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Anyone else show no help or got worse with VSL#3?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/18/2011 10:45 AM (GMT 0)
I was looking at some old posts I made on a google groups colitis forum I made about my Dads colitis in 2006. I wrote that my Dad had tried VSL#3 at 4 packs a day and it didn't do a thing for him. He has been taking VSL#3 DS (one or 2 packs a day) since his flare in May and I can't say weather it helps. Anyone else show no improvement on VSL#3 or having an adverse reaction to it?

My Dad has tried ever probiotic recommended for colitis. He has tried VSL#3, Culturelle, Florastor, Mega Flora, Flora Q, Inulin, FOS, Bimuno, Mutaflor, Renew Life, Lifeway Kefir, and so many others I can't recall. None of them seemed to help my Dad and a few made him worse like Mutaflor and the prebiotic Bimuno and possibly VSL#3.

The 4 things that helped my Dad and put him in remission are; the 1.) Atkins protocol of Pantetine, Pantethenetic acid, glutamine, fish oil. 2.) Seacure. 3.) Levequin. 4.) Homemade Kefir made with Kefir grains.
Posted 1/18/2011 12:39 PM (GMT 0)
I seemed to get a little worse when I tried VSL so I began my hunt for the right probiotic. I found ProBio and it seemed to work fairly good. I am having money issues at the moment so I had to halt my probiotic use but when I get some extra money, I plan on ordering this again. You can check it out at: www.enzymedica.com
Posted 1/18/2011 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
I can't tell. I've just started, but when I bumped up from 2 to 3 I noticed some worsening of symptoms. But that could have been a million other things. So for now I'm at the minimum dosage. I'm going to get through my month's supply and see how things are.
Posted 1/18/2011 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
The VSL helps me a lot.... at first I wasn't sure, because my symptoms improved so gradually, but when I stopped the VSL, they cam back! lol. So I figured it out - it helps me.
But we are all so different, and what helps one of us doesn't necessarily help the other. You might try stopping it, as I did, and see what happens....?
Posted 1/18/2011 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on VSL #3 for about 2 weeks now. I am still having very loose stool and sporadic urgency (similar to how I was before). I notice my abdomen doesn't feel as tender or sensitive anymore but that could be due to so many other things. I am on 1 sachet per day.
Posted 1/18/2011 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
It didn't do anything for me and it's expensive. I wish it were more reasonable, I would love to give it another try.
Posted 1/18/2011 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
It makes me worse. I am not sure if its the "other" ingredients in it or if it because of my current inflammation.
Posted 1/18/2011 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
I've never tried VSL-3. It's too expensive. I did try a probiotic that contained many strains of bacteria though. It made my symptoms worse. So I experimented with different strains until I found the strains that work for me. In particular, Lactobacillus acidophilus works better for me than Bifidobacterium bifidus. It [lactobacillus acidophilus] is for lactose intolerance. I drink milk and eat cheese every day now.

It could be that a particular strain is making your symptoms worse. You could try ones that just contain one strain to see which strains work for you and which ones don't.

Here is a list of probiotic strains and what they are used for:
http://probiotic.org/probiotic-strains.htm

Post Edited (subdued) : 1/18/2011 11:15:27 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/18/2011 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
It seemed to put me a little further into remission. I really think the value of probiotics is keeping you in remission and that trying to figure out if they are working is really impossible.

I make yogurt out of it. It is too expensive for me and not covered by insurance. Mutaflor seemed to work also especially at first but I don't use it because of cost.

I think it is possible that probiotics work as a distraction to malfunctioning immune system. That might not go on forever.
Posted 1/20/2011 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I'm not sure how long your dad tried the VSL#3, but should be noted that you should really give it at least a month before concluding that anything does not work or is making your symptoms worse. I'm only taking VSL 7-8 caps every night before going to bed. It is very costly. We spend about $100 a month, but I was so sick before I started on it. It's worth it to me and my husband to make sacrifices in other areas to afford it. I eat pretty much what I want to, and I don't have to remember to take pills through the day like I was.

I think probiotics are very helpful to those with ulcerative colitis I think because if we don't put the good bacteria in our bodies then the bad bacteria attacks areas that it shouldn't. Good bacteria fights the bad bacteria and keeps them at war which helps to guard the colon from further destruction. Good luck.

Posted 1/20/2011 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
One more thing...your dad may need more than just 1-2 packets. He should be taking the maximum everyday until his symptoms are under control and then maybe he can back down a bit. If he is taking too little then you will see little or no effect.
Posted 1/20/2011 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking VSL #3 for about 2 weeks now (0.5 sachet per day for the 1st week and 1 sachet per day for the 2nd week). I haven't noticed much (if any) difference in my symptoms. I have recently started a course of Flagyl though and my GI has advised me to up the VSL #3 to 2 sachets per day. I just started today and so far have not noticed any out of the ordinary symptoms. Will post if this changes.
Posted 1/20/2011 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
Also, does anyone know if the capsule form of VSL #3 is more effective than the powdered form? I was told that the capsule form is more effective because the bacteria is protected against stomach acid until it reaches the small/large intestines.
Posted 2/2/2012 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone tried inserting VSL #3 capsules rectally? I've been reading the info about fecal transplants (another thread), and suddenly wonder if inserting the probiotics from the other end might be helpful in combating UC.
Posted 2/2/2012 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
yes, it's been done with mixed results. Search "vsl enema". Jini patel also does a natren probiotic enema. didn't work for my daughter, possibly made her worse, though might have been a coincidence.
Posted 4/7/2016 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
I realize this is an old thread. UC became active Feb 03 after 12 trouble free years. First Diag in 1985. Doc wanted me to get on VSL3, I had somewhat stabilized at this point, ~ watery stools / day. After Picked up VSL#3 and shocked at price. Took 1 packet. Next day more intense cramping pain, bloody stools. Stopped VSL#3. Week later I was back to my previous state so I thought I would try again, same result. Waited a few more weeks, now slightly better and on budesonide (Along with Lialda). Thought maybe now it would help, tried again, bloody stools the next day. Waste of $$$ and intensified colitis has been my experience with VSL#3
Posted 4/7/2016 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
I seem to have missed this thread back in the day.
VSL#3 makes me worse.
Fresh lacto fermented pickles are a disaster.
The only probiotic I can take is DDS-1 in limited amounts, and I have tried many
different strains of probiotics, never tried Nissle 1917 so don't know.

But I do suspect lots of translocation or possibly just increasing bacteria load is my problem,
or even possibly an over aggressive immune response to lacto bacteria.
At any rate, none for me anymore.
Probiotics are not very antigentic, yet my response to them is over the top.
Does this tell anyone anything about the nature of UC.
Old Mike
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