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Posted 1/16/2012 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
I went 2.5 years symptom free. Longest stretch for me during my 20 years with UC. I tribute this stretch to the use of VSL3 and pysillium seed powder. I had a minor setback last month that put me on pred and I am now near the end of my flare. I continue to take the VSL3 and seed powder but am wondering if there is any benefit to adding another probiotic to my regime. Meaning, are there other types of bacteria available in other probiotics that if mixed with VSL would give me a more potent mixture? I have considered taking Align daily with my VSL but don't want to waste the money if I am not getting any added benefit. Thoughts?
Posted 1/16/2012 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
hey Lotion -

you've inspired my next post - stay tuned :-)

i'd be more about finding out what went wrong - i'm just kinda like that -

so after 2.5 yrs of success, what the heck happened ? new cat, boyfriend, shoes, peach & lettuce diet ?

i do think that at some point what i'm doing will quit working, or at least a diminished version of the success i'm having - nothing stays the same forever, no matter how bad i want it to sometimes - so maybe additional or different probiotics would be beneficial - can't hurt, right ?  beats me -

glad you're doing better tho - anytime you say adios to pred, that's a good thing !

Posted 1/16/2012 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Lotion,

Yes, there's another probiotic I would advise you add to VSL #3 - it's Jarrow's Saccharomyces Boulardii + MOS, which I buy through Amazon.

Here's the info on it:

http://www.jarrow.com/product/265/Saccharomyces_Boulardii_MOS?gclid=COjntZnd1K0CFYFb7AodiFxxnA

Posted 1/16/2012 2:45 PM (GMT 0)

Lotion-

I just found a website www.probiotic.org that contains some pretty extensive info about various strains and possible side effects. 

You might want to check it out. 

Posted 1/16/2012 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
I continue to take the VSL3 and seed powder but am wondering if there is any benefit to adding another probiotic to my regime. Meaning, are there other types of bacteria available in other probiotics that if mixed with VSL would give me a more potent mixture? I have considered taking Align daily with my VSL but don't want to waste the money if I am not getting any added benefit

For almost 2 years I have also found that VSL3 with psyllium seed to be very effective. But no matter how effective, it will be counterproductive if you are picking at your internal scabs by eating a triggering food every day by being sensitive to gluten or something. So it wouldn't hurt to monitor your diet.

It would not be much of an investment in time or money to buy some Align to see if that works. For me I find that Culturelle compliments my VSL3 very well. Two to four capsules a day if I feel the start of symptoms. It is a different strain of bacteria than VSL3. You wouldn't think that just a few more billion CFUs would make much difference compared to the trillions in a couple of packets of VSL3, but it seems to work for me.

I also take S. Boulardii sometimes. I started with it because it is excellent with antibiotics I had for an abscessed tooth and I continue with it because it is relatively inexpensive. It couldn't hurt.

I know VSL3 works, no doubt about that. The same for Culturelle (for me). I think S. Boulardii too. As far as probiotics are concerned diversity is good. You cannot get too many of them.
Posted 1/16/2012 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Itsalwayssomething,

Thanks for posting this link!
Posted 1/16/2012 4:21 PM (GMT 0)

soystud said...
hey Lotion -

you've inspired my next post - stay tuned :-)

i'd be more about finding out what went wrong - i'm just kinda like that -

so after 2.5 yrs of success, what the heck happened ? new cat, boyfriend, shoes, peach & lettuce diet ?

he/she thought UC went away quietly in the night. Then she/he went on a rampage on cheeseburgers and fries. The UC came back and said: Heeeeeyyyyy, guess who's back....tell a friend, guess whos back guess whos back.

lol

Posted 1/16/2012 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
I would look into florastor. It's a probiotic yeast and I've found it helpful in the past. It's prescription only as far as I know, but it's hard to find insurance to cover it.
Posted 1/16/2012 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
Florastor is one of the brand names for S. Boulardii mentioned above. Most health food stores and Whole Foods sell it and as stated above it is sold on Amazon.com.
Posted 1/16/2012 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Definitely Sacro B- what Insofla said! It's not in VSL and I've heard it is really helpful. The only negative thing about it is that I've read that it can cause candida overgrowth in people who take immunosuppressants/biologics. I take 6mp and remicade so I don't even want to risk it.
Posted 1/16/2012 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting thread. Thanks everyone for their suggestions.

Bananagirl: I was about to order the Sacro-B, as I can order things through Amazon, but I'm also on a biologic. Thanks for saving me some potential trouble!


This forum rocks!
Posted 1/17/2012 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks all. InSoFla, I am going to add this to the VSL. Not sure what the trigger was for me this time but I did experience some major stress which has done it in the past and probably started it this time as well. Of course when going 2+ years symptom free, pretty easy to let the diet slide as well. I am convinced stress and diet are triggers, not necessarily causes, of this disease. I am hoping this extra boast of different bacteria will extend my next good period after the pred taper. Thanks again.
Posted 1/17/2012 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
Lotion,

Stress is a huge factor in UC, no question about it.

The trick is the ability to control the stress and that's a big one, one I haven't yet be able to master.

Let us know how you do.

Posted 1/17/2012 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
I started taking Florastor last week and it looks like it's making a big difference for me. I'm currently taking it twice a day, as recommended, but I may actually go down to once a day to see how that goes. As BabeInTheWoods mentioned, it's Sacharomyces Boulardii and it's otc (I bought mine from Amazon). I also have had really good luck with RenewLife Critical Colon 80 billion.
Posted 1/18/2012 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
Anybody ever try Pharmax HLC intensive? HLC stands for Human Lactic Commensals, in my opinion I find it to be the best probiotic out in the market. And for indigestion it worked wonders.
Posted 1/19/2012 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
InSoFla, after 4 weeks of 40 mg pred, I have things under control and will be tapering off over the next month. I am going to try that probiotic recommended above on Amazon. I am a tax guy so stress will be coming next 90 days but after using the pred to "heal", I should make it thru tax season without a flare since it will only be 90 days. I am hoping to top the 2.5 years without a flare starting now.
Posted 1/20/2012 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
Florastor can be purchased at Walmart or Walgreens for under $20.   
Posted 1/20/2012 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
trojen, I just checked the Walgreen's site & they're selling 20 caps of Florastor for $21. I buy Florastor from Amazon at around $35 (including shipping) for 50 caps. Thus, Walgreen's is just over $1 per cap; Amazon comes in at 70 cents a cap.
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