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bobh wrote:...Also, for how long did you try the VLS#3?
Well, like I mentioned yesterday, I never tried that specific one. But I have taken a lot of the Jarrow products, and dozens of brands since I got a "Chronic Fatigue" label in 1986. The severe colitis started shortly after that.
Tying in to your theory above, I did have a bad viral infection in 1986 (Epstein Barr). It was the classic "drop dead flu" where someone never fully recovers. And I had a severe Herpes type 2 in 1979 (and ever since).
As far as tests for good & bad flora - I have done about 6 of them over the years and don't have that info close to hand. I just recall that the tests (mainly from Great Smokies Lab) didn't seem to find the "huge amount of Candida" that my symptoms manifested, or the "way too low" amount of good flora. My numbers were just sort of low on the good, a "few" found of the bad - didn't seem to answer any questions.
But the point I was trying to make, is that doing diets that starve the bad flora and taking probiotics to supplement the good flora never did anything for me, but I keep doing it anyway just in case. You want to keep the good army in as good a shape as you can.
mle_ii wrote: I really wish I'd been keeping a blog or some sort of writings where I kept track of everything I've found. I think we are very close to figuring out what's going on if only folks would look a bit more here and in the other areas I mentioned.
Mike, I'd say you have a pretty good blog/record going here with all the threads you have started, articles you have posted and the conversations they have inspired. You probably know that you can easily look up all your posts on this board or anyone elses.
I sure hope you have at least bookmarked articles! Shame on you if you haven't but if you have, they are all there on your computer and someday, when you extra time on your hands can just start at the top and weed out the keepers from the trash. That's been my plan for awhile since I must have over 75 MC related articles bookmarked in between other stuff.
Regarding probiotics, I tried them about a year into my recovery and didn't notice much of a difference. Only took them about a month though. VSL #3 lookings promising. This is an older article I found about it if anyone is interested.
About VSL#3
The patented probiotic therapy VSL#3 has been evaluated in more clinical trials of serious gastrointestinal disorders than any probiotic on the market. VSL#3 is different from other probiotic therapies in that it contains numerous strains of bacteria at high concentrations (450 billion).
bobh wrote:...Also, for how long did you try the VLS#3?
Well, like I mentioned yesterday, I never tried that specific one. But I have taken a lot of the Jarrow products, and dozens of brands since I got a "Chronic Fatigue" label in 1986. The severe colitis started shortly after that.
Oops, sorry I misread your post. Sorry for the confusion.
Tying in to your theory above, I did have a bad viral infection in 1986 (Epstein Barr). It was the classic "drop dead flu" where someone never fully recovers. And I had a severe Herpes type 2 in 1979 (and ever since).
As far as tests for good & bad flora - I have done about 6 of them over the years and don't have that info close to hand. I just recall that the tests (mainly from Great Smokies Lab) didn't seem to find the "huge amount of Candida" that my symptoms manifested, or the "way too low" amount of good flora. My numbers were just sort of low on the good, a "few" found of the bad - didn't seem to answer any questions.
But the point I was trying to make, is that doing diets that starve the bad flora and taking probiotics to supplement the good flora never did anything for me, but I keep doing it anyway just in case. You want to keep the good army in as good a shape as you can.
No worries, I got your point. I'm mainly interested in the lab results and what they found. If you could dig them up some time I'd really appreciate hearing the specific findings.
I was feeling awful at the time and the reaction I had was extreme nausea and my D was significantly worse for days with much cramping. It was bad enough that I won't try it again. I did however try a different one a few months later and didn't have a violent reaction. Who knows why I reacted...maybe too weak at that point to handle anything. Now whenever I try anything new I start with an eighth of the normal dose so if it's bad I won't be totally sick with it. Even if my body will tolerate something it likes to get used to it slowly. Good luck Mike. I totally agree with your theory. If my biopsies are correct and I don't have MC ( I am not 100% sure) then we all share an incredible number of similar symptoms. I am wondering if most of our shared symptoms come from us all starting out with a leaky gut and that is what causes most of the nasty side effects. From there it can manifest itself in many different diseases. Keep us posted on how it goes.
I was feeling awful at the time and the reaction I had was extreme nausea and my D was significantly worse for days with much cramping. It was bad enough that I won't try it again. I did however try a different one a few months later and didn't have a violent reaction. Who knows why I reacted...maybe too weak at that point to handle anything. Now whenever I try anything new I start with an eighth of the normal dose so if it's bad I won't be totally sick with it. Even if my body will tolerate something it likes to get used to it slowly. Good luck Mike. I totally agree with your theory. If my biopsies are correct and I don't have MC ( I am not 100% sure) then we all share an incredible number of similar symptoms. I am wondering if most of our shared symptoms come from us all starting out with a leaky gut and that is what causes most of the nasty side effects. From there it can manifest itself in many different diseases. Keep us posted on how it goes.
What's so dang funny is it seems like I'm reading reports on all the stuff that I've been trying to say or have read about or is rolling around in my head trying to figure out a way to come out.
Ok, I don't know why I didn't look at this before (other than he lives many states away on the other side of the Rockies) but the FoodDoc Dr Lewey is covered on my insurance plan. Hmmm...
I got the VLS#3 from my gastroenterologist....so I can't help you with a source. I have been reading about some of the new probiotics and some are including beneficial yeast. If that's the case with the VLS#3 then that would explain my reaction as I have a yeast intolerance.
I got the VLS#3 from my gastroenterologist....so I can't help you with a source. I have been reading about some of the new probiotics and some are including beneficial yeast. If that's the case with the VLS#3 then that would explain my reaction as I have a yeast intolerance.
Love,
Cristi
From what I've read VSL#3 does not contain yeast. The one I was taking (Garden of Life - Primal Defense Ultra) does contain a yeast.
Still doing well. In fact had a pretty normal BM this morning. I know that's a bit too fast as most studies show that it takes around 20 days or so for the gut flora to be changed by VSL.
Could be just coincidence. But another day brings me another normal BM. Plus I'm gaining weight again which is good since I was down to 140 lbs, insanely low for me. I also think that I feel less pain in the GI, normally at least once a day I'd feel pain just below my belly button. I felt something there this morning, but not what I would call pain like I've had before. Oh and only a little bit more gassy, though gassy without pain.
Since we both know that this is the type we're missing then it makes the most sense to supplement that one. One other interesting thing that I've noticed in my research is that the bifidus type bacteria seems to be more key to GI health than the lactobacilus. The lacto are helpful, but more studies show the bifdo helping whereas some of the lacto studies show no help in cases. Perhaps the bifdo are more suseptable to being killed/eliminated than the lacto and thus more folks with disease have less. Not sure, but studies have show that the bifido is the one that decreases with old age.
