HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Do you believe VSL REALLY works?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/27/2011 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
I am beginning to wonder if it is worth it to spend $60 every 5 weeks for VSL.  We have used other brands and at this point I can't say that VSL is any better.  Thoughts?
Posted 7/27/2011 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
I think it works.

I am not using it now.

New insurance wont pay. Sometimes this is the missing piece of the puzzle and the effect is amazing. Other times it is NOT the missing piece of the puzzle and has no effect.

There you go - if you get no big gain from it then conserve your cash and continue to pick the UC lock using everything else. This is for your daughter right ?

Things that have worked for me ( none of them work every time )

VSL#3DS
Spinach
Psyllium Seed
Yogurt
Fish
Curcumin
Boswella
Coconut water
L-glutamine
Olive Leaf Extract
Mebeverine
Librax
Sulfasalazine

Things I have not tried yet :

Germinated Barley On-hand
LDN
Posted 7/27/2011 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
For me, yes. During my recent flare, VSL #3 was the only thing I added for a time and it made a difference.
Posted 7/27/2011 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
I recommend everyone try probiotics but it is possible that VSL#3 is not fully compatible with your body chemistry. Perhaps try another brand with different strains of bacteria. Research that was recently published indicated that scientists say that we all fit into one of three types of internal gut flora. Perhaps the 8 strains in VSL3 are not the ones compatible with your individual internal flora.

I cannot remember who posted the research article on this forum, perhaps they can post it again. VSL#3 works for most people because it contains several strains of overwhelming numbers of bacteria. Since C Diff is in your signature you may want to try S. Boulardii which is one probiotic that specifically targets C Diff.
Posted 7/27/2011 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
VSL absolutely works for me. I think the biggest reason it doesn't work for others is because they simply don't take enough, especially if they are already flaring. The clinical trials on VSL had people taking 3.6 trillion bacteria a day, which is nearly unaffordable if your insurance doesn't cover it. VSL at that level has helped me both times I've taken it, and I've taken it while in mid severe flare. It is a cornerstone of my current treatment plan.
Posted 7/27/2011 6:29 AM (GMT 0)
I am one of the only people here that doesn't take probiotics. I do eat yogurt and fermented foods quite often but I find that probiotiics are very expensive and I didn't see any benefit above just eating yogurt and probiotic foods. I definitely didn't see $60 worth!!. If money wasn't a concern, sure, I'd take a lot more probiotics but I can't afford to and I am not sure if it helps. Have you ever made yogurt?
Posted 7/27/2011 12:21 PM (GMT 0)
MustLoveDogs,

It definitely works, but the question is, as badslinke stated, are you taking enough of it?

How much is your daughter taking?

Can you get your doctor to prescribe VSL#3 DS - then you might only have a small copay, if your insurance covers meds?

Posted 7/27/2011 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I believe it helps me or would not continue it (as so many many supplements have hit the road with me lol).
Wish I could eat yogurt made with VSL#3 but gut says no to that. If it came to choosing between VSL and my only med Balsalazide I'd choose VSL.

Am currently experimenting with adding another less expensive probiotic daily so I can increase probiotic frequency without paying VSL prices. But as mentioned in another thread, when you count up the billions of probiotics in each type VSL is not more expensive per million/billion dose.
Posted 7/27/2011 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm doing fine on Ultimate Flora Critical Colon. However even that is $45/ 30days. So, I think good quality probiotics are worth the money. I went off for a week while I was on vacation and I could definitely tell the difference after that week. I'm planning to take some with me on my next trip.
Posted 7/27/2011 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
I have wondered this myself, I have been taking VSL#3 for a couple years and can't say if it has made a difference. But I also don't really know how much to take either..The capsules I take say "225 billion live lactic bacteria per serving" a serving being 2 capsules. If the dose badlinke posted is right, 3.6 trillion bacteria a day, that means I need to take 32 pills a day!!

What other probiotics can be combined to get to the optimum dosage?
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply