[MonikaT]

Have you considered adding FG? It is actually effective for digestive issues and makes a difference in my IBS. Taking even a single FG (500mg) a day is enough for me to get relief. And it is not something that will negatively impact your NBE efforts in my experience. I take it together with the PM. It could be that is why I don't really have any issues with my bowel from PM, or maybe it just doesn't affect me that way. If you are worried about your kidneys, let your doc know that you are concerned about pain in that area and peeing more than usual. A prostate check or a blood test to check kidney/urinary health might be in order. If you do have a problem developing you really want to know about it as early in life as possible. I suppose it's possible that PM is simply raising the flag on a latent issue in your body. If so, that would be very interesting to know.

I actually never stopped taking FG when I switched to PM from RC and hops. I think some people are just more sensitive to what ever is in PM that irritates the bowel. In the PM portion of the forum, some people talk about having to open the capsules and use half the dose, then build up. In my case, it could be partly due to this or that medication I'm taking.

As for kidney issues, I've recently been told that my most recent blood/urine testing indicates my kidneys are beginning to fail as a result of damage from diabetes. I get to see the results next week. Then I'll know just how bad since a year ago there was no such indication. It isn't much of a surprise given all that has happened to my eyes. I have had no kidney pain from PM, just bowel issues. I started the PM a couple weeks after the samples were taken so I know the problems existed before ever introducing PM.