VSL#3 hope?

Comedydork -

The shipping is expensive because they send it out with ice packs in a foam insulated box. This is to keep the meds cool, so they don't get killed off during shipping. Also, I thought that one capsule would do me fine as well, but I moved up the dosage eventually. Maybe one is all you'll need, but be prepared to go up if you have to.

Mitzo said...
24 days of VSL#3 now and it really is not doing any good. I am going to double my dosage, I guess, with a grim sense of futility. I am also taking Culturelle daily, so I am getting masses of probiotics but still daily D - the Culturelle has been almost 4 months. [img]/community/emoticons/shakehead.gif[/img]

Mitzo when you say you arent doing good, does that mean you still in a flare? Or just dont see reduction in diarrhea without blood or mucous as you say in your sig?

Mitzo said...
I am getting no reduction in D and cramping etc. Mostly no blood or mucous, although occasionally like every week or two. I was expecting VSL#3 to deal with D and firm things up, but no.

Well I may have an answer for you Mitzo. I read over the information for VSL#3 on the website carefully. They talk about UC effects which are maintained remission which means no flareups.

As far as D, they really don't say much about D reduction. There is a section under IBS that mentions that there were trials that determined only a reduction in bloating (39%) and management of flatulence (25%) and some reduction in urgency. They actually cited nothing in detail about VSl#3 reducing D.

Also notice that the percentages for IBS symptoms were much lower than remission rates. (flatulence decreases only 25% for example - can you even notice that much?).

Its good to read that you have no inflammation though.

mumbles said...
I have been taking VSL#3 capsules(4 a day). For about a month now. I think it has started to help a little bit, but I can't really tell. At the same time the VSL#3 was supposed to kick in I got more sleep, and started to eat healthier.

How do you think it has helped? Are you still in flares?

Mumbles, you say it has been about a month since you began VSL#3 - when did you start to see results? For me it is more than 3 weeks and no real change.

Mitzo said...
Crazytrain, the stuff about VSL#3 helping J-pouch people have fewer movements and so on is probably what gave me such hope, plus the symptoms I have, which are D and bloating. It seemed so intestinal-flora-like. In the end, though, it is probably something else.

well maybe the benefit is invisible for now. For me I got my own problems, it actually increased my gas and bloating and made my stool looser.

Mitzo...sorry you're feeling bad. Ask your doc why he prescribed entocort as I thought that was for more for CD?

Mitzo, I think it was around the third week that it started to kick in. But then again I don't know how much of it was the VSL#3 or how much of it was the added sleep and eating healthier.

Mitzo -

I understand your frustration that VSL#3 didn't help you.  Please don't assume that no probiotics will help you though.  Almost everyone has to do some trial and error before we find one that works for us.  Looking at the bright side, at least you've eliminated one of the most expensive pro-bs.  The price can only go down from here, right? 

How can you purchase specific strains like that?

Mitzo,

Most probiotic manufacturers name the bacteria/yeasts present in their supplement right on the label. That is just about the only way to know what strains you are taking for any given brand. I'm pretty sure that crazytrain posted a good thread a week or two ago about the various strains of probiotics, and what each is supposed to help with/target. I saw an article a couple of years ago that had a good sized list, and it also listed where you can find natural sources of certain probiotics. I'll see if I dig up the article again if you'd like. Personally, I don't seek out particular strains, I just buy a bottle of something that looks good and give it a try. That was how I ended up on the VSL#3. Judging from the number of pro-b supplements for sale these days, you're apt to find something that helps.

Good question LondonRed. You'd have to ask my docs. A while back I developed this D and they assumed it was UC-related since I have had UC for decades, although in remission most of the time. Flares occur after antibiotic treatments for eg. sinus infection etc.

Been looking up on this for a while now; initially tried a less powerful probiotic but it didn't come through for me. I greatly suspect a biological issue because of how quickly Cipro stops the symptoms - literally less than a day into the 7-day run.

My plan is to use Cipro, and on the 6th - 7th day begin taking VSL as an overlap, to give it a head-start over the bad gut bacteria. I've also read that some people have incorporated VSL into an enema suspension, with great results! I may have to get the packets just so I can test that out.

But I have to agree with much of the sentiment here: VSL isn't really effective as a treatment for flare ups (I tried using VSL before and it did nothing for me during a flare up), but should be used when you have reached remission and are looking for a maintenance treatment.

Seriously, though, why doesn't VSL come in enema form? It seems like a no-brainer!

-------------
Diagnosed Pancolitis 1991
Colectomy 2001 w/ jpouch
Chronic Pouchitis treated with low doses of Tetracycline every day until flare ups, then Cipro / Flagyl and sometimes Prednisone to cut down the inflammation.