fortunately, I didn’t have as many investigations as you, just a stool sample, blood tests and an ultrasound.
Mine really improved when when I started taking 2 apple cider vinegar capsules everyday and my symptoms have pretty much disappeared.
The guy who did my ultrasound said they were seeing lots of people with post covid gastric issues.

My nutritionist says the only ones worth taking are either VSL3 or Symprove. I've been taking Symprove for almost a year now and I definitely notice a significant difference. I'd recommend trying (either Symprove or VSL3) for 3 months.

@bottomwoes It’s grim isn’t it.
When did you have covid? I had it in July and not been the same since.
i think I’ll try going back on them - tbh the reflux is more of a worry - the rumblings are uncomfortable though and don’t want to live with it forever!!

@twinkleteas - I looked up Sibo but the symptoms don’t really match.
The gastro said he’d do a gastroscopy if I can’t get off the PPI but that’s be to check for an hH I expect.
it’s all a bit depressing!

Gastric issues are a common symptom of long Covid (when it's affected the automonic nervous system). I've had long Covid for 14 months now and it continues to be a source of frustration. No gastric issues at all though now I tale Symprove. I've taken ACV for several years but it did nothing for me.

@HundredMilesAnHour - I think I’ll start again tmw w the VSL3 - attack it from all sides!!

Sorry, that should be autonomic rather than automonic! Covid brain strikes again grrr. (Brain fog is one of my worst symptoms).

Yea, they made a huge difference for me. I tend to mix which ones I use. Currently using the ones that were used for the long covid study - your gut+

@Mindymomo - I do eat welll really. Not having any junk atm and cooking from scratch. It’s a good job I only work part time!!

My nutritionist takes VSL3 and he suggests that after a few months when/if your gut is feeling more 'balanced', just take VSL3 once a week for maintenance and see if that's sufficient still (it's a way of keeping costs down).

Wow, 14 months!!
When I spoke to my GP a few weeks ago she said I was ‘early days’ with it.
Im also in peri which doesn’t help. Hoping to go on hrt shortly.

I'm in peri too. I was referred to a menopause consultant (I'm high risk for breast cancer due to my family history so HRT isn't an easy decision to take) and then I caught Covid at work and it's been downhill ever since. My peri symptoms are mixed up with long Covid symptoms (£3.5k of tests proved that Covid has damaged my nervous system) and now it seems I also have thyroid issues too which can also cause fatigue and brain fog. Argh! There are reports coming out that some people get to 2.5 years of long Covid and then have a big improvement finally (but also some don't so....) In the meantime, I'm the supplement queen. 😊

I have a little kefir (the yogurty one, not the drink) every day and it helps, yes.

As pp said, also apple cider vinegar and/or pickles. And a general low FODMAP diet tbh - especially moderating the bread and dairy.

@JustDanceAddict I had covid in September 21, was really unwell for 10 days and didn’t feel anywhere near back to normal for about 6 weeks.
Finally went to the GP in the December as my stomach constantly felt uncomfortable. He prescribed omeprazole, but it didn’t help.
Things seem to improve gradually but the apple cider vinegar capsules have really helped. It’s possible that everything has got better with time and it’s not down to that but I’m not taking the risk!

Although I have had digestive issues (IBS) for 24 years, my symptoms have been so much worse since getting Covid in June. I have similar issues to you and nothing helps. My friends has similar symptoms and started taking the Just For Tummies probiotics a week ago. She has tried loads of probiotics and they’ve all made her feel bad but she says these are having a positive change on her symptoms.
I am due to do a SIBO breath test next week and if it comes back negative I will try these probiotics too as I’ve totally had enough of these awful daily issues.
Just for Tummies is run by a lady called Linda (I believe she is a pharmacist), she is really helpful and will answer any questions.
I hope you find some relief, gut issues are horrible.

Should add that I’m in peri too and my issues have been so much worse since I hit the age of 45 (4 years ago).

@Septemberintherain - sorry you’re suffering too. I feel that something that helps one issue has a bad effect on another! Ie, reflux vs general digestion.

i will have a look at Just for Tummies - thanks for the heads up.

Bloody covid has a lot to answer for and I will want even that bad with it (usual viral symptoms).

This is a really interesting thread. I’ve had long covid for 22 months now but the gastric symptoms seem to have got worse in about the last 6 months. No one seems to be taking it seriously. Like others I’ve had very mild IBS for some time but that mainly reaolved when I gave up dairy. Now I have terrible reflux, B12 deficiency and diarrhoea every day. It’s exhausting. May try the probiotics myself and see if it helps.

@Justalittlebitfurther - sorry to hear. Have you been prescribed a PPI for the reflux?