what is acidolphylus?

[mel_716]

Just curiosu what it is?
Went to the Dr today - been having symptoms for about 2 months of on/off nausea, constipation, 1 time I had diarrhea ... weakness/tired, etc. She thinks I picked up a bacteria when I was on vacation down south and my body is just having a tough time getting it out. Highly recommended me to begin taking these supplements to "rejuvinate" the good bacteria in my digestive tract. I bought a bottle. Haven't started them yet. Just wondering exactly what it will do - will it make me nauseous, diarrhea, upset stomach, anything? Anyone have experience with this?

Thank

[mel_716]

Thanks!
No I didn't have an infection. They tested my blood for everything and everything was normal. What she thinks is that I picked up some "foreign" bacteria while on vacation and since I've been back (like 2 months) I haven't been eating so well, been nauseous frequently (although this week I seem to be feeling better) - she thinks what I had destroyed all the "good" bacteria in my digestive tract and by taking this supplement it shoud restore it all back, soothe my stomach and regulate my bowels.


Now before my trip I was on an antibiotic for an ear infection for 9 days (finished the pills the 2nd day of my trip) - do you think that maybe with that my body was more prone to getting sick from a bacteria I picked up on vacation?

My friend who went with me has been sick on/off since we got back as well - but his symptoms are diarrhea. He had it twice when we were down there and since we got back at least once a week but this past week was his worst - he's had it all day on Sunday (like every 1/2 hour), had it Monday, and Wednesday. Dr. told him it was Viral but I didn't think a virus could last for 2 months?!

Thanks again!

[ggreg]

"Acidophilus milk" exists, it's in most grocery stores, and so does yogurt that has acidophilus in it, and it's called "Activia."  It's just another name for "good" bacteria that they grow in a lab, kind of like how mold grows on cheese, and they put it in capsules or milk or yogurt, and when a person consumes it, the "good" bacteria helps restore normal digestion.  There are all kinds of good bacteria in the digestive tract that helps break down waste.    

Normally if a doc prescribes antibiotics to you (which is a completely different pill than the acidophilus stuff), what happens is the antibiotics kills ALL the bacteria in your guts, both good and bad, so that's how come docs will sometimes suggest to drink or eat some acidophilus, to restore the "good" bacteria that the antibiotic wiped out.  

Not all docs mention acidophilus, and what happens to a lot of people who take antibiotics is they get real slow digestion, because the "good" bacteria, which helps break down waste, are not in there anymore.  Normally, the right bacteria develops over time all by itself in the digestive tract, but it's just quicker to restore it artificially with acidophilus products.

Now, could be the doc didn't prescribe antibiotics, and instead figures you just have an imbalance in your bowels, and they think taking acidophilus will regulate your digestion, which just regular indigestion can be helped by the stuff.  You did not say whether they gave you antibiotics already.  If you've got an infection, the germs that caused it really need to be killed by an antibiotic... they will not be killed by the acidophilus.  The acidophilus is just a helper.  Antibiotics will kill whatever germs are in your gut, if that's what's going on.

I hope this helps you understand your situation.  The acidophilus is completely harmless, tasteless, and won't hurt you in any way, you won't know that you've taken it at all.  But sometimes it will help regulate the digestion, which would be a good thing.