Reviews of VSL #3

I was taking the capsules and I didn't see improvement. I am not sure I can fairly give an accurate review though because I couldn't afford to take it continuously. I only tried it for one mont without result. I have seem a large number of people here on HW who have had great luck with VSL#3.

I take 2 capsules in the AM with food. I bumped it up to 4 when I started having symptoms again and I got awful pain and gas, so I stick with 2. I also supplement that with 1 culturelle, since it's a different strand of probiotic--I don't think that has much of a GI effect but I think helps my overal immune systems.

I normally take "Ultimate 10" probiotic from the Vitamin Shoppe once a day. It has 10 billion so I am a little concerned that 450 billion might be too strong at first but I need something to give me a boost and get out of this flare. I have been on 40mg of prednisone for almost 4 weeks and still have 3-4 bloody D a day. Looking for some relief!

I think it's mostly used as a part of a maintenance plan. :(

I could be wrong about that. As I said, probiotics didn't seem to make a difference for me.

http://www.vsl3.com/about-faq.asp#faq-08

Above is a link to the vsl website...... the page with FAQs.
It is used in cases of actively flaring UC and to maintain remission, the difference being the number of sachets (1 to 8 per day) recommended.
There are other comments about possible gas and bloating when first taking vsl, what to mix it with, when to take it.
Lots of info.

I just started iron with vit. C and have felt kid of " crappy" could it be the c, three a day when I take the iron.

I have been taking VSL#3, 1 packet a day, for about 3 weeks. During this time I have noticed more early morning urgency and my flare actually seems a little worse, but I can't pin that on the VSL#3. I haven't been a real good boy about eating lately....I was getting to feel like I was going to start clucking from all the chicken I was eating, so I have had pizza and hamburger twice over the past 10 days...probably a msitake. Anyway, I ordered 3 boxes. I am going to give it 3 months and then evaluate. I bvelive that is the time frame they recommend to see if VSL#3 is right for you.

Hello
I have jusr been perscibed VSL#3 following a bad case of pouchitis having had a full colectomy and illeo anal pouch created in june 2010. I took the first sachet and that night spent most of it on toilet with increased urgency and looseness. Is this normal? Also I have asked my doctor and pharmacy for the capsule form and been informed that it is not perscribable, do you know if you can get the capsules in the UK.
Thanks

I have been taking VSL#3 for about 3 months straight (1 in AM, 1 in PM). Initially there was gas and discomfort but it was gone in a day or 2. I am not sure how well it works. I have got to remission but is was with significant changes in diet, etc so it is really hard to tell if it works. I have about 50 pills left and will NOT likely buy more as they are $$$ and I am not sure how well they work.

BTW-I had taken the same dosage of VSL#3 about a year ago during a flare and it did nothing to stop blood and mucus which are my major symptoms(I was also on Canasa)

Best...

I started VSL#3 around 6 weeks ago - packets, not capsules. Was not expecting much from it but do think it is helping me, stool was quite formed after the first day of taking it, no idea if that was a coincidence. I was in mild flare after suspected c diff infection and just had 10 days Flagyl. Also started mutaflor at the same time. Am annoyed that cannot get VSL#3 on prescription in UK as the powers that be refuse to recognise that there is evidence for it for use with UC. Given all the stuff I have tried over the years, I know this is making some difference.

protocolteck - I am not sure which it is? It is the granules, 450 million bacteria. Definitely doing more for me than capsule probiotics, although I think enteric coated Mutaflor is doing something good. Also noticed getting almost constipated from s.boulardii so have stopped that now. Had oral candida from the flagyl and I used it as a paste in my mouth (boulardii) and it was a lot better than the Nystatin I was prescribed.

yes, I have started resistant starch, well, potatoes and pasta I was eating anyway but now I eat them cooled. I have added navy beans in small amounts and amazed that I am going well with them. I can see the difference with stool consistency with them for sure. I was very nervous about getting wind from beans because of B&M but now I'm not getting that and can pass "dry" wind. The first RS I added when coming out of this awful infection I had was some oatbran (low in RS but containing some I understand) in oatmeal porridge made with water, with a few blueberries added and butter for butyrate food. I am interested in butyrate enemas. Not sure if I can source sodium butyrate in the UK, have only seen US sites on amazon, need to look into it properly.

The other thing which I am quite amazed about is the beneficial effect I seem to be getting with raw, non pasteurised sauerkraut which my local health food shop has started to stock. I expected to not tolerate it but quite the reverse, my bloated stomach has gone down, and feel much calmer inside. I want to understand more though about the L Glutamine/glutamate relationship (sauerkraut contains one of these I get confused about in which state). I have noticed myself waking up early, quite unheard of for me unless I am on pred. I know from my work (mental health) that glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter which explains why people often wake early after alcohol as glutamate surges after it is freed from suppression by alcohol. As there are neurological autoimmune diseases in my family and glutamate is negatively implicated in them, I need to be careful. Interestingly, I read that sauerkraut is high in salicylate, which of course is a similar chemical base to mesalazine. So whether it is the salicylate rather than the fermentation bacteria helping, I don't know.

Glad to hear that you are doing well on the regime.

yes, definitely a great resource and better than any UK IBD board I have found.

I have read about this Hi-Maize, I have been wary of it because I have not done well with corn products in the past, again, not sure if it is sold in the UK.

Navy beans...well, "baked beans" on toast are a really popular English staple but they are made with a ton of sugar and salt. I have started making a homemade version - fresh, skinned tomatoes, fresh herbs, and the beans. I have been cooking my own from scratch more often than using tins. Have discovered that if I soak them for 24 hours rather than just overnight and then cook in the slow cooker, they are nice and soft. Have it on toast with butter. I have often had navy beans in France, or haricot as they are called there, in cassoulet, a tasty traditional French stew type dish. Was also wondering about blending them to make a bean paste.

Spinach I have started with too in small doses, never reheating it though, reheated spinach is not easy on the body I learnt due to nitrite development. Trying a few sunflower seeds but wary of omega-6 and of arginine (creates conditions for fever blisters to break out).

Am also fascinated by this research on vagus nerve stimulation, as clinicians I really respect who work with PTSD are uncovering so much about this and concurrently, it is being studied for inflammatory conditions. Off topic from VSL#3 now!