probiotics

I take VSL#3. It makes a big difference. I take it once a day, with breakfast - mixed into natural yoghurt. Have tried it mixed into drinks, but it seems to work better with yoghurt.

i rotate between garden of life's primal defense ultra and Th1-s about every 3 months. i've heard a lot of good things about vsl-3.

I have great success with primadophilus reuteri made by natures way...only one/day is needed, it has guaranteed intestinal release and aids with high cholesterol, lactose intolerance and vaginal health for women, of course it's perfectly fine for me to take too.

It's priced right too, in Canada I pay 29.00 for 90 caps and since only one/day is needed (many call for you to take up to 4 or more/day) it's very cost effective since for 30 bucks it lasts me 3 months basically.

:)

A healthfood store called Sangsters, I'm pretty sure they are canada wide.

I don't know if pearls make a difference or not, I've never tried them and I'm not aware of their price for the pearls.

Good luck!

thanks pb4, I will check it out!

Yes, VSL#3 has their own website. You can either order from there or you can do a search there of local pharmacies that carry it. My local Walgreens got it for us, though they took too many weeks to get it.

I believe VSL has something like 8 strains and 450 billion viable organisms. I have read here, though, that one should take the capsules rather than the powder pouches. I think it was corn starch or some other additive in the pouch version that folks said wasn't so good for Crohnies. The capsules have no corn starch. They ran about $45 for 60 capsules. The capsules are 1/2 the strength of the powder pouches--225 billion critters in each one. When my son took VSL he only took one capsule a day.

We have used Theralac for nearly a year now. It also has its own website and that's where I order it from--Therabiotics, in Victoria, MN. It has something like 6 strains and 20 billion CFUs (colony forming units) in an acid-proof formulation...or something like that. We used VSL in addition to Theralac a few months ago when my son had to take an antibiotic for a bronchial infection. We had good results with it, too.

Sarita mentioned her bathroom trips were cut in half with VSL. My son reported this, too, and he typically goes only about 3 times a day. He actually wasn't so sure he liked that number cut in half! Go figure!

P.S. VSL#3 is kind of expensive - $40 a month - and is not covered by insurance but it has ultimately saved me a lot more than that in terms of quality of life! I got it from the hospital where my GI practices (I think he requested they start carrying it) but recently ordered it from the website and it arrived within a few days in a styrafoam container with cold packs. I keep it in the fridge until I load up my pill case for the week...a few days of non-refrigeration won't hurt it, but just in case.

Does anybody take probiotics who tend toward constipation? I was taking VSL 3, but it seemed like I was getting even more contipated, but I'm not sure if that is the reason.

I take Kyo-Dophilus, it's lactose intollerant friendly. 

Crohn'snme - that is what I swear by. Do you take the 3 strain or the 9. I think they just came out with another formula. I pick mine up at Whole foods or a local small herbal store. I like the fact they are shelf stable and do not have to go in the fridge. I think they were the first on the market that was. Now I see a couple more that say they are, but I figure why mess with a good thing.

I forgot to ask my GI about it when I was there the other day he ran another sed rate and crp on me I called today looking for the results but he works a half day on Fridays. He mentioned bentyl to me and I also explained some of my more common issues since increasing the humira as far as symptoms. The humira has helped tremendously as far as CD symptoms but he feels I also am suffering from IBS and after reading symptoms I feel he is correct and I rather go with a more natural approach if possible but I do not like yogurt and the fruit ones are a no no for me since I am allergic to most fruits I couldnt stand vanilla flavored etc.

I talked to my godfathers wife who use to be an Ped ICU nurse until her med issues prevented her from working anymore and she has many more food allergies than I to see if she had heard of or tried VSL and she is going to look into it. She cannot even take regular meds her B12 is the refrigerated 1 without additives since even preservatives make her allergies act up badly

jid said...
Two questions (to keep the discussion going)
1- What is the web site for the VSL#3?
2- A friend of mine is a dealer for Candida and she swears that it is the best ever and that the rest of it doesn't get absorbed and blah blah blah. I currently take Florastor. Does anyone have expereince w/ Candida as to whether it is a scam or not?

Thanks!

JD

Hi JD! Here is the VSL website:

http://www.vsl3.com/VSL3/default.asp

Also, I am only aware of Candida as a condition (systemic yeast overgrowth in the body). Is there more to the name of your friend's product?

How is Florastor working for you? It has just one strain of a yeast probiotic which Elaine Gottschall said is NOT beneficial for IBD folks (S. boulardii). That particular strain is not found in the probiotics most folks here take. Just curious....