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VSL #3 DS how much dosage do you take for UC?

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Posted 6/29/2010 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
This is my 12th day of taking VSL #3 DS (Double Strength). I am not sure how much to take to control diarrhea/constipation and bleeding. I am currently taking one packet which is like 900 billion bacteria. Instructions say to take 1/2 to 4 packets a day depending on your severity of your colitis. It seems to be working a little but this week I noticed more blood and diarrhea. Does taking too many packs make colitis worse for some people? Thanks!
Posted 6/29/2010 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
My insurance paid for a lot, so starting in Feburary, as I was already coming out of my flare, I upped from one pack to four per day. A week later I saw dramatic improvements. I stayed at four for about a month and am back at one. Absolutley never noticed a worsening of symptoms.
Posted 6/29/2010 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't know insurance would cover a probiotic... I need to check into that. Was there anything special you had to do to get that to go through?? Did a DR. have to prescribe it??
Posted 6/29/2010 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
A doctor had to prescribe it. Make sure you ask for double strength and get that written on the Rx, the regular VSL #3 is OTC only.
Posted 6/30/2010 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
wow, cool. so do you just get it from the pharmacy then?
Posted 6/30/2010 10:24 AM (GMT 0)
Yep. But caveat emptor: make sure you count the boxes. I get six 20 count packets. I have filled the prescription four times, and the manufacturer has, not once, shipped in six boxes. The first time they only shipped one and the pharmacy called me a few days later when they saw the error (?) and called and got me five more. The other three times they have shipped four or five and have to be called to ship more.
Posted 6/30/2010 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
I have found that the doc needs to specify not only "double strength" but "20 packets per box". It took me about 8 months of wrongly written or wrongly interpreted prescriptions to get the one covered by my ins.
The DS clearly states on it "by prescription only." Whether our particular insurance will cover it or not depends on our policy, I would think.
Posted 6/30/2010 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
I'm currently 6 days in to my VSL trials. I take 4 packets (1,800 Billion total) a day. I split it into 2 doses, morning and night.

The first 4 days were brutal. Pain,Bloat,Gas,Blood,etc...but the last couple days have shown a bit of stabilization, hopefully the next few will show actual improvement...

My GI was able to secure some "almost expired" samples for me, so if it does work for me as well as for some of you, I will need to inquire about some Insurance coverage.

Is anyone in Canada able to get any coverage for this? I assume the same DS 20 per packet style is available here too? I'm not trying to steal the thread, just inquiring. Thanks.
Posted 6/30/2010 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
DS isn't available in Canada for some reason (nothing useful is, or at least very easily I've found) and so insurance won't cover it.
Posted 6/30/2010 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
If it is any consolation killcolitis, very very few health plans in the US cover VSL#3.

I bought one package of 30 and have been making yogurt out of it. It works with both soy and cows milk. The cow's milk version is actually the best yogurt I every made. If you use a fresh pack(I don't think you need to), it will last 30 weeks making yogurt once a week. I have definitely found that it works well with mutaflor and better than other yogurts I tried.

According to the SCD book, homemade 24 hour yogurt has a bacterial count in the trillions for 500 ml.
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