VSL#3 Magic?

arik

Regular Member

Joined : Oct 2006

Posts : 29

Posted 8/19/2007 9:16 AM (GMT -7)

^{2 months ago started flaring real bad with up to 15 BM a day and blood all over..}

^{the ASA5 meds both oral and rectal did nothing..}

^{4 weeks ago I stood on a cross-road and had to take a decision whether starting Prednison or continue with ASA5 and probiotics.}

^{Well.. with all the bad memories on Pred I decided to take the chance knowing that there will be no immediate improvement and went with the combination of ASA5 and VSL#3.}

^{3 weeks later went down the 3-4 BM and NO blood..}

^{Is this magic or not?}

UC from 09/04

Left side 15cm. to 30cm.

Age 40

Asacol 3 tabs 3 times daily

1 Raffasal (ASA5) Enema daily

Floradix (Iron) - Solgar B12 - Folic acid - VSL#3 3 times daily

@@ Sorry for my english - it is definitely not my native language @@

quincy

Elite Member

Joined : May 2003

Posts : 31400

Posted 8/19/2007 11:48 AM (GMT -7)

So, you're still on the 5ASA oral and rectal?

Are you using the enemas nightly or during the day?

You're saying that you had absolutely NO improvement using the oral and rectal 5ASA meds? or was it some?

I wouldn't use VSL#3...but for many, it's helped. It seems it's helping you as well as the meds.
Many of us use probiotics.

No magic.

It's great you're feeling better.

q

*Heather*Status:mini flare June 23* 6asacol daily+ Salofalk (tapered every 3rd night)

~diagnosed January 1989 UC (proctosigmoiditis)

~5ASA: Asacol + Salofalk enemas (increase for flares tapered to maintenance)

~Bentylol (dicyclomine) 20mg as needed

~vitamins/minerals

~Probiotic 2 (Natural Factors Protec) + 1 (Primadophilus Reuteri) at bedtime

~Natural Factors Multi Digestive Enzymes with supper

~Ranitidine,Pariet (reflux) Effexor XR 75mg; Pulmicort/Airomir (asthma)

~URSO for PSC (or PBC) 500mg X 2 daily (LFTs back to NORMAL!!)

My doc's logic.. "TREAT (FROM)BOTH ENDS" worth it !!!

AKB

Veteran Member

Joined : Mar 2006

Posts : 992

Posted 8/19/2007 12:43 PM (GMT -7)

unless it was a totally controlled experiment (no other variables, sleep, stress, food changes, supplements), I'm afraid no one will ever know. And thus (another) aspect of frustration with controlling UC. VSL3 has numerous clinical studies on it that promise some effectiveness-- check out their website, I think it's sigma-tau.com

Maybe if they ever reduced their preposterous price, I would give it a shot.

Dx:

Left-sided UC, Jun 2005. Flex-sig only... clear for first 20cms, then inflamed through next 30cms.

Therapies:

Pharmaceutical: Pentasa 3G/day, hydrocort 1x every 7 days
Probiotics: Acidophilus Pearls, Primadophilus Bifidus
Naturals: Caprylic Acid, Methylated B-12, Vit ACDE, Zinc (w/copper), Selenium, Turmeric, Bromelain, Luteolin
Killer Foods: Soda, Fried Food (especially french fries!), Beer, Red Wine, Pepperoncinis

KJ35

Regular Member

Joined : Jun 2007

Posts : 62

Posted 8/20/2007 9:33 AM (GMT -7)

Good luck with the VSL #3. I took it for two months with no noticeable difference. Didn't feel it was worth the high cost. Who knows? It may work for some people and not for others

Diagnosed UC 1999

~~Asacol (no effect)~~

~~Colazal (no effect)~~

~~VSL#3 (not enough difference to justify the cost)~~

OTC : Probiotics (Primadophillius Reuteri, 1 capsule per day), enteric coated Fish Oil (1.7g 3x per day), Metamucil (one serving 4x per day), Turmeric/Curcumin95% (1g 2x per day), Multivitamin, Caltrate 600D (2x per day), L-Glutamine (5g 2x per day, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and before bed)

approximate current BMs : two in the a.m. (generally between 8-10 a.m.), then one around 3pm, and one around 9pm

arik

Regular Member

Joined : Oct 2006

Posts : 29

Posted 8/20/2007 10:44 AM (GMT -7)

While flaring i took 9 Asacol and 2 Raffasal enemas (day and night) and it did nothing for a month until i started taking the VSL3

3 packets in the morning and 3 in the evening

Now I'm still on 9 Asacol and only 1 Raffasal enema nightly

UC from 09/04

Left side 15cm. to 30cm.

Age 40

Asacol 3 tabs 3 times daily

1 Raffasal (ASA5) Enema daily

Floradix (Iron) - Solgar B12 - Folic acid - VSL#3 3 times daily

@@ Sorry for my english - it is definitely not my native language @@

quincy

Elite Member

Joined : May 2003

Posts : 31400

Posted 8/20/2007 1:00 PM (GMT -7)

It seems it's all working well together Arik.

q

*Heather*Status:mini flare June 23* 6asacol daily+ Salofalk (tapered every 3rd night)

~diagnosed January 1989 UC (proctosigmoiditis)

~5ASA: Asacol + Salofalk enemas (increase for flares tapered to maintenance)

~Bentylol (dicyclomine) 20mg as needed

~vitamins/minerals

~Probiotic 2 (Natural Factors Protec) + 1 (Primadophilus Reuteri) at bedtime

~Natural Factors Multi Digestive Enzymes with supper

~Ranitidine,Pariet (reflux) Effexor XR 75mg; Pulmicort/Airomir (asthma)

~URSO for PSC (or PBC) 500mg X 2 daily (LFTs back to NORMAL!!)

My doc's logic.. "TREAT (FROM)BOTH ENDS" worth it !!!

rdm

Regular Member

Joined : Apr 2006

Posts : 229

Posted 8/20/2007 10:18 PM (GMT -7)

You are on a very high dose, 2.7 trillion bacteria a day, this may be what it takes to get results in a flare. The VSL clinical studies done thus far, pitifully few and small though they are, have all been with high dose therapy. I use 1.5 to 2 packets a day with a 5 ASA med to keep in remission seems to work but this of course is only anecdotal evidence. Attached link I have posted before gives a possible explanation as to why high dose therapy may work, note this is not the theory any of the probiotic manufacturers use to promote their products.

http://tinyurl.com/34m8qr

arik

Regular Member

Joined : Oct 2006

Posts : 29

Posted 8/20/2007 10:51 PM (GMT -7)

Yes, first week of VSL treatment i took only 2-3 packets and there was no change
only when I went up to 6 packet results appeared

UC from 09/04

Left side 15cm. to 30cm.

Age 40

Asacol 3 tabs 3 times daily

1 Raffasal (ASA5) Enema daily

Floradix (Iron) - Solgar B12 - Folic acid - VSL#3 3 times daily

@@ Sorry for my english - it is definitely not my native language @@

schrek-chewbacca hunk

Veteran Member

Joined : Jun 2005

Posts : 2666

Posted 8/21/2007 9:13 AM (GMT -7)

I swear by it with 4 sachets a day. I think it works very well.

bob

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