VSL #3 and constipation

i'm sorry to post about VSL#3 again, this is the last one, i promise. i think i am finally noticing some VSL #3 effects and i think it might be making me constipated. i know i need it for the bacterial problems in my colon and small intestine, but i am wondering if it has made anyone else constipated. or, conversly, given them D? just curious...any probiotics that work simply at adding good bacteria and don't mess with BMs?

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katie
22
diagnosed with cecal volvulus, 2006; two colon resections in the same year
diagnosed with colitis 2007
malrotated colon
no cecal valve, removed during surgery

VSL #3
Amitriptyline to slow gastric emptying
Forvia

Katie -

Constipated what's that ? Though I have heard rumors that some people with UC "suffer" from constipation I always figured that was just urban legend. But seriously, you will note that VSL dosage is loosely ( no pun intended) based on the number of BM's a day. If you are firming up that is an indication the product is working. I, as you might have gathered, have no experience with becoming constipated from VSL though it does firm things up for me.

haha, i go through cycles. i have one day of constipation and then a week or so of D. it is very strange but my GI doc says it is just my body's reaction to always having D. who knows? anyway i was just wondering if VSL #3 impacted that at all...

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katie
22
diagnosed with cecal volvulus, 2006; two colon resections in the same year
diagnosed with colitis 2007
malrotated colon
no cecal valve, removed during surgery

VSL #3
Amitriptyline to slow gastric emptying
Forvia

I never took VSL #3 but when I took Natren regime in the three separate bottles I got SEVERELY constipated.  I'm always prone to that anyway, (I know, I'm one of those unusual individuals--it's no urban legend) but that instance was really, really bad.  I eventually had to stop taking probiotics all together--even the lower dosage ones, because they tend to make this ongoing, although not every day, problem worse for me.  I hear it's a matter of getting used to them, so you might want to start out with a lower dosage at first and work your way up.

I don't recall ever really being constipated in life.  However, just a couple weeks ago, I think I was and occationally thereafter, even though I still had D.  May have been the probiotics, I don't know.  I was consistently having frequent BMs, but not of much substance, if you know what I mean.  I had a hard time eating because I felt full: a very wierd experience for me.  I was off and on with my wheatgrass shots, which seemed to really help in the past, so I started that again and I also had some blended/juiced veggies, which seemed to do the trick.  Seemed to work better than calling roto-rooter.