I guess it was about 2 weeks ago. I had the rare chance to mill around Whole Foods by myself. LOL, it was cold, and I had basically gone to get some of their awesome lobster bisque for dinner, but I took my time and looked at all the gluten-free options and a bunch of supplements, etc. I picked up a probiotic powder while I was there, and we've been adding it to Ava's morning med regimen thru the g-tube ever since.

I haven't seen any sort of "effect" at all, but now that she's on e-mycin, I *guess* keeping her on it is a good thing to do??? When I bought it, I was just hoping that something might help her, kwim?

I guess what I'm asking is, do you think it's ok to keep her on them? Is it a good idea? I had forgotten to mention to GI that we had started giving them to her.

I think they would be nothing but good for her,, i've thought about putting bug on them,, i wish we had a whole foods around here.. i think the closest one to me is kentucky. is the powder designed for just kids or anyone?

Yeah, this is Baby Bifidactyl. It's an unflavored powder, and we just tube it. It says it can go in any sort of milk, water, formula, etc. She gets about 1/8 of a teaspoon.

I figure it can't hurt, kwim? Plus, I started worrying about yeast infections w/ her being on an antibiotic, so I assumed that replacing the good bacteria might be a good idea. I don't know...anything is worth a shot, ya know?

Lindsay it is a great idea, I think all our refluxers should be on probiotics. I know when I have upset tummy and drink one it works wonders so I am supposing the same thing for refluxers.

What I find with my boys is that it hardens their poops up, so if they are on antibiotics it doesn't cause diarehha, just normal poop. How have her poops been since introducing them? That is where you will see the effect of them, since that is where the GI stuff comes out KWIM?

They've been just as watery/mucousy as ever, only green...er. It still hurts her just as much to get it out, too, and it's the same consistency as ever.

Maybe she needs a higher dose? 1/8th isn't very much, I don't think it is something you can overdose on, OR you could try a different one at the same time as they have different names, like acidopholus or lactobacillus or bifidus (ROFL) so you could give her the one she has plus another one if you can get her to drink it.

Have you ever seen yakult? www.yakult.com.au they are pretty nice, and little she would probably dink it, if not it would be easy to tube in.

http://www.yakult.com.au/product01.htm

another link

Lindsay ... Catherine has been taking Culturelle lactobacillus gg for about a week now. Her GI gave me 20-days of samples to try. I empty one capsule into a drink every day. I haven't noticed any improvement and the constipation has worsened. Lactobacillus gg is supposedly the most potent probiotic, with 30 million "whatevers" per capsule, which is I think about three times as much as other similar products.

I also got the for Allison from the health food store hoping they wouyld I guess make her much better. I ahve heard so many good things about them. But, I really didn't notice a difference at all and one night after them she even vomited. which she doesn't usually do. She's a silent refluxer. So I'm on the fence now. I thought I would try again when things settle down with her. I hear they are so healthy for you.

Lindsay and Lesley do you keep it in the fridge???

Rach ... no, the package does not say to refrigerate. The capsules are sealed individually in foil bubbles.

This is what we use for the kids
http://www.ethicalnutrients.com.au/probiotics.html

They have to go in the fridge. I was always told to refrigerate them because soem of them die if they aren't in the fridge, so that may be why you aren't getting the full benefit KWIM?

And this one is yours Lesley
http://www.autismcoach.com/Culturelle.htm

It says to keep it refrigerated too, maybe the fact that it has been at the doctors for a while etc... it just may not be as potent.

Can you tell I have seen good things with these? We use the top ones when they are on antibitics etc.. but has the yakult every day, that has the lactobacillus in it like Lesleys.

Lindsay, Lesleys look like a really good one for Ava.

Hmmm ... I'll stick them in the fridge, but I was glad to see that storage at room temp, while not ideal, still kept the bacteria level at a sufficiently high level to be effective. I'm still not sure what improvements I'm supposed to be seeing here ...

I was recommended them when Cooper had his first burst ear drum, and after that we didn't have any problems for ages, it decreased the amount of infections he had and also helped with his asthma, he is only on preventers and a really low dose in winter and that has always been the way.

It firms up poop which I suppose is a bad thing if they are already constipated, but that is what I found anyway, when they have antibiotics they rarely get diarehha, actually they rarely get diarehha (now I am touching on anything wood). If they have an upset tummy it helps.

I understand about the fridge thing it is a pain, but a lot of things have probiotics added to them, but unless they are done the correct way they don't get into the intestinal tract alive or only a few do. So like the capsules you have are enteric coated, like the prevacid, but if you are opening that and putting it in a drink then a lot of it would get eaten up by digestive acids.

I wish you guys had yakult it is great and they love it and gets there alive etc...

I understand about the fridge thing it is a pain, but a lot of things have probiotics added to them, but unless they are done the correct way they don't get into the intestinal tract alive or only a few do. So like the capsules you have are enteric coated, like the prevacid, but if you are opening that and putting it in a drink then a lot of it would get eaten up by digestive acids.

I wish you guys had yakult it is great and they love it and gets there alive etc...

That's why Culturelle is such a mega-dose. They guarantee enough gets to the guts to be effective.

I've have noticed the big psoriasis patch on Catherine's head isn't as scaly, but I'm sure that's coincidental. Or maybe not ... as psoriasis is an immune system problem.

I forgot eczema, it cleared that up as well, it never gets really bad anymore (I have really set myself up now haven't I? I am jinxing everything) so I am assuming that the psoriasis could get better too.

I looked at that website rachel, the one you get for your kids.. how do you order off there? i'm soo stupid as far as buying online.. i think they would be beneficial for hannah, but constipation is an issue with her so i woudl hope it wouldnt make it worse.. i dunno.. i have a probiotic that i take,, but i dunno how much to give her.. cuz of it being for adults.. i guess i could just give her half the powder from the capsule.. hannahs reflux has been AWFUL the last few days.. i mean AWFUL something she ate triggered this.. i have a feeling it was (^&*&( macaroni and cheese.. i dunno.. i dont think she can tolerate cheese AT ALL..it had been a long time since she had any and we went to a resteraunt and let her have it,, now she's letting us have it!
as far as Psoriasis.. regarding catherine.. it is autoimmune.. my mothers mom had rheumatoid arthritis and thanks to genetics my mom has psoriasis really bad . then there's me with colitis.. all autoimmune..

Kristen,

Catherine gets one whole adult capsule per day.

On refrigeration ... I checked the box. It says refrigeration not required but suggested, but not to store above room temperature at all.

Kristen I dont think that you would be able to buy it from those sites, as they are both Australian products, so I don't think they will send overseas, but there are lots of probiotics around, just research them a little, to make sure they have the right one, and that it gets to the tummy alive, so that it can work.

Yakult you can get in America, but I am pretty sure they are hard to find, Emily hasn't been able to find them, but something similar she said. Look near the yogurt section.

hey lindsey

Miki is alsoon probiotic as per her teams instuction , however they did tel be that they have no proof they will actualy do any thing for a kid like miki however they will do no harm so she is better to take them
she is on inner health dairy free, as they have no stuff in it she has issues with, the only problem with them would be if she swalowed them ( lol as if who an i kidding lol) cause th casing is vegetable capsule but seen we open a cap and put it in her tube its all good

have i noticed a difernce with her on them no, but in saying that she is doing so badany way i wouldnt expect to kwi, will see how she goes once the J is in, they are ment to be good when they are pooing lots of liquid cause it keeps them all balanced

and just think you may as well whats another med when you already feel like your day is filled with administering them any wy

Hey Kristen, Ava has been on probiotics since 3 months old. We stopped a while ago, cuz when we moved I forgot it in the fridge and never bought it. I have to go to whole foods and buy it again. Although she does drink the "immune" yogurt drink with live cultures.
http://www.naturalhealthshoppe.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1831
This is the one we have been using. You do have to refrigirate it for sure. It's a powder and you give a tea spoon in the morning and at night. It's really nice and works well. When Ava is on it, her bms' are very smooth. You can order it online and once you get it, put it in the fridge.

thanks ella.. i will check it out. :)

thanks Ella. I think i'll order it.. she drinks those yogurt drinks now too sometimes.. like the dan active . certianly cant hurt em.

Hi, Lindsey: My daughter's GI at Mass General Hospital recommended we try Floraster Kids, which is Saccharomyces boulardii lyo (how's that for a mouthful!). On the box (which I got special ordered at Walgreens) it says "the #1 probiotic worldwide ", and "50 years of international use". Our GI claims that it's the very best for a large number of children. Maybe it's worth a try. Maybe some other moms might want to look it up online. Also, I've got to pass on this GREAT TIP I found out about from Parents Magazine about how to stop hiccups! My daughter has been a champion hiccup queen since in utero, and I've tried every remedy available but THIS ONE ACTUALLY WORKS!!! All you have to do is stand behind your child and have her drink a cup of water while you press firmly with each index finger on the sides of her face right next to her ears (where the TMJ joint is). You should be able to "feel"
her swallowing under your fingertips. The article says noone knows exactly why this works, but I can vouch it does for my hiccup queen, who basically gets hiccups nearly every time she laughs. Hope it helps the kids (and moms) here!