May I suggest the book "Great Taste, No Pain" as it works wonders. Follow what the book tells you and it really does work. Just go on search and type in Great Taste. She tells you what to eat and why and it is so helpful which also gives you relief from the pain.
If you can find the drug called Align which is over the counter please try it as it makes a great difference! Follow directions on the box. Also please go online and type in where do I find the book Great Taste, No Pain and I think you will see a difference. She herself has IBS and is a nurse and has seen people with Crohn's helped from it or even cured. I think it is about $55.00 for both books.
VSL3 can be bought online and some doctors will prescribe the extra strength. If you go with the extra strength you have to start out very slow as its' really powerful and causes constipation. VSL3 is a probiotic with specific strains in very high amounts for people with Chrons and IBS. If you do an internet search you will see that quite a bit of research has been done on it. Align has one strain of probiotis - Infantis (not sure of the spelling).
A note to all re: constipation. WHITE BREAD, rolls etc that isn't WHOLE WHITE is a HUGE culprit in constipation. I had no idea why I was having so much trouble until a Doctor told me that it's incredibly binding. As soon as I switched to a whole grain white my constipation was relieved dramatically.
When you take VSL3 how many do you take in one day? Or do you just take it when things get bad? I'm on Align and think I'm going off from it and back on my Bentyl.
Its best if you have a chronic problem to take this every day. Some people only take it when they have a flare up. Best thing to do is to experiment with it and see how it works the best for you.
Are you able to eat just about anything? I have the book "Great Taste, No Pain" and it works wonders. I have to be very careful what I eat or I pay dearly with terrible stomach aches and then I need pain pills.
Can somebody tell me anything about VSL3 and is it a capsule you take and how many a day? I did read it needs to be refrigerated. I can suggest buying the book called "Great Taste, No Pain" is well worth the money. Just do a search on the book on the internet and you will find it. It's an amazing book to own and have!
Cathy 1: Hi! I am new to this board-- your post is what caught my attention. I had started taking VSL#3 about 2 months ago for IBS symptoms. Long story short, my IBS developed after a parasite infection. The VSL has made a HUGE difference in the way I feel. 90% IMPROVEMENT! My question to you is: at some point, don't you have to taper off the probiotic? I find that if I take too much of it, I get "gurgly symptoms". My gastroentorologist agreed that I should be on the VSL with this much improvement, but how long before you should decrease the intake of VSL? At some point there is colonization in the gut area, but when do you shift? A month or two? Did you taper off at all? I read that some people bring it down to 3 times a week as opposed to daily. Can you offer any advice for a newbie? By the way, if it weren't for your post which I found just by chance, I would still be as miserable as I was for over 3 years!!
Its great to hear someone has had such great luck with VSL3 just like I have.
I honestly don't know when to stop VSL3 as I have continued to take it. I'm not sure if something like you have, once under control means you can stop. I know that if someone has a chronic problem it may take forever too keep the problem under control.
The only thing you could try is cutting down on the VSL3 and see how you fare.
Best of luck and great news after 3 years of suffering!
I had been dealing with UC somewhat okay. Life changed, some big stresses, stopped taking the VSL and kicked up soda intake. And crashed.
Couldn't eat or drink. Just ran to the bathroom up to 60-80 times a day.
Sick in bed for weeks, Urgent care and big $ with a diagnosis of UC.
And sent me home. I asked about some type of meds to help and finally was given some Rx's. Rx's made me worse.
One week later, my doctor had me admitted to hospital. And a colonoscopy.
A 2nd opinion of UC. Sent home with2 antibiotics Rx's and Asacol.
Rx's made me so sick. Asacol even worse. All the bad side affects that can happen with Asacol happened to me. I stopped the Asacol and the 2 antibiotics that I'd been given.
Mind fog cleared enough to get back on VSL#3DS. I'm taking 2 packets a day now. My husband is retired military and their pharmacy has no problem filling my script.
In one weeks time I've gone from almost dying to actually be able to eat and drink and walk a little ways outdoors. Without the VSL#3DS, I believe I would be dead. Weight loss was extreme. So, too, the dehydration.
I'm eating a lot of watermelon, too, as it is easy to digest and helps keep me hydrated. Am finally able to tolerate drinking water. Before, drinking water would make me feel like throwing up.
Also using a sound machine at night. Listening to waves has helped keep my body relaxed. Relaxation and even meditation appear to be important in getting better. I never would have known about VSL without doing research online. Thanks for having this discussion board.
Last edited by Administrator; 04-27-2009 at 12:20 AM.
Reason: deleted commercial info
You sure have had your share of problems. What does UC mean? I have enjoyed this board so much as I was on Align and had to stop taking it because it made me constipated so I'm back on Bentyl and doing fine.
I've done a lot of research on Irritable Bowel Diseases (IBD).
One item of interest that I mentioned to my dr. was that many with UC are low in vitamin D.
I was tested and am low on D.
Starting high doses of D3 immediately.
D3 is what's needed by people.
Liquid is the way to take D3, not solid pill form.
Still need to calm the large bowel and eliminate the diarrhea.
More women than men contract UC.
Usually to smokers or past smokers.
Weird, but some research showed that tobacco can help.
As I became a non-smoker over 18 years ago, I'll skip the tobacco route.
Also, it normally hits younger people. I'm 59 next month.
Have been dancing with Irritable bowel for several years, but didn't know what was going on.
Symtoms kept increasing, but slow enough that I just let the condition slide.
Artificial sweeteners, especially HFCS and Crystilline corn syrup can wreak havoc on the gut. Also on the liver and raise the triglyceride count.
I am optimistic about regaining my health. I am unsure, but it seems as taking VSL may become a permanent addition to my diet.
What about Carrageenan ? They can induce UC into any animal with enough Carrageenan.
I found it was in my toothpaste, its in ice cream, its in a lot of things. Whole foods seem to work for me. Lots of processed foods and sweets dont. Some junk does not bother me, working late I had 2 big bags of famous amos choco chip cookies with coffee yesterday. No problem.
At qdoba I have the naked burrito with chicken rice veggies ( no beans ) and my body loves it. If I have the burrito - not so good. Some flour tortillas use carrageenan as a thickener, qdboa is not answering my inquiries.
Regardless if I feel things slipping and I was hospitalized 1 year ago and lost 135 lbs on a 175 lb no fat frame - I simply eat salmon in butter ( butyrate ) or salmon with canola especially from whole-paycheck ( whole foods ) plain yogurt and vsl3. Bang zoom I am better in 24-48 hours.
Physllium husk is wonder but dont go hog wild, work your way up gently.
I still take some asacol but I dont think it does anything for me.
Cereal is gone from my diet, oh and triscuts or whole mini wheats with candy on them that my daughter likes wreck havoc with me so I avoid that stuff as well as chocolate which usually has Carrageenan in it too.
I have become more sensitive than the average person to the 1st worlds food additives. I am actively trying to recognize others but its always safe to eat food you could only get 500 years ago.
Summer is coming, remaining hydrated is also important in the heat. The gut uses water to digest food.
- Bacterial defense => VSL#3
- Chemical defense => avoid food additives and highly processed foods
- Dont stop eating if things turn worse, instead keep eating core trusted foods drink lots of water and eat vitamins and avacados, eggs etc.
Moboomer, there is a book called "Great Taste, No Pain" and it is a wonderful book along with recipes which has helped me tremendously! Sherry Brescia is the one that wrote the book as she had IBS and is a registered nurse. I can't tell you how much this book has helped me!! I know you won't regret buying the book.
It's good for IBS, Crohn's, Diverticulitis and much more. I was in so much pain before I bought this book and now I don't have any pain when I follow the book. My husband has pancreatitis and it has helped him also.
Last edited by Administrator; 04-27-2009 at 12:21 AM.
Reason: read and follow the rules.
Re: 95% Improvement with VSL3 
