Newbie looking for advice

vsl3.com is where you can order the non-prescription strength direct. Not cheap however.
If you have insurance that will cover it then VSL#3DS is prescription strength.

There are many other probiotics that different people here take that can be purchased at drug stores and health stores. You might have to try several to find the one that works best for you. I tried one from the drugstore and saw no change. After reading here about VSL#3 I tried it and it seems beneficial for me.

There is also Florastor, available in drugstores. It is a different pro-biotic. It's a beneficial yeast (other probiotics are beneficial bacterias). Some people take both.
There are positive medical studies on both.

Good luck and thanks for your service.

I tried the VSL#3 and a ton of other probiotics and interestingly enough, I am finally feeling better and no longer using any of that stuff. I do wonder if I would be doing even better if I continued the probiotics but with the cost and the lack of noticible improvement, I decided not to bother.

I am sorry you're not having luck with traditional medications. I wonder what dose of mesalamine pills you were taking. The max dose is 4800mg a day but there are some taking more than that orally plus the enemas at night and morning.

Were you on the oral meds + the rectal meds at the same time and for how long?
Are you still on prednisone?
How long did you take 6mp/Imuran? These medications can take a few months before you see improvement.

Not to be negative but I wouldn't bank on probiotics stopping a bad flare. If it's mild, maybe they will help a bit.

What kind of symptoms are you experiencing? Have you had stool tests to check for bacteria?

notsosicklygirl said...
I tried the VSL#3 and a ton of other probiotics and interestingly enough, I am finally feeling better and no longer using any of that stuff. I do wonder if I would be doing even better if I continued the probiotics but with the cost and the lack of noticible improvement, I decided not to bother.

I am sorry you're not having luck with traditional medications. I wonder what dose of mesalamine pills you were taking. The max dose is 4800mg a day but there are some taking more than that orally plus the enemas at night and morning.

Were you on the oral meds + the rectal meds at the same time and for how long?
Are you still on prednisone?
How long did you take 6mp/Imuran? These medications can take a few months before you see improvement.

Not to be negative but I wouldn't bank on probiotics stopping a bad flare. If it's mild, maybe they will help a bit.

What kind of symptoms are you experiencing? Have you had stool tests to check for bacteria?

I'm still on 6MP and Mesalamine.  4000mg of Mesalamine and 75mg of 6MP.  I was on Imuran for almost 6 months with no results.  I'm not on prednisone anymore.  I was on it for probably 6 months this last time.  I don't really have any side effects when I take it either because I was on such a small dosage.  I have to go like 20 times a day, with quite a bit of blood everytime.  The last couple days have been really bad for some reason and I have had a fever and body aches and a whopper of a headache, which I'm guessing is due to dehydration.

I recommend VSL3. I do not enjoy paying for this costly probiotic either, but it works. The alternative is not living life! You will need to give it a couple of weeks at 8 capsules a day about an hour and a half after you eat divided 4 and 4. I usually do 4 after lunch and 4 after dinner because I don't eat a big breakfast. I've also started taking slippery elm and that is helping too. This is available at health food stores. I am in my 3rd week on the VSL3 and for the first time in 2 years am improving. I'm praying it continues. I will, however back off to 6 a day as I heal and do not see blood anymore at all. I will probably maintain my healing at 4 a day if all seems to go well. I have not noticed changes in what I eat either. I mean when you are sick all the time, it's kind of hard to tell right?

As already mentioned on this thread, bear in mind that what works for some doesn't work for others. That said, I've just started taking some pro-biotic multivitamin tablets.

After reading up on them it seems that most of the yoghurts are ok for the gut, but by the time they get further along the system (colon), they've already been killed by the stomach acid.

Difficult to find unbiased research on the web as everyone is trying to sell their own products, however, I went with multibionta because I read that it has more cultures in it and in tests some of the probiotics survived through the gut. I also read the VSL3 is good as well.

I tried plain bio-yoghurts before this, but couldn't face the taste and have to be honest - I felt no change. Eventually, I might be saying the same about the tablets, but I think you need to give them at least 2 to 4 weeks before discarding them.

I would perhaps consider using mesalamine enemas, and as nssg suggested, have your doctor run a blood test to make sure your 6MP dose is in the therapeutic range. I'd give the probiotics a try, but as bad as your symptoms are, I honestly don't know if they'll do enough to get you in remission. There is always hope, though!

If none of that helps, I'd seriously consider Remicade.