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VSL #3 DS Suggestion or alternatives?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/1/2013 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone, i'm new here and I'm wondering if someone can give me their opinions or recomendations about VSL.
I've tried VSL #3 before, the regular one and it did very little to help at the time.
I asked my doctor for a prescription for it for the DS packets, but my insurance will not cover it and will cost $300.
Does anyone know maybe any alternatives?
Thanks wink
Posted 3/1/2013 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
I take VSL#3 DS and I really like it. I do notice a change for the better.
Posted 3/1/2013 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
i had been taking the capsules and finally picked up my DS today, gonna give it a go and hope for the best. with that being said, I do recall some regulars around the forums talking about cheaper alternative, i'll do my best to poke around and find the old thread for you
Posted 3/1/2013 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
i'm the same. never really noticed an improvement with the regular or DS versions. i just started a new probiotic called Prescript Assist. i found it on the GAPS diet website. i also take culturelle, sacro b., and acidophilus.
Posted 3/1/2013 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
I remember a long time ago, I used to use the CVS brand acidophilus, the little pearls. They worked great.
Posted 3/1/2013 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum.

At the very least, do get s. boulaardi - you can get it at amazon's.

And I would also highly recommend slippery elm powder too.

If you are interested in other ideas, there are things IMO that you can control, which will have a direct impact on your disease, the symptoms you experience and their severity.

I was able to control my UC into remission through various supplements, probiotics, diet modification, and LDN , low dose naltrexone.

For more info on the protocol which has put me into remission, please go to this link: https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1666318 , and look at the 11th post.

I hope you feel better and let us know how we can help you.

Posted 3/1/2013 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
You could try to incorporate your own fermented foods in your diet. Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, pickles etc. My understanding is any stuff you make at home has a lot more bacteria than anything you can buy commercially. It's a lot cheaper for sure. Of course there is an investment with time but once you get the hang of fermenting stuff it gets easier. I do yogurt a lot and I'm just getting into doing fermented veggies like carrot, onion, daikon root. You just eat a few with every meal.
Posted 3/2/2013 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Is that 300 for one month? I use the VSL 3DS and it really helps me but my understanding is the only difference is that the DS has more bacteria. So if you could get more of the regular VSL and take extra packets a day before you spend the 300 you could get an idea if it would help you. Also did you make sure the VSL is being refrigerated because if not the bacteria are dying and you are not getting what your paying for. Many places that you buy it do not realize it is supposed to be refrigerated. I know there is a cheaper brand that has a high count like VSL but I do not know the name. Sorry
Posted 3/2/2013 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Cost wise, if you compare how many billion CFU's, VSL is actually probably the cheapest probiotic. I guess that's not much consulation when you are forking over the money. You can get cheaper probiotics but they will have a whole lot less CFU's than VSL. Since you say that VSL didn't do much for you then I would worry that getting even less CFU's would do even less.
Posted 3/2/2013 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
Tried VSL#3 and did not see a great improvement but did have increased gas.

Started using Benebiotics and have experienced no issues.

It contains 18 strains including S. Boulardii, is enteric coated to get past the stomach acid and has a guarantee if you purchase it from the Benebiotics website.
Take a look. Shipping cost is the same whether you buy 1 or 6 at a time (like I do).
Check it out:
www.benebiotics.com
Posted 3/2/2013 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
bananagirl thank you for the suggestion i might look into it, but is it really worth it they cost about the same as the regular VSL #3 probiotics
Michelejc- You have the DS VSL? LUCKY!! What insurance do you have? Just out of curiousness my insurance doesnt cover it :/ & also i actually have those same cvs probiotics at home, how many did you take during the day?
ItsAlwaysSomething- Thank you for the website, I'll look into it and have a word with my parents if they would buy it for me.

also my doctor gave me two samples of VSL #3 (12 tablets total)
but they werent in the fridge when he gave them to me but now they are are they still good to use?
Posted 3/2/2013 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
it depends on how long it has been out of the fridge. For most effectiveness it should not be out at room temp or higher for a period of one week. The longer it has been the less viable the probiotics are. You were probably never know how long it was out.
Posted 3/2/2013 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
I just looked and noticed it said "USED best by july 2012" what a waste
Posted 3/2/2013 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
colitis91895: I get 3 months of VSL#3 DS for $30. My insurance is Oxford.

When I took the CVS probiotics, I took one a day, in the mornings.
Posted 3/2/2013 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Michelejc thanks for the info.
I'd rather pay $30 for 3 months than
$300 for for 20 days packs.
Thanks for all the replies everyone :)
Posted 3/2/2013 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
colitis91895: keep us updated!!
Posted 3/4/2013 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
The acidophilus probiotic seems to be helping very little... Do you guys think i should try to get the VSL DS again from my doctor? Even though the first time it failed.
Posted 3/4/2013 5:22 AM (GMT 0)
I've been using prescription Vsl DS for about three months now and it seems like its helping. I started at 1/2 pack a day and now do 1/2 pack twice a day. At first it gave me a lot of gas but that has calmed down the longer I'm on it. Luckily when I filled it last year I had met my insurance deductible so it was free for a 90 day supply. I'm down to my last box now and not looking forward to paying for it now that my deductible is reset for the year. But I'll meet the deductible with all my meds and colonoscopy this year anyway so might as well just meet it sooner than later. I'm also trying to get off prednisone so don't want to change anything else right now.

If you can afford it I'd say try it for one month. I think you do need to be on it for at least a month to see if it helps though.
Posted 3/4/2013 5:27 AM (GMT 0)
Tell me about the first time you took it. Do you know that it stayed refrigerated? How many days did you take it? Maybe you could get the regular VSL and take enough to equal the DS before spending the 300. Other people can correct if I am wrong but I think the only difference between the DS and the regular is the number of bacteria. If you can make sure that you get the regularly VSL and that it has been refrigerated I think you can see approx the effects it has on you.

Also something you may want to consider is that maybe if you could get from your mail order pharmacy the three month supply you could get it cheaper. For me my insurance at a local pharmacy is 50.00 for one month but only 100. For three months.
Posted 3/4/2013 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you both for the replies. I took the regular VSL for about 2 months (since i bought two regular bottles)
Maybe somehow i'll pull it off for my insurance company to help me out :)
thanks for the replies guys
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