Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Probiotic Question

JSegura226

Recommended Posts

JSegura226 Apprentice
JSegura226
Posted

I have a question for all you probiotic experts..

In the month of June, I put on a good 15+ lbs while eating a whole foods diet and counting calories. During this time I also added a couple high calorie sweets everyday (Hail Merry Miracle tarts) for a calorie and fat boost...As July rolled in, my weight was the highest it had ever been in my entire life! I was on a roll and feeling great!.. Well I was on a roll up until 4th of July weekend... During this weekend I started to feel a bit gross in the gut and I knew something bad was coming... Sure enough, as the week progressed my bowel movements were getting more loose by the day, I was cramping, became very gassy and completely lost my appetite. I also developed what I think was a small case of thrush on my tongue...

I figured that I probably was eating too much sugar and developed an overgrowth of baddie microbes. Well I started a strict No-Sugar Diet about 12 days ago and started taking Culturelle Digestive health Dairy free along with my usual supplements of Digest gold and cod liver oil... I am on my 13th day on the probiotics and I feel like the probiotics are actually making me worse!! I wake up every morning feeling fine and take the pill and I swear I can feel it going through my system and upsetting everything on the way down. By mid day I am hunched over in pain...

My question is, Should I just buckle down and continue taking it until I feel better? Or should I stop and see if I feel better without it?? Also is 13 days long enough for a probiotic to go win the war with the bad bacteria?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


LauraB0927 Apprentice
LauraB0927
Posted

I have a question for all you probiotic experts..

In the month of June, I put on a good 15+ lbs while eating a whole foods diet and counting calories. During this time I also added a couple high calorie sweets everyday (Hail Merry Miracle tarts) for a calorie and fat boost...As July rolled in, my weight was the highest it had ever been in my entire life! I was on a roll and feeling great!.. Well I was on a roll up until 4th of July weekend... During this weekend I started to feel a bit gross in the gut and I knew something bad was coming... Sure enough, as the week progressed my bowel movements were getting more loose by the day, I was cramping, became very gassy and completely lost my appetite. I also developed what I think was a small case of thrush on my tongue...

I figured that I probably was eating too much sugar and developed an overgrowth of baddie microbes. Well I started a strict No-Sugar Diet about 12 days ago and started taking Culturelle Digestive health Dairy free along with my usual supplements of Digest gold and cod liver oil... I am on my 13th day on the probiotics and I feel like the probiotics are actually making me worse!! I wake up every morning feeling fine and take the pill and I swear I can feel it going through my system and upsetting everything on the way down. By mid day I am hunched over in pain...

My question is, Should I just buckle down and continue taking it until I feel better? Or should I stop and see if I feel better without it?? Also is 13 days long enough for a probiotic to go win the war with the bad bacteria?

I dont have an issue with putting on weight (I'm actually trying to lose it!) but I did have an issue with a high amount of probiotics in Kefir. I drank a small amount of Kefir just to see if I liked the taste and about an hour later I was curled up on the floor screaming in pain. My nutritionist told me that a lot of people with Celiac have a hard time with high amounts of probiotics at least until they heal more. She doesn't want me to drink any more for a long time until I can work it back in slowly. How long have you been gluten free? Maybe you should hold off on the probiotics until you've healed more??

JSegura226 Apprentice
JSegura226
Posted
  • Author

I dont have an issue with putting on weight (I'm actually trying to lose it!) but I did have an issue with a high amount of probiotics in Kefir. I drank a small amount of Kefir just to see if I liked the taste and about an hour later I was curled up on the floor screaming in pain. My nutritionist told me that a lot of people with Celiac have a hard time with high amounts of probiotics at least until they heal more. She doesn't want me to drink any more for a long time until I can work it back in slowly. How long have you been gluten free? Maybe you should hold off on the probiotics until you've healed more??

I have been gluten, dairy, soy and grain free for about 17 months now. 2 months ago I had my second endoscopy with celiac panel and the doctor says everything looked great and healed up.. The weird thing is I have actually taken this specific probiotic before, but never had any issues with it other than a little occasional gas... but then again, last time I took it, I was not particularly having belly issues to start out with other than the normal healing pains..I am starting to think that the pains I am feeling right now are the good bugs and bad bugs waging war.

Bubba's Mom Enthusiast
Bubba's Mom
Posted

Probiotics will wage war with bad bacteria. If you feel symptoms after taking them it could be an indication that you are getting a die off? Some probiotics have inulin or other probiotic "feeders" in them too, which *could* cause a reaction, so read the label?

If you are eating a diet that starves out yeast and the bad bacteria that feed on sugars and starches, stay with it but cut back on the probiotic if it's making you too ill to function. You could be getting the double whammy of a die off from starving the bad guys AND the die off from the probiotics? You can increase it later. It's good to keep taking it so your intestine is full of good guys. No parking spots left for the bad guys. ;)

If you had thrush..that suggests there *could* be a yeast battle going on too? If you don't currently have a good quality coconut oil in your diet, I highly recommend adding it. Nutivia is a good one.

It helps more than just your intestine. It's a wonder food.

beachbirdie Contributor
beachbirdie
Posted

You might try a probiotic without inulin or other prebiotics (another poster mentioned this). I can't say with scientific certainty that this is an issue, I do know that when I started on probiotics after my diverticulitis I got gut-wrenching cramps every time I took them.

Now, after learning how the Specific Carbohydrate Diet works against bad bacteria, I figured it was probably the prebiotics making me sick.

Try to find one that allows you to start on a very tiny dose. Work your way up gradually as you can tolerate. And don't expect instant results. Gut healing takes from many months, up to a year or two.

FruitEnthusiast Enthusiast
FruitEnthusiast
Posted

Someone in an earlier post said: "My nutritionist told me that a lot of people with Celiac have a hard time with high amounts of probiotics at least until they heal more"

My ND has me taking two different probiotic capsules twice a day, that's four capsules every day. I'm not getting better, and I feel sick so much of the time. Is anyone else taking such a high dose daily of probiotics, or has anyone heard of that before? Being sick so much is really getting me down. I swear the learning curve on this gluten stuff is never ending.

veronika Newbie
veronika
Posted

I'm pretty sensitive to probiotics myself and cannot tolerate a full dose of anything I try.

That and, like other posters suggested, inulin is sometimes really rough on your system so you can try to avoid it and see if that helps. It promotes the growth of intestinal bacteria (growth of good AND bad bacteria) so it may be making things even harder on you.

Maybe you can try a powdered or liquid probiotic for awhile so you can introduce it in smaller doses until your system stabilizes with it? If by mid-day you are hunched over in pain, you are probably taking too much. If you are really sensitive, you can start off with a good probiotic yogurt (or you can culture your own with the probiotics you currently have) and work up to taking full strength probiotics when you are ready.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


TeknoLen Rookie
TeknoLen
Posted

I was taking probiotics daily and sometimes twice daily for about six months and then ran out before I could get to the store. Once I went off of them, I noticed my constipation improved significantly. I am pretty sure that nothing else in my diet changed. I bought some more since but have not added them back yet. I plan to resume eventually to see if this was what was causing the C. It is said often here and continues to be true, everybody is different. For some, probiotics are effective, for me the jury is still out. Good luck finding your own truth!

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I'm very sensitive to probiotics myself. I stopped trying them altogether. I do eat a good sized serving if plain Greek yogurt every say. If you need to be dairy free, fermented foods such as sourkraut might also be worth a try.

FruitEnthusiast Enthusiast
FruitEnthusiast
Posted

That is so helpful, thanks. I'm taking a break from the probiotics to see what happens. It's starting to seem like each thing my ND asks me to try makes me worse. Now she's asked me to try a parasite cleanse, though I have no reason to suspect I have any parasites. I just don't think she realizes what a delicate balance it is in there while our intestinal lining is healing.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,331
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Kristy2026
    Newest Member
    Kristy2026
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.