Taking probiotic Align?

[Elinor Dashwood]

Has anyone had success taking this probiotic, align? Are there any weird side effects I should be aware of? I know it's supposed to replenish the good bacteria in your intestinal tract. Does it really work or make a difference for anyone? Thank you!

 

[daannzzz]

I have been having some intestinal issues for about a year. Mt GP had me take some probiotics and it didn't help. Finally I went to see a Gastroenterologist and he said I most likely have IBS and said to try Aling. I have taken it for 2 months and it really has not done anything for me. It seemed like it was working for about two weeks but all the symptoms returned. Did not notice any side effects. It doesn't hurt (except the wallet) so you can give it a try. Might work for you.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

Thank you. My gastro dr. thinks I have some form of IBS and wants me to try the align in hopes of balancing my gi tract. My issues are ahem, diarrhea, so I'm not sure how a probiotic would help.

 

[daannzzz]

There are so many different stomach and intestinal ailments I am sure that Align will work for some people. It may help out some of your issues or all of them. Hopefully it does.

 

[LuvinLucifer]

I've never had any success with those drug store non-refrigerated probiotics. BioK has changed my life though. I had severe bloating for over a year after taking doxicycline, and I felt relief an hour after taking it. You can only get it online or through a health food store though.

 

[Princess Dolly]

Thank you. My gastro dr. thinks I have some form of IBS and wants me to try the align in hopes of balancing my gi tract. My issues are ahem, diarrhea, so I'm not sure how a probiotic would help.

Have you had all the testing done before the gastro determined IBS? Some doctors are so quick to label things IBS before scoping, scanning, etc. Just checking. Though, I have had all that crap done to me and yeah maybe IBS. But I don't have the ahem issue you do. I just have really bad pain that is Gallbladder attack like, but I don't have my gallbladder. Oh joy.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

Have you had all the testing done before the gastro determined IBS? Some doctors are so quick to label things IBS before scoping, scanning, etc. Just checking. Though, I have had all that crap done to me and yeah maybe IBS. But I don't have the ahem issue you do. I just have really bad pain that is Gallbladder attack like, but I don't have my gallbladder. Oh joy.

I have blood tests, stool tests and a CT scan (unrelated but my dr. said it didn't show any intestinal abnormalities). She wants me to have a colonoscopy but I'm not too keen on that idea. I do have the option of a small bowel series of x-rays. I'm willing to try Align in the hopes it will help my bowel issues though.

 

[daannzzz]

I've never had any success with those drug store non-refrigerated probiotics. BioK has changed my life though. I had severe bloating for over a year after taking doxicycline, and I felt relief an hour after taking it. You can only get it online or through a health food store though.

Thanks. I am going to look into this.

 

[Princess Dolly]

I have blood tests, stool tests and a CT scan (unrelated but my dr. said it didn't show any intestinal abnormalities). She wants me to have a colonoscopy but I'm not too keen on that idea. I do have the option of a small bowel series of x-rays. I'm willing to try Align in the hopes it will help my bowel issues though.

I would at least get the colonoscopy done. It's really not THAT bad. I hope you find something that helps.

 

[daannzzz]

I did not think the colonscopy was that bad either. Drink the stuff, which wasn't horrendous and then 40 minutes later KABOOM. You are prepared. I woke up a bit in the middle of the procedure in some pain and they turned up the drug and I was out again. The hardest part for me was fasting for 24 hours!!!

They appear to have BioK at Whole Foods. I will head there tonight or tomorrow.

 

[cabanafrau]

If you're really attempting to build up the levels in your intestinal tract it's not the brand name you need to be looking for. The important part of probiotics is the amount of bacteria you get. Look at the health food store for a refrigerated type w/ counts per billion.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

So, I've been taking Align for the last couple of months. The first two weeks were a bit rough but then I had perfect bowels! Now, for the last three mornings, I'm back to diarrhea/loose stools again. Is it possible the Align has stopped working? Should I try another probiotic? I was considering adding in Acidophilus as well.

 

[Princess Dolly]

So, I've been taking Align for the last couple of months. The first two weeks were a bit rough but then I had perfect bowels! Now, for the last three mornings, I'm back to diarrhea/loose stools again. Is it possible the Align has stopped working? Should I try another probiotic? I was considering adding in Acidophilus as well.

I would talk to my doctor.

As an aside, I have since started taking a probiotic (refrigerated from a vitamin store) and it has made an amazing difference. The research I have done all points to the refrigerated ones being better.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have blood tests, stool tests and a CT scan (unrelated but my dr. said it didn't show any intestinal abnormalities). She wants me to have a colonoscopy but I'm not too keen on that idea. I do have the option of a small bowel series of x-rays. I'm willing to try Align in the hopes it will help my bowel issues though.

1) GET A COLONOSCOPY!

2) I am taking something called "GI Health". It has helped me.

http://enteralhealth.com/products/gi-health-probiotic-chocolate/

I started taking it on the advice of my OBGYN due to other issues. I got the probiotic from my dermatologist office who is in the same office as her DH who is a Gastro. I was not too keen on the pills & decided to try this instead.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

1) GET A COLONOSCOPY!

After conferring with my gi dr. she concluded that a colonoscopy isn't truly necessary since she feels that my case isn't related to something ominous like IBD, etc. Based on my symptoms, she doesn't think anything sinister is going on.

2) I am taking something called "GI Health". It has helped me.

http://enteralhealth.com/products/gi-health-probiotic-chocolate/

I started taking it on the advice of my OBGYN due to other issues. I got the probiotic from my dermatologist office who is in the same office as her DH who is a Gastro. I was not too keen on the pills & decided to try this instead.

I like the chocolate part, lol! But the idea of *chewing* live active bacteria makes me feel queasy. I like the vitamin d part though.

 

[MrsDuck]

I have IBS and have noticed a difference with Align. I take it every morning and notice if I skip it. I also put Benefiber in my water in evenings. I promise it doesn't taste like anything!!

 

[WHIT1]

Have you had all the testing done before the gastro determined IBS? Some doctors are so quick to label things IBS before scoping, scanning, etc. Just checking. Though, I have had all that crap done to me and yeah maybe IBS. But I don't have the ahem issue you do. I just have really bad pain that is Gallbladder attack like, but I don't have my gallbladder. Oh joy.

I too have IBS and cannot take the meds for this condition. So I went online and found the diet and its so simple to do. The pain you are having is severe spasms like someone punched you in the gut. What you have to eat first before you eat anything else is white rice cooked in chicken broth, maybe add some herbs to make it tasty, or pasta, some white bread, carrots or sweet potatoes and this stops and keeps the spasms at bay. Also if you are not sure you have IBS and have stomach pain try some of the food I mentioned above and if it subsides then you know it could very well be this. Once you eat these foods then you can slowly add other food. I eat baby food carrots and sweet potatoes cause its easier to carry with me and taste better. Sometimes I will start getting spasms while out and all I do is eat some sweet potatoes and it goes away. This diet also helped me with diverticitis which they now say I have also. This diet also helped me drop wt without trying. I'm having problems again so I am starting from scratch trying to get better for my trip to WDW the end of nov. Once you gain control you will always have to eat alot of what I mentioned above in order to be normal. Right now I puree my chicken, rice soup so to give my stomach a break and now getting back on other food. Its a long process and takes patience, but not having to take meds and be without pain is worth it.

 

[DVC-Don]

My Gastroenterologist recommended Algin for my IBS when it got worse after having my gall bladder removed. It's helped greatly. Yes, I had the IBS tests. I also have Citrucel twice a day.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

After conferring with my gi dr. she concluded that a colonoscopy isn't truly necessary since she feels that my case isn't related to something ominous like IBD, etc. Based on my symptoms, she doesn't think anything sinister is going on.



I like the chocolate part, lol! But the idea of *chewing* live active bacteria makes me feel queasy. I like the vitamin d part though.

Having an early colonoscopy saved my life. I had a precancerous polyp removed at 41.

The chocolate tastes like chocolate. Nothing queasy about it.

 

[Bungle]

I would echo what a few posters said and try probiotics that are kept cold. Make sure you keep them in the fridge at home too.