I’m searching the forum for info. In the meantime, opinions? What does it really do ...or not do?
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It seems to help keep me off antibiotics, not being on it I get reoccurring pouchitis, not to say it has completely gone but I seem to be less prone getting it with probiotics.
I was taking vsl3 before the legal issue and trouble getting it, switched to Visbiome and it seems to work the same.
I’m very timid about trying it for some reason. At the moment I’m battling some strange flare up that had me on bentyl and rifaximin. I had to back off the rifaximin because several days of it just had me totally stopped moving anything, severe trapped gas, and on a liquid diet. My dr had suggested I try the probiotic. But it’s just a guess.
The only reason to be timid about Visbiome is the price. In adequate doses it’s quite expensive. It can be difficult to tell if it’s helping you, especially since it’s likely to work better at preventing problems than solving them. Side effects are uncommon and usually mild and transient.
It’s very similar to VSL #3 (and identical to the previous VSL #3 formulation). You’ll find more information in the archives about VSL, since it’s been around much longer.
MY DH loves it better than VSL.
I do very well while on it, less BM’s and less urgency. When I have run out I go much more, more liquidy, and feel rotten. I now have a subscription with Visbiome.
I had my jpouch out surgery in 1993 and have never felt better.
Visbiome and VSL#3 are so expensive! I have had good results on VSL#3, but I stopped using it because the cost would be about $300 USD/month. However, I did try the low FODMAP diet and now take PB8 (a probiotic) 1x/day and I started taking Dysbiocide and FC Cidal, herbal supplements which were shown in a recent trial to work as well as rifaximin on SIBO. These combined are cheaper than VSL#3 and Visbiome. The new regimen seems to be working well for me. I have been on it for several months now. Here is the link to the article about Dysibiocide and FC Cidal. I do not take 4 pills of each a day. I take 2 Dysbiocide and 1 FC Cidal in the morning and then repeat it at night. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4030608/
My doctors are little to no help. They just have e the attitude that I should respond f to their plans the same as others. When I don’t, give it time. It’s been 6 weeks.
Basicslly every antibiotic they give me just “slows” me down to the point of severe pain. Cipro, Flagyl, Rifaximin, Augmetin....I’ve had em all either this time or in previous years. I’ve tried weaker doses, cutting pills in half, stretching times between doses. Always the same. I mean....it’s nice not going 15 times a day. But the pain is horrible. Mostly trapped gas. (And dont day simethicone .....it’s a joke).
So I’m looking at probiotics. But at this point I’m nervous about everything I’m afraid. Just tired of being sick, hurting or both.
Zig, maybe you should try the combination of low FODMAP diet and Dsybiocide & FC Cidal, the herbs that are shown to level out the good/bad bacteria. The other tricks in my book are deep abdominal massage to get out gas and the use of a heating pad. I hope these may help you.
Where do you purchase the herbal supplements?
Zig, the antibiotics do tend to change the stool texture, but they don’t slow the gut. Some basic things that might enable you to tolerate them better are 1) trying a lower dose, 2) drinking *plenty* of water while on them, 3) stopping any bowel slowers, like Lomotil or Imodium, 4) carefully trying psyllium while on them.