It seems like I was plagued with stomach problems my whole life. When I was 2 years old, I was hospitalized with Gastroenteritis and ever since then I had stomach issues. I was chronically constipated which I knew nothing about as a child, so it just became the norm for me to end up with stomach pain and eventually unpleasant and very painful trips to the bathroom. It would always come on by complete surprise, it didn't matter if I was at home, school or on a road trip with my family.
This went on until I became old enough to understand a bit about health matters and understand that it's not "normal" to not be "regular" and have stomach pain all the time. So, I became conscious of it and started taking fibre drinks to try and alleviate the problems. That was the first step for me, realizing what is normal in terms of being regular. However, I still had stomach issues and over the years I saw many Doctor's and had many tests, Barium X-rays etc. Every Doctor I saw diagnosed me with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). I had all the symptoms; alternating constipation and diarrhoea, stomach pains etc. and any stress seemed to aggravate my symptoms. All other causes of my issues had been ruled out with all the tests I had gone through. (This is the diagnosis often made when everything else is ruled out and they cannot find a cause for all of your symptoms.)
It wasn't until about 17 years ago when my stomach issues became chronic for a period of time and I finally came across a Doctor who tested me for H-Pylori (
Helicobacter pylori) which is a type of bacteria and was discovered to be the cause of ulcers. According to WebMD "about two-thirds of the world's population has it in their bodies" but many are asymptomatic.
I tested positive and by that time I had become very weak, lost a lot of weight and was having a hard time functioning or even eating.
I was referred to a friend of a friend who was somewhat of a health expert. The first thing he did was build up my system by introducing a special type of
probiotic / Primal Defense (good bacteria) to my body and also started me on some whole food vitamins as well as
Colostrum. He explained how we all have good and bad bacteria in our bodies and how the probiotics fill our system with the good bacteria. He also pointed out how antibiotics cannot tell the difference between good and bad bacteria so they just kill off everything and taking probiotics puts the good bacteria back into our bodies (there is too much info to go into regarding probiotics so I will leave a link all about them down below). I became stronger and felt better, but I wanted to make sure I got rid of the H-Pylori, so I treated it medically and continued with the vitamins and probiotics. This made it so I was strong enough to handle the medications for the eradication of the H-Pylori. After the treatment, I decided to continue with the probiotics because they had made such a significant difference in how I felt overall; they made me very regular for the first time in my life, helped clear up my skin (I suffered from acne), cleared up
all of my IBS symptoms, and I noticed a boost in my immunity!
I have been taking these
probiotics ever since, about 17 years and counting now. And, I will never, can never, go without these. I am completely free of my IBS symptoms as long as I take them and I am regular for the first time in my life! It's become a natural part of my daily routine, kind of like reaching for your smartphone first thing in the morning when you wake up. (Note: unlike other probiotics, this one should
not be refrigerated so you can keep it by your bedside table,)
All probiotics are not created equal. This is a different type of probiotic, I have posted links and a bit of info on this below. I admit to "cheating" on my Primal Defense and trying other probiotics, they didn't work for me and I quickly started to become constipated and develop IBS symptoms again. Obviously, I haven't been able to try all of the probiotics out there, but as they say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Primal Defense is what works for me, it's like the Rolls Royce of probiotics to me.
-In brief, About Garden of Life's Primal Defense HSO Probiotic Formula from their website : "
Primal Defense is the only probiotic formula that contains a unique whole food blend with Homeostatic® Soil Organisms (HSOs)
-Info on
Primal Defense from Iherb's Website: "
Primal Defense is a natural blend of 12 species of probiotics and Homeostatic Soil Organisms (HSOs), utilizing the Poten-Zyme process and delivered within a whole food matrix. The HSO probiotic blend in Primal Defense helps support a normal gastrointestinal balance of good and potentially harmful bacteria to help maintain a balanced, healthy internal environment, and maximizes the benefits of a healthy diet by supporting normal absorption and assimilation of nutrients in the gut."
I am just sharing my story in hopes of helping someone else who is suffering. I am not a health professional and I always suggest asking your Doctor before taking any supplements, especially if you take medications or have any medical conditions.
Note: this product is available in many sizes and also comes in a powder form, I take the tablet form
And, all products have been purchased by me.
Where to buy-
Garden of Life's Primal Defense (This is where I find the best deal and you can get
5% off your first order with coupon code AGU725)
WebMD info on IBS: http://www.webmd.com/ibs/
WebMD info on H-Pylori-
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/h-pylori-helicobacter-pylori
I hope some of you find this helpful. If you have any questions or comments please post below. And, share with your friends!
Xo Amy
