HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Do you take VSL#3 everyday??

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/9/2011 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
I am just curious how many people with UC take VSL every day without fail?

 

I have had my daughter on it for over a year and have played around with how much I give,

how often etc but have settled on 1 X day and am afraid to stop.

 

I have no trouble keeping her on it even though she hates it and complains bitterly every

sindle morning.

 

I am just curious how many of you swear by VSL??

 

Thanks

Posted 3/9/2011 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
I took it everyday when I was taking it but I didn't see improvement so I stopped. I haven't gotten any worse since stopping probiotics.
Posted 3/9/2011 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I take it every day. However a few months ago I felt a little nauseous when taking it so I quit for 2 weeks. I missed it however and started up again and no nausea.

I think I swear by VSL but my UC is a moving target lol. I am not afraid to tinker in the name of better and better colon. What I debate is how much VSL to order each time since I live in FL and the hot weather is coming soon. Right now I just order 2 months use at a time.

Can you mix it in some sweetened yogurt for her? Or something like applesauce?
Posted 3/9/2011 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
I know I should, but I usually only take probiotics when I have loose stools or diarrhea. Since my poo has been great lately, I haven't been taking them. Thanks for the reminder.

It's good to keep taking them, even in remission.
Posted 3/9/2011 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
I swear by it and take it every day.
If your daughter is doing fine.... if I were solidly doing fine, I would go down to a half dose each day for a week or so and see if it made any difference.

I'm in a different place; I saw a little blood for the first time in quite a while, yesterday, so I'm increasing my VSL to see if that might stave off any further gut activity.
Posted 3/10/2011 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
I am a strong proponent of probiotic use for UC and use VSL#3 DS faithfully twice a day (2 sachets daily). I have used this steadily for a year and have not attempted to change my routine. I have come a long way from 100mg of Prednisone and later (after failing steroid treatment) was on Remicade for 2 years.

35 yo male physician/surgeon
In remission: SCDiet, VSL#3 DS
Posted 3/10/2011 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
she hates it and complains bitterly every single morning.

VSL#3 is crucial for my remission but everyone is different. Maybe you should let her stay off it for a few days. If it is not helping her very much then perhaps you can substitute a more convenient and cheaper probiotic capsule instead. But if she sees flare symptoms returning then I don’t think you will ever again have to coax your daughter take it.
Posted 3/10/2011 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
I do - take 2/day. Does she mix it with apple sauce? I put it in the SCD yogurt and add honey.
Posted 3/11/2011 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
As you can imagine I am scared to make any changes as she is doing so well. I have gone to 1 packet a day in the morning
and I mix it in ice cream...I will just listen to her complaints. I have to believe it helps and I am not willing to
take a chance and stop so onwards and upwards..we need to stay in remission.

I was just curious if you actually knew for sure that it does help!
Posted 3/11/2011 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
I know it works for me, but as Fruitgirl said in another post, I've yet to see anything that works for all of us, so I can't predict whether or how much it's helping your daughter.

The little bit of blood I mentioned a few days ago.... I've upped my VSL to 3 -4 packets a day and the blood has disappeared and my stools are well-formed. So, for me.... it works. For others it may not.
Posted 3/11/2011 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
IBDISTHEPITS

There are a number of well designed research studies published in numerous scientific and medical journals that show the effectiveness of VSL#3. The science is there. In fact, several of the more impressive studies were done on children. Go to pubmed.com and do a search of VSL#3 and have a read. As songlady said, there is no one treatment that works for all. For example, I am horribly intolerant to mesalamine and 5-ASA meds. They give me horrible nausea and diarrhea but diet and VSL#3 keep me in remission.

FYI: Be careful with ice cream. Almost all ice cream contains carrageenan, which is used to produce experimental colitis in mice. I eat hard cheeses and SCD legal dairy products but ice cream and my colon do not get along. Maybe try a yogurt mixed with her favorite jelly/jam for flavor? Can she swallow pills yet? There is a capsule form if she can.

35 yo male physician/surgeon
In remission VSL3/SCDiet
Posted 3/13/2011 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you napacabs...I have heard of the bad issues with carrageenan and do stay away from it as much as possible.

I should have clarified that when I say "ice cream" i actually only use Coconut milk ice cream or soy milk ice cream and only 1 tablespoon.

I think taking the vsl in ice cream works well with the cold factor of the IC...maybe helps keep it intact until it gets to her colon?? One can hope...

I will not be stopping any time soon...in my eyes it is working :)
Posted 3/15/2011 9:12 AM (GMT 0)
I just started taking this again when I had a flare up last week. I hadn't taken it for a few weeks, and even when I was taking it regularly, it was usually once every other day.

My flare up as gone away. Not sure if it's VSL's doing or just the fact Lialda continues to work. confused
Posted 3/15/2011 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
I've just started mixing my VSL in a few ounces of flavored kefir..... does well to mask it!
Posted 3/22/2011 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
You guys seem to prefer the powder over the capsules. Is there a specific reason?
Posted 3/24/2011 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
Why not use the capsules? So much easier and you will avoid those daily arguments!
Posted 3/24/2011 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
I take the powder because my insurance kicks in and covers part of the cost of the Double Strength. Right now I'm having minor symptoms so I'm taking 3 packets of Double Strength each day.....hmmm, I believe that would be the equivalent of 6 regular packets or 12 capsules per day. So.... I'm doing the powder for reasons of cost.
Posted 3/24/2011 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
You guys seem to prefer the powder over the capsules. Is there a specific reason?

I ran the numbers of how much of the VSL you get in powder vs. pills and the powder/packets were about 30% cheaper. That's the only reason for me.
Posted 3/24/2011 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter can't swallow pills so no avoiding the packets.
We just keep on doing it..argument or not...I do believe it is
keeping her in remission :)
Posted 3/24/2011 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
gotcha! makes sense! that's a tough one when they can't swallow pills :(
Posted 9/22/2013 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
I am reviving this thread because it is interesting and I did not know that about carageenan! I have had lactose free ice cream a lot lately and who knows maybe it is causing issues! I will stop eating it to for a bit!

I am taking 2 packets a day is vsl. I hope it works!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply