Thought I'd add my 2 cents in here...my daughter suffered from UC, but one vicious flare later, she's got a jpouch now and her surgeon prescribes VSL #3 DS. The DS formula is double strength formula and is often paid for by insurance companies with a doctor's prescript
ion. I wish we'd have known about
it before she had her colectomy. We tried probiotics and asked for her GI's help and he was entrenched in the idea that it was "alternative medicine" and he was a "science man" so we were on our own. I was nervous about
giving her probiotics because I didn't know how much to give her etc etc...but there are clinical studies now of VSL #3 and it's been shown to put UC into remission. If you are able to get it, I'd build up slowly though because it did take her a while to work up to a full packet. It caused some abdominal discomfort, but once the war was won by the good bacteria, she has a happy gut :)
She's doing great now with her JPouch, and we attribute that to the probiotics maintaining a healthy flora balance.
Best of health to you!
20 yo daughter w/ Pancolitis
diagnosed 8/30/06
Step 1 colectomy/jpouch creation 11/27/06
Step 2 takedown 2/9/07
****************
VSL #3 DS
21 yo Daughter diagnosed with right shoulder,
bilateral elbow, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle AVN