VSL #3

should be.... I used to mix the VSL with chocolate pudding. Then, to make the texture a little less noticable I would mix in a few chocolate chips. It made for a great snack!

http://www.vsl3.com/VSL3/default.asp it is expensive tho, i can only do one month of it

You may want to check with insurance. We are on an HMO and the doctor called in a "double dose" which apparently puts it under the prescription category and it was covered as a prescription. My son used to put in in applesauce.

it is super expensive. that is why i can only do it for a month. i hope it starts working, so far i haven't noticed a difference (except in my savings account!!)

I took VSL #3 for 2 months and had no change in my UC.

hmm, again i feel like this is something my doctor should have known...(or told me!)

For active UC the VSL #3 site suggests 4-8 packets a day (that's very expensive but I think it shows potential to work if you use enough). That's 1800 to 3600 billion acitve bacteria a day. Their double-blind studies show one needs that much for active UC. For this reason I just can't see how taking 1-35 billion bacteria per day (most other product's daily doses) could actually benefit--unless the disease is in remission and your uses it as a preventative measure.

From their web site..."Some dairy ingredients are used in the culture medium but are removed during fermentation and concentration. There might be trace amounts at very low levels and, for this reason, VSL#3® is not defined as a dairy-free product but as a non-dairy product. Evidence suggests that probiotics may be useful in the treatment of patients with lactose maldigestion and lactase deficiency. Recent studies have demonstrated that lactose is better digested from yogurt than from milk by lactase-deficient individuals and yogurt ingestion by these patients is paralleled by reduced symptoms. Many patients confirmed that their intolerance was greatly reduced with the use of VSL#3®. If you are lactose intolerant, you may wish to start with a very low intake of VSL#3® to see how you respond before increasing the amount."

I see a ton of people on here with VSL #3 in their signature still stating what seems to be some pretty nasty UC symptoms.. Why bother? It doesn't seem to work.

Im trying this Pro-Bio stuff... We'll see..

Sugest anyone taking or considering taking VSL3 or any other probiotic read Jini's articles at http://www.jinipatelthompson.com/articles_by_jini.php
titled "Wild Oregano Oil and other Antimicrobials" and "Probiotic Therapy for IBD and IBS" at a minimum and really suggest that you get her "Listen to Your Gut" system (yes it's not cheap but isn't your health woth it and compared to the years of research and trial and error the book is cheap) as the book has a great section on selecting a Probiotic. That section alone is worth the cost of the book since the probiotics are so expensive themselves and you don't want to be flushing your money down the drain, right?

At the new Jun 08 price of $45/60 capsuls I believe, but don't quote me, that VSL3 is on par price wise with the Natren brand that Jini promotes. Unfortunately I'm not aware of a prescription level Natren probiotic so my insureance definitely won't cover it, they're closed right now so I can't ask about VSL3. Both should be allowed from a FSA (Flex Spending Account) perspective as I read in a HW thread if it wasn't this one.

As for do they work, Natren does according to Jini and others posting on her forum and my experience has shown that my symptoms either subside or stay in remission when I follow Jini's Wild Oregano Oil/Probiotic protocol. Good combination. A significant investement in my health but how much does it cost when you're feeling miserable and can't do anything?

I took 6 packets a day for three months. It didn't affect my flare at all, but did give me more gas and cramping. They recommend 4-8 packets a day while flaring ($300 - 575/month) and 1-2 when in remission ($80 - 150.)

Primadophilus Reuteri capsules (90 for $21 including shipping) seem to work better for me, and the cost is about $7 a month. You just have to try things to see what works for you.