Probiotics

evolo58

I know this subject has been bought up before, but most of the threads are older.

Which ones would be the best to use for chemo patients? Amazon has a whole bunch, but I have no idea which ones are better. What should I be looking for?

Or should I go more with kefir, yogurts, etc.? Go the natural route?

So far, diarrhea isn't the problem, though ... it's the other end of the spectrum. I have never spent 1 1/2 hours in a bathroom doing that before, and my hemmorhoids were not amused. I did let the cancer team know about this situation, since they would probably want to know about the bleeding. I'm already starting the stooil softeners and making use of the dried apricots, prunes and figs that someone gave us for Thanksgiving.

Egads, chemo can be fun!

On the other hand, I read this: https://www.cancercenter.com/discussions/blog/are-probiotics-really-good-for-you/ So now I'm REALLY confused.

Violet123

Probiotics are not all equal.

Look for a probiotic with higher number of strains.  Some probiotics only have 4 strains of probiotics, but advertise a high number of CFU active cultures.  Sometimes I will rotate which one I buy to get a better variety of probiotics.  

as for the constipation, my MD recommended miralax along with prunes and prune juice and dulcolax.  I skipped the prune juice due to the high sugar content.  I drink lots of water, about a gallon throughout the day for 2-3 days after chemo.

ckdgedmom

Probiotics

I take Plexus brand. I don't sell it (a teacher at the school I work at does) so I have no incentive to recommend other than I have felt great on that brand...

When I take anti nausea meds I always take a miralax packet...seems to keep things moving...and sometimes a stool softener...

I found as long as I did a packet of miralax each morning I was fine...

evolo58

I'll try to get the Miralax

I'll try to get the Miralax as soon as possible. I have Benefiber, which might work for a dose until I can get the Miralax, but the latter seemed more favored by the onco nurse. I would tend to think the onco nurse knows just a bit better than I do here!

Thanks for the tips!

 

ckdgedmom

Miralax

I tend to "shoot it"...I mix up a packet with just a enough water to mix it up and sip in a few gulps...and then I follow with just water...for me that is easier to get down than a full glass of it. The taste isn't bad at all I am just better about drinking it if I "shoot" the stuff and follow with a big glass of water...

and yes the Benefiber should work just fine...I just don't mind the taste of the miralax (tastes like Tang to me)

Amatullah

evolo58 said:

I'll try to get the Miralax

I'll try to get the Miralax as soon as possible. I have Benefiber, which might work for a dose until I can get the Miralax, but the latter seemed more favored by the onco nurse. I would tend to think the onco nurse knows just a bit better than I do here!

Thanks for the tips!

 

Miralax

My dr. told me I could take Miralax everyday without any sort of harm or dependence.  It simply helps the intestines absorb more water and makes it easier to go.  It works great and fiber products don't necessarily work.  Life Extension Foundation has good probiotics.  I alternate between cheap ones and better quality ones because the best ones are too expensive for me and it seems to work to alternate.  My gut is not really very happy with me since my radiation, but it's improving gradually.

Soup52

I have chronic constipation

I have chronic constipation and I use both miralax and benifiber. I also use suppositories. I have been consulting with with a gastroenterologist . Y situation is scar tissue etcfrom surgery and radiation so may be a bit different from yours. Anyway I have been assured I may do all of these without harm. we are currently tweeting the amount of miralax I take on a daily basis. Since miralax takes a couple of days to work for me one day I had an unfortunate incident when it suddenly worked and I couldn’t get to the restroom quick enough. Though I trust my oncologist team , I feel better that I am being followed by gastroenterologist PA now

evolo58

Well, while my last session

Well, while my last session wasn't all that productive, at least I didn't feel like I was passing walnuts. That's a start!