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IMPORTANT HELP!! VSL#3 question

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/20/2012 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on VSL#3 DS for about a week now. I experienced some abdomin bloating especially the first few days but it slowly seems to be gettng better but they said to expect that and it really wasn't super painful or bad where I couldn't take it. My question though is this. I was and am on prednisone because of a flare. THe prednisone haqd gotten me to where I was only going about 1 per day and it was soft stool but atleast it was stool and not water, also urgency was gone and I was feeling normal. Since I started taking the VSL, and I have not tapered the prednisone yet, my stools have become more watery, I am experiencing more frequency (like 3 to 4 times per day), the urgency isn't too bad but am also experiencing a a tiny bit of leakage whichI have never ever ever had before even in my worst flares. Is this normal? Is it my bowels trying to purge the bad stufff while it gets used to the all that new good bacteria or is this a problem. I am trying to research it to and talk to my GI but was wondering if anyone had similar experiences? Do things improve over time? Looking for help!!
Posted 9/20/2012 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
It can be a very confusing mess. It could literally be any one of your theories. If it were me, I would stick with the VSL for a full month and then if you still have the very same questions then try either cutting it back or eliminating it and see what happens. Everyone is different. I am on VSL myself and have been for months. I'm pretty sure it helps me.
Posted 9/20/2012 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
VSL#3 DS seems to help me too.
In addition to what Gary mentioned, you can try starting out small like half or quarter packet a day, and increase it slowly depending on how you feel.
Posted 9/20/2012 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
VSL helps me too, but if I get too much for too long, it does make the stool more slimy. I usually just taper back a bit on the dose/frequency.
Posted 9/20/2012 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
I agree, give VSL a chance.
Posted 9/20/2012 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
I am a VSL#3 believer. It has helped me get to a good place with my UC.

I take the capsules 2x a day before breakfast and dinner.

The only adverse reaction I have had is some gas from time to time.
Posted 9/20/2012 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
I have read good things and I don;t plan on giving up and I plan on giving a good chance for atleast a month if not maybe 90 days as I've read it takes 90 days to change your digestive insides. So do you think taking the whole satchet all at once right from the start might have been an issue? Maybe I should have started with less, like a half satchet and worked my way up or even do that now? Remember my satchets are 900billion in just one satchet and I've been drinking one whole satchet down every night mixed in a glass of all natural lemonade
Posted 9/20/2012 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
You should have have taken less and worked your way up.
Posted 9/21/2012 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
I took VSL#3 for almost a year. During that time I noticed it did help, but I never reached a "normal" stool. When I started getting low on the packets I decided to try Renew Life Ultimate Flora 80 billion. what a difference! Within 2 weeks I noticed my stool forming. I never dreamed there could be such a quick difference.

My suggestion to you is to try the VSL #3 for a couple of months. If nothing is happening or if it seems you are maintaining at the same level, give another probiotic a try.

I had always been told VSL was the best, but this site gave me the information about other probiotics that my doc never would. That's what is so great here...you can ask anything!
Posted 9/21/2012 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
46: Is there anything different in Renew Life Ultimate Flora 80 billion than VSL? I've always been a big believer that it helps to have as many different strains as you can.
Posted 9/21/2012 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
There are different ingredients. VSL has lactic acid bacteria and cornstarch. Ultimate flora 80 has 7 types of bifdobacterium and 7 types of Lactobacillus. Of course I have no idea what that means. Lol!
Posted 9/21/2012 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
46: Just for the heck of it I looked it up. Pasted is info on VSL. For some reason I couldn't paste info from your Renew Life. VSL does actually contain 3 bifdo, 4 lacto and 1 strepto . Renew has 7 bifdo and and 7 lacto. Some VSL has cornstarch and some doesn't.


What Is VSL3?

VSL3 (also written VSL#3, VSL 3) is a high-potency probiotic supplement. Indeed it is one of the strongest probiotic supplements on the market with 450 billion live bacteria (colony forming units) per dose. It is available in lemon flavored and unflavored powder form as well as in convenient capsules.

VSL3 is classified as a medical food, which is intended for use especially in the dietary management of disease under the supervision of a physician.

It contains three a blend of three genera (Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria) and eight strains of beneficial probiotic bacteria: Strains:
•Streptococcus thermophilus


•Bifidobacteria breve


•Bifidobacteria longum


•Bifidobacteria infantis


•Lactobacillus acidophilus


•Lactobacillus plantarum


•Lactobacillus paracasei


•Lactobacillus delbreuckii subspecies bulgaricus




These bacteria are freeze-dried or lyophilized – dried and frozen within a vacuum. This is the best way of extending the life of the bacteria. It ensures that the bacteria, when stored correctly, are live at the point of consumption.





Product Ingredients

All VSL3 products contain the same mixture and number of bacteria per serving. The specific bacterial blend in these probiotics contains:

•450 billion bacteria containing Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacteria (B. breve, B. longum, B. infantis), Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus delbrueckii (sub-species bulgaricus).


A few additional ingredients are also included in each of the products. Have a look at the table below to see the specific ingredients for each VSL3 product.




VSL3 Product

Ingredients



Unflavored powder

Bacterial blend
Cornstarch



Flavored powder

Bacterial blend
Maltose
Silicon dioxide
Natural lemon flavor



Capsules

Bacterial blend
Stearic acid
Silicon dioxide
Microcrystalline cellulose

The unflavored powder is intended to be taken as a beverage and needs to be mixed with water for consumption.

The flavored powder can be mixed with yogurt, apple sauce, ice cream or any other cold food for use.

All products need to be refrigerated (39ºF to 46ºF or 4ºC to 8ºC). Provided the items are stored correctly, the shelf life of VSL3 is an impressive two years!

Advantages

We think this probiotic is a high quality product. We believe it offers the following advantages:



•Very high number of viable bacteria per serving. With 450 billion bacteria per serving, this probiotic supplement offers way more bacteria than most other products on the market.


•The products do NOT contain inulin, FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides) or other prebiotics. This makes them suitable for all types of people, including those with bowel complaints such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and food intolerances.
•Excellent value for money. The cost of a 10 billion bacteria unit of VSL3 is much less than many of the less potent probiotics on the market.

•Choice of powder or capsules. Powder is a good starter form for introducing probiotic supplements into your system for those with serious digestive disease. It allows the user to measure out small doses, allowing them to begin by consuming tiny amounts of probiotics only. Capsules on the other hand are a convenient and easy way to take probiotics, especially when you are out and about.

•VSL3 probiotic products can be stored for up to a week at room temperature without losing potency, meaning they are suitable to take on short breaks away where access to refrigeration may be difficult (camping, hostels, hotels).

•Contains a good mix of bacterial strains including those from both the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria genera (clans). All of the bacterial strains in these products have a safe history of use as food ingredients.

•VSL3 is one of very few probiotic supplements that are supported by double-blind placebo controlled scientific studies. Some of these studies have shown that this product provides bacteria that help the gastrointestinal tract and that it can help in the dietary management of ulcerative colitis,1,2,3 Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)4,5 and pouchitis6,7,8.






Disadvantages

As far as the disadvantages of these products are concerned, the key issue is that all VSL3 probiotics contain traces of soy, dairy and gluten and therefore they may not be suitable for people with celiac disease or severe allergies to these foodstuffs.
Posted 12/3/2012 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the info on VSL #3; this has been one of the most helpful threads I've found on it... so I thought I would ask y'all a question :)

I've been suffering from bacterial overgrowth for about a year and IBS-C all of my life.  Four doctors and ten months into this year, I was finally diagnosed and treated for the bacterial overgrowth with Xifaxan and now VSL #3.  The antibiotic made a little difference but VSL has made a huge difference!  I feel "normal" now.. approximately 80-85% awesome and I feel like now that I'm not in too much pain and discomfort, I can actually get active and start exercising and eating more... hopefully putting me at about 90-95% awesome :)

That said, I understand that VSL #3 is meant to be used under "doctor supervision" though it does not require a prescription.  I'm afraid at my check up (after 2 weeks of Xifaxan antibiotic and 4 weeks of VSL probiotic), he will tell me to discontinue the probiotic.  Considering I've suffered from IBS-C all of my life, and how horrible this year's been, and how I want to gain weight (I'm a 33 y/o female, 5'6" and 90-95lbs this year, before overgrowth: 105lbs), I'm terrified of going back to being consitpated and not being able to eat enough.

My questions is this: does anyone know why this probiotic is intended to be used under medical supervision?  Is there a risk of complications or dependency?  Given how horrible this year was, I would never want to risk making my digestive system worse than it has been this year.  But, I want to feel better than before the overgrowth!  If my doctor tells me to discontinue the probiotic after my 4 weeks, would it be crazy of me to just not listen to him and to listen to my body instead? 

Posted 12/3/2012 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
yes, it would be crazy for you to listen to your doc if he tells you to stop the vsl !

was that the question ?
Posted 12/3/2012 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Was it the doctor who put you on VSL to begin with? I think you are taking "under a doctor's supervision" way too seriously. I don't know where exactly you got this in your head from but it is kind of standard terminology used in just about everything. I have researched many OTC herbs, vitamins, etc., and almost all of them have some kind of similar terminology involved to cover their asses. A probiotic is just a probiotic and apparently the VSL you are taking doesn't even need a prescription. It's not any different than eating 10 tubs of yogurt per day. You don't need a doctor's supervision for that. I have a feeling, espcecially if your doctor turned you on to VSL in the first place, that he will not give you any outright orders on the VSL, at the most a suggestion. I am willing to bet that he will say do what you feel is right. If he doesn't then that is what you should do anyway.
Posted 12/3/2012 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, guys... that's exactly what I was looking for. I thought perhaps I was taking the supervision bit a little too seriously, but I guess after suffering as horribly and for as long as I did, I thought finding a permanent solution like VSL would be too good to be true.

Yes, Gary, it was my doc who told me to take VSL after Xifaxan but he did tell me to follow up with him after my 4 week trial. I agree that I probably shouldn't worry as there isn't a prescription required, but it makes me feel even better to think the doctor will only suggest whether I continue with the probiotic or not. Either way, I will probably continue to use this as long as it helps me... just wanted to be sure y'all didn't know anything about VSL and its possible side effects that weren't obvious to me. From the research I've done online, there don't seem to be any serious or long-term effects at all, which is the best news I can hope for.

Thanks, again... best of health to you guys :)
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