Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Niamh on February 19, 2017, 02:28:50 PM

Title: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: Niamh on February 19, 2017, 02:28:50 PM
Hi ladies

Can anyone recommend a good probiotic to take? I'm peri and on hrt have been for nearly 18 months but recently getting lots of gas cramping bloating and I'd like to try a probiotic. Ive read hrt can upset your digestive bacteria a bit so worth a go. My diet is good and so I don't think it's anything there. Thanks oh I have a bio-kult one but I'm interested to hear what others find good how quickly it helped etc thanks x
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: CLKD on February 19, 2017, 02:36:30 PM
When I was diagnosed with IBS in 1999, my GP gave me medication to help my gut spasm work.  I had to swallow it within an hour of eating my main meals.  After several years I tried Actimel which really eased my bowels, resulting in not feeling bloated and sick.  My Mum drinks several pots of Yakult daily.  Some find that Buscopan helps the wind pains, we used to give that to our dogs when they had 'wind'  ::)
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: nearly50 on February 19, 2017, 02:58:43 PM
Hi Niamh

I use these

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-ultra-maximum-acidophilus-capsules-60031614

I've had digestive problems on and off for the past year or so, things not as bad since I've taken these capsules but to be honest I don't know whether that is down to a change in where I am in peri. I have given up trying to work out triggers as what is fine one day is not fine the next.
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: CLKD on February 19, 2017, 03:00:23 PM
Can you explain when you take these?  When I require Actimel I drink several pots during the day and take my evening meds with them.  Eases the slow transit  ;)
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: nearly50 on February 19, 2017, 03:05:09 PM
CLKD, I just take one a day with my main meal. They have to be kept in the fridge (which is in very small font on the bottle!) I don't think it would be possible to drink the equivalent amount of Actimel to one of them
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: Annie0710 on February 19, 2017, 03:36:09 PM
Years ago I developed IBS after my hysterectomy and dr said drink mint tea.  Really did help

During meno I was recommended one from Holland and Barrett.  I can't remember the name but I went in and asked for what they recommended
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: Tempest on February 19, 2017, 04:15:49 PM
Believe it or not, but peppermint tea is also mildly estrogenic! Who knew?!! ???

Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: Ju Ju on February 19, 2017, 04:51:58 PM
You can buy peppermint tea with probiotics called Daily cultures. The hot water activates the probiotics rather than killing them. Tastes great, but to be honest, didn't make any difference to me, but then probiotics never have. I'm going to look into kefir as recommended on Trust me, I'm a doctor.
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: Menomale on February 19, 2017, 04:53:18 PM
Hi Niahm,

I can't recommend you any specific probiotic because I'm not in the UK... but make sure you have the ones that contain one of the best bacteria for restoring the gut flora such as L. rhamnosus GG, S. boulardii, B. lactis and S. thermophilus. You should be able to read these names on the bottle or package insert.

Tempest, I didn't know that! I could never drink peppermint tea, it gives me nausea. I also can't use any toothpaste with peppermint, nausea... Actually there is only one brand I can use that contains sodium bicarbonate, but no peppermint and no sweetener (all the others have one or both).

Ju Ju, kefir is great!
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: Maryjane on February 19, 2017, 05:00:42 PM
Keifer milk is the best thing to take , as "
Trust me I'm a doctor" the other day .


But the best of the probiotics is " Symprove" UCL hospital has done tests on it. However very expensive.
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: CLKD on February 19, 2017, 05:15:57 PM
I have 'trust me' to watch on catch-up  :)
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: wombat62 on February 19, 2017, 09:50:30 PM
Hi I take a daily one after my gallbladder op, find it does help with everything. However, get the ones that are in the fridge as these are much better.

You could also look at eating pre-biotic foods as these help to create your own good gut bacteria.

There is a lot of research around good gut bacteria and weight gain/loss at the moment together with how it also has an affect on overall health.

You could also try having Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother) but have it in some juice as it's foul on it's own. I have mine in Beetroot juice as that helps to keep blood pressure down and have it before my meal in the evening.
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: nearly50 on February 19, 2017, 09:57:16 PM
I've got apple cider vinegar but have not been brave enough to drink it yet!
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: CLKD on February 19, 2017, 11:05:24 PM
Mum mixes apple-cider vinegar in warm water. 
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: Lanie66 on February 22, 2017, 09:55:53 PM
Hi Niamh.  I've had IBS for years and suffered bloating and cramping particularly towards the evening.  At times I looked like I was 8 months pregnant! It was very uncomfortable.  I can empathise.  I took probiotics and probiotics but none I bought worked.  I started taking Multibionta multivitamins which have a built in probiotic.  They helped the bloating a little but are generally good for bowel habit.  I now take the 50+ version.  The one thing that has banished the bloating is intermittent fasting.  I do the 16:8 version, eat 8 hours in the day and fast 16.  For me this means my first meal is at 11.30 am and  I don't eat past 19.30.  It didn't take long to get used to.  I originally started doing it to lose weight and discovered I wasnt bloating anymore so have kept it up, mostly.  Can't recommend it highly enough for digestive relief x
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: nearly50 on February 23, 2017, 11:54:11 AM
Interesting. I've got quite a long commute in the morning and walk for 30 minutes of it so couldn't really do it without breakfast, and that would mean I'd have to stop eating at 2.30pm which isn't too practical! Interesting idea though.
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: Lanie66 on February 23, 2017, 12:18:09 PM
I agree some people might suffer with low blood sugar related things if they followed the intermittent fasting plan.  I get up at 6am for work and I cycle there (20 mins), the early start and exercise dont seem to matter. 

Hope you get sorted though x
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: nearly50 on February 23, 2017, 12:22:42 PM
Wow, I'm so impressed at you doing that with no food. Maybe it is psychological with me, I would be worried I would faint.

My stomach problems flare up at random times, I'm pretty sure there's nothing I do that makes a difference and think it is just all hormonal. Been fine this week, was awful last week -
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: Lanie66 on February 23, 2017, 12:37:27 PM
I think it's known that hormones play a part in digestion so that makes sense. As far as fasting goes it is mind over matter.  I'm a real foodie with little or no will power but I saw the positive effects that the fasting was having so it became easier.  It makes sense to me now that if your gut is only processing food for 8 hours (some sites recommend 10 hours for women i.e 14:10 ) that it will do so more efficiently x
Title: Re: Probiotic advice for peri
Post by: CLKD on February 23, 2017, 12:42:19 PM
I would faint.  Also, I used to faint if I had eaten then went on my cycle too soon after  ::)