Critical Care Probiotic for Vaginal and urinary Tract Support
9 strains
High Lactobacilli
Dairy free
Enteric coated
I also use the Critical Care Probiotic by Renew Life for "overall".
Has to be refrigerated.
I am sure there are others out there. I get mine at a Natural Store locally - there is a woman there who has been around homeopathic for many many years and is most wonderful in information
and guidance with products. When I go in there and she is NOT there i get sad bc I have found her to be the most knowledgable one they have on staff.
It helps too that we have talked and she knws what I am dealing with. I highly recommend establishing a good rapport with someone on this platform. It can prove invaluable!!!
One thing she has stated over and over, and I am sure others already know this, but for each month you take abx you need to take probiotics for the same amount of time after STOPPIN the abx.
Thought taht was interesting as well.
Hope this helps someone out there!!!
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Thanks cj. I will be visiting my favorite health store.
Pam
Posted by FuzzySlippers (Member # 13658) on :
I'd be interested to see how the Renew Life brand compares to the oral vaginal probiotic that Jarrow makes called FemDophilus. I've taken the Jarrow product in the past but it only has 2 strains of acidophilus. I notice from the info you posted that the Renew Life has 9 strains. That's good.
What has helped me more than anything else is a vaginal probiotic that is used as a vaginal suppository. Natren makes one called Gynetren, I think. I guess due to my Ph I had problems getting that one to dissolve. So my favorite one is by Pharmax, and it's called CandaClear. It dissolves easily and works really well for me. That CandaClear and a vaginal boric acid product have gotten rid of the vaginal problems I had for 15 years.
FuzzySlippers
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
I didn't know there was a need to take vaginal probiotics along with regular probiotics? I was never told by my LLMD. I really haven't had any problems with yeast infection, but awhile back it felt like one was trying to start, but never did.
So are women supposed to take a vaginal one as well as regular???
PS - I took probiotics even before I was diagnosed and on abx. I was expecting to take them every day, healthy or not since they're just good even if a person is healthy. :-)
Posted by mojo (Member # 9309) on :
Culturelle and FemDophilus are also very good and can be found the cheapest at vitacost.com
Posted by cjnelson (Member # 12928) on :
Disturbed, I have no idea if we are suppose to, I simply added because to me it made sense. The vaginal PH is sooo sensitive, I know mine has been for a very long time.
To me I just wanted the extra and noticed in my research taht teh strains were different in regular probiotic and the vaginal one. So I said what the heck! Surely cant hurt!
Posted by susan2health (Member # 10446) on :
Jarrow FemDophilus cap opened and powder applied internally helps me.
Posted by chootik (Member # 11221) on :
Great Topic!
Thanks for all the info. This is going to come handy with all the ABX we are on.
Chootik
Posted by penguingirl (Member # 28688) on :
Bumping this up for more info. I have a bottle of acidophilus 608mg from a compounding pharmacy that says insert 1 capsule vaginally at bedtime. I guess it's called a Vagicap.
Does anyone know how you insert it without it falling out like when you go pee etc in the middle of the night? Should I use a tampon to push it in as deep as possible?
I can call the compounding pharmacy tomorrow but wanted to see if I could use one tonight.
Posted by Summer3 (Member # 35286) on :
I take the ultimate flora by renew life as my main probiotic 25 billion. Not for any specific vaginal issues.
I am going to start taking S. Boulardii also this week.
Can I post a national website where they are BOGO free this week? I'm not sure if that's against the rules.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- PenguinGirl,
After emptying bladder before bedtime, wash your hands well, dry with a paper towel or clean towel and then insert the vagicap with your finger.
If you have nail polish or artificial nails, be especially careful with washing beforehand and use a nail brush. A lot of germs can hide in acrylic nails (which is why some hospitals forbid them for staff).
Once your muscles have contracted it should stay in place as you go lie down to sleep.
Even if it works its way out at the next bathroom break, it will have dissolved enough by then and most of the probiotic powder should remain.
You could also call the pharmacy and ask them to mail you a vaginal applicator that would work for capsules. You could reuse with a good washing each time. Or go pick it up from them. -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Summer3:
Can I post a national website where they are BOGO free this week? I'm not sure if that's against the rules.
- Yes, you may!
Posted by Summer3 (Member # 35286) on :
Walgreens has them BOGO this week. I also find them at Rite Aid BOGO but less often. Almost all of the Renew Life brand is on sale.
Posted by penguingirl (Member # 28688) on :
Thanks for the tip Keebler!
I'm gonna give it a shot tonight!
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
From what I read, it's difficult to recolonize the beneficial bacteria once it has been killed off. Much of what we have is actually established when we are babies (if you were breastfed). I'm kind of skeptical of a product that you take by mouth to help with vaginal issues. It might work...?
I think it's a good idea to take probiotics all the time in general - like kefir, good yogurt, cultured products, etc. The probiotics get washed out from what I have read.
For vaginal issues - it makes more sense to me to have a product that you insert as opposed to one that goes through the digestive tract.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
PS - FYI - This was on a website I looked at about CandaClear - "Pharmax's HLC Candaclear is no longer available due to FDA restrictions."
It would be pretty easy to just make it yourself...
Lactobacillus acidophilus (100,000,000 cfu/lozenge) Allium sativum (garlic) concentrate 4:1 Essential Oil of Rose Absolute.
Nice touch with the oil of rose... I would probably add oil of thyme or clove.
Posted by riverspirit (Member # 19435) on :
Two remedies that are inexpensive and effective:
Bring some pau d'arco tea to a boil and then simmer it for a while (15-20 minutes). Strain and cool to room temperature and use as a douche for itchy, sore, red or inflamed vaginal and labial area.
You can refrigerate this tea for up to four days and if it is concentrated, just add warm water if the cold is too intense.
Very soothing and helpful for yeast infections.
The other thing is carefully peel a medium-size clove of garlic. If you nick the clove, start over with a new one.
Then insert vaginally before bedtime, as high up as possible.
I would not use essential oils as for me they would burn and be very uncomfortable. Each person is different.
Hope this is helpful ~
Posted by penguingirl (Member # 28688) on :
Thanks Sparkle and Riverspirit! Good ideas..
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
If you dilute the essential oils sufficiently - they work quite well! I'm talking 1-2 drops in a gallon of water. I apply it with a q-tip. I do a smaller amount in a jar.
I heard many years ago that if you douche - it can push the infection higher up into the vagina or uterus... I don't know if it's true but it best to be cautious.
I got this recipie many years ago - 1-2 drops oil of white thyme, eucalyptus, wintergreen 1-2 TBS of chlorophyll 1 gallon of spring water or distilled water
Use it as a douche. You can adjust it as needed. A tea of chaparral or golderseal also works quite well. You may have to experiment with these. Garlic never really worked for me.
(TMI warning)
I tried putting some Jarrow probiotics in a veggie cap last night & inserting it. Today - the veggie cap came out undissolved.
You can make your own suppositories with coconut oil. Mix the ingredients & freeze it. I have used a plastic tube as a mold but I guess you have to be creative. I bought some plastic tubing at Lowes & it worked fine.
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
On this same subject line. After a decade of on and off treating lyme and co infections It is the first time I noticed any vaginal issues ever. And I have always taken protbiotics also on and off. Non vaginally. But I now have this odd smell. (SORRY) I went to my gyno even and had pap and she tested me. She said it most likely is from the abx and is a bacterial infection no big deal. She said she saw a small discharge happening and happens to many women. But all the test came back negative. They said to douche with vinegar and water. But it does not help. Another personal thing.... I had noticed just a little bit of a problem with some discharge and mustiness and then I had sex for the first time in quite awhile and it seems like ti broke loose this bigger smell. I have never experienced anything like it and have only had one yeast infection in my life and this is not anything like that. I am concerned and can not figure out what is going on. it has to be something ?
It am perpelxed and I have done a full round of yeast infection treatments. And also medicated douche a couple times as well as vinegar. I dont want to keep messing with it but I dont want to live with it either.
I may try the probiotics in the vagina itself but why did my tests come up negative. We seem to always have these WEIRD infections and it does not show up on tests. i am assuming it is one that is not the norm or something?
Ideas? Anyone else have this.
I wish i could explain what it smells like but I cant. its almost sweet but at the same time not and its not that fishy thing people explain .. Its flat out odd. And it is pretty strong where when I go to pee and just doing that and just brings a wave of the odor and I cant figure this out..
Any help from anyone?
I have noticed with different abx and treatments my BO has changed and I attribute it to the medication. But only certain meds and its the sweat glands it comes out of and not this ever.
Sorry to be so straight up forward but if anyone has had anything like this your the group I think would have ideas and feedback since we are all so similiar in the infections and the treatments we all do
THAnks
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
It might be parasites. I have read that pinworms can live in the vaginal tissues. Might also be something they don't have tests for, as well. Filarial or protozoa??? Try some anti-parasite treatments.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
i had 3 gyns tell me an odor was nothing after testing...but my primary took a swab and looked at it under microscope and told me it was bacterial not fungal and gave me a gel to insert that was for bacteria-kind expensive but it worked
Posted by penguingirl (Member # 28688) on :
My dr told me that ob/gyn yeast infection tests are not at all accurate. I know because I definitely had some yeast infections and went to the ob/gyn literally a day or so after I thought it was getting better and nothing showed up on the test.
I wonder if I had pinworms (recently) because I know I when I took a parasite med awhile back it made my anus itch like crazy while I was on it. so maybe they moved into the vagina. Eww gross. I should take that parasite med again to see if it helps. I have been taking Parastroy but apparently that is not good enough. I think Parabiotic Plus was the only thing that stirred up the parasites!
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
I could see that the tests wouldn't be accurate. Not really surprising. I believe that they also give flagyl for the bacterial vaginal infections.
I read some message boards from Australia about the pinworms & how they can also affect the vagina. Seems they have alot of pinworm infestation down under. It might be filarial worms, too,. I don't think there's alot of info about this matter. The textbooks mostly think of parasites as a 3rd world issue.
I know that anti-parasite meds/herbs helped me alot. I posted a bunch of stuff about it a while back. I know it gross but it can happen.
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