Help w/probiotis?

[beeskneesmommy]

Hi:

 

I keep reading about probiotics. Sometimes I read that they are great and other times I read that they worsen symptoms. Can you all help me with this? My son has been on aggressive abx treatement for 1 solid year and prior to that, multiple 10 day runs to zap Strep prior to his tonsillectomy. I have used these refrigerated chewables from Whole Foods called "Yum Yum" before, but only when my son had diarrhea. No real daily protocol. My son is 40 lbs and about to turn 5. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks!

[nicklemama]

I've been using Florastor twice daily for my DS7. Its Saccromyces boulliardi. He's been on abx and Florastor since Oct 2010 continuously. It was recommended by Dr T. Its been successful for my DS. There are others here who use different products that are working well for their children. My recommendation is to choose a high quality probiotic, whatever that may be. I like Florastor because you can give it at the same time as abx w/out it affecting the cultures in Florastor. S boulliardi is a good yeast rather than a good bacteria, which are in most probiotics.

[SSS]

If he is on antibiotics, I would strongly recommend he also gets a daily probiotic.

My daughter has gut issues, and let me tell you, it is not fun. Since she has yeast issues in her gut, we have strong, more expensive probiotics, like Custom Probiotics, they are $, but they last a long time.

I also avoid the strep strain in probiotics.

 

You could start with a single strain, something easy, like Culterelle, which you can pick up at Target. I like this one, too.

 

But, I would start with a probiotic daily.

 

Just my .02 cents.

[philamom]

If he is on antibiotics, I would strongly recommend he also gets a daily probiotic.

My daughter has gut issues, and let me tell you, it is not fun. Since she has yeast issues in her gut, we have strong, more expensive probiotics, like Custom Probiotics, they are $, but they last a long time.

I also avoid the strep strain in probiotics.

 

You could start with a single strain, something easy, like Culterelle, which you can pick up at Target. I like this one, too.

 

But, I would start with a probiotic daily.

 

Just my .02 cents.

I tend to agree. My daughter has had three incidents of c-difficile and one incident of giardia, and I can tell you, it's no picnic. I feel anyone on antibiotics should be on some sort of probiotic. JMO.

 

We use Florastor, Culturelle, Klaire Thera-biotic detox, Integrative Probiotic Pearls. We also avoid the strep strain.

[browneyesmom]

Our Ped likes Culterelle, Dr. L likes Florastor - we use both, twice daily when she is on antibiotics. We're a little less rigid about the frequency when she is off abx.

 

Honestly though, what finally cleared up the thrush in her mouth (and I strongly suspect she had it in her gut too) was making Kefir at home with grains. All I have to do is pour milk over the grains, let it sit on the counter for about a day, then strain it, pop it in the fridge and start over.

 

Some have indicated that probiotics in dairy products seem to set off their kids - possibly due to the fact that they contain strep thermophilus, which in some children, may cause an immune response. It will not cause them to 'catch strep' that we worry about - the GABHS, which is actually strep pyogenes. We don't seem to have an issue with it, so it's important to know your own child's situation.

Edited August 13, 2011 by browneyesmom

[beeskneesmommy]

I would like to do Culturelle and/or Floraster. My son is almost 5 and 40 lbs. Do these have kids dosages and if not, can you advise me? Thanks!

[philamom]

You can purchase "Florastor for kids" and "Culturelle for kids" at Rite Aid, CVS, exc. They come in packets that can be mixed in juice, applesauce, or just dumped directly into the mouth. The regular version is capsules, which could also be opened and mixed with some liquid.

[beeskneesmommy]

Thank you - will do tomorrow. Any problem causing decreased absorption of Azith or Augmentin? I had to make sure to curb any calcium and vites into a certain schedule whne DS was on Cephdinir d/t this concern. I know that there are some things in vites that decrease absorption of Azith also, so I give them at night and Azith mid day...

[nicklemama]

I use the regular Florastor capsules. My DS7, 57lbs, swallows pills, so its no problem. You can take Florastor w/ abx. You will need to time the Culturelle away from abx.

 

I've never found Florastor locally. I order it from drugstore.com

Edited August 14, 2011 by nicklemama

[browneyesmom]

We started on the ones for kids, but then she refused taking those no matter what I did, so I had to switch her to the capsules. My dd is 12 and has been on heavy dosages of abx this past year as we were unable to clear the strep for so long. We have her on both Culterelle & Florastor twice daily.

 

I'm pretty sure the Culterelle indicates it can be given at the same time as abx... check the package. We did try to give them 2 hours later when we could though as we didn't want the abx to kill the beneficial yeasts & bacteria.

[philamom]

Some days I do the capsules -- some days the packets. My daughter will dump the packets straight into her mouth which is great when you are out somewhere. However, the capsules are cheaper.

 

I separate all probiotics from antibiotics whenever I can.

 

Beesnees- if you are going to do am/pm probiotic, why not try one brand in the morning and the other before bedtime. Start with one and then give it a few days or week before adding the other. Or you can end up with a gasssy child.

 

Because of our daughter's GI issues, we give a whopping 250 billion cfu daily. It has really helped! Some here do a lot more.

[philamom]

I use the regular Florastor capsules. My DS7, 57lbs, swallows pills, so its no problem. You can take Florastor w/ abx. You will need to time the Culturelle away from abx.

 

I've never found Florastor locally. I order it from drugstore.com

Our Rite Aid keeps it behind the counter...but they always have a supply ready for me. Not sure why, since all the other probiotics are not. I use their card for a discount but I think drugstore.com may be cheaper. Thanks for the reminder - I need to check into it.

[beeskneesmommy]

Philamom, thanks! I just went to Whole Foods and bought something called "Yum Yum" that is refridgerated chewables. My son is almost 5 and cannot take pills yet. He is picky galore about food so I know he would buck the granules. He is currently on a major regimen of abx: Augmentin AM, Azith mid day and Augmentin PM. I am going to slip the probiotic into him in the afternoon, 2 hours after the Azith and prior to dinner and then Augmentin. Boy oh boy - I think I need one of those watches with an alarm at this point!

 

Kath