The link below is a case study of a 56 year old male with severe, recurrent pouchitis refractory to antibiotics who consumed the VSL#3 medical food. I thought this would be of interest to the J-Pouch Group.

http://www.vhjoe.com/Volume6Issue1/6-1-2.htm

thank you for posting this! I found it very informative.

I had tried the VSL#3 but it seemed to make me gassy and I didn't see any benefits while taking it so i stopped.

Perhaps I will try again while on a low dose of cipro and see what happens.

MTSTP

Thanks so much for posting this! I am locked in a battle with my insurance company because they refuse to pay for VSL #3 and am determined to get my appeal approved. I would like to get the code changed that will allow the insurance complanies to recognize VSL #3 for more than just a "nutritional supplement." I believe it should be recognized as preventive therapy. It has to be more cost affective than waiting for a person to develop pouchitis/cuffitis and the medical tests/treatments/hospitalizations and surgeries that go along with it, not to mention the improved quality of life for the person who prevents pouchitis and/or cuffitis.

My daughter takes it faithfully and so far, is doing great! I read an interesting article the other day about bacteria in the gut and the possible purpose of the appendix (which is removed right along with the colon) Could this be why jpouchers suffer with pouchitis and cuffitis? Here is the link to that story:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/05/health/main3338152.shtml

Thought I'd pass that along..interesting reading.

Elise, have you gotten your doc involved with the insurance battle? When I spoke with them I got nowhere but One letter from my IBD specialist and they approved it. He is University Hospital so of course could recite all the studies ,etc. (University docs love studies)
LoriP

Hi Lori,
Yup..even with the letter from the surgeon (it sited the studies too) they denied it, but I think it's because they were just looking at the HCPC code for the VSL which they said was too generic. My rep said they will deny initially, but to put together a packet and they will assemble a board of docs to read our file..then most likely get approved. Sheesh ... squeeky wheel gets the grease I guess. I think they just count on people giving up early in the process so they don't have to pay.
MTSTP-sorry, didn't mean to hijack your post.

I have been trying alternatives for years!
1 /2 packets of vsl 3 never worked for me! I am going to try the 4 packs a day! The costs is the only downfall, but I'd rather be healthy and broke! ha ha ha.

I have been told by my gastroenterologist that the general goal is to put the pouchitis into remission through antibiotics and then once in remission, to stay in remission by using VSL. The study that has been posted here seems to challenge this thinking by suggesting that one should attempt VSL as an alternative to antibiotics when the antibiotics are not working. Nobody in this thread seems to have addressed this very fundamental question as to what the basic treatment strategy should be. Which also leads me to believe that perhaps the case study represents an aberration.

Rsgirl,
I think it's a great idea to try again, but do it cautiously, maybe increasing a little at a time as it can increase gas, abdominal cramping etc. In my EHO, I think this is why people give up on it so quickly, because once they experience the adverse symptoms, they think it won't work for them. It took my daughter several weeks to adjust to vsl in her diet.

DJBHusky,
I am placing a link to the VSL Product Monograph for your review. Most of the literature from VSL all endorses the use of their product after a course of antibiotics to maintain remission.

http://www.vsl3.com/VSL3/pdf/VSL3ProductMonograph.pdf

That said, I think the study mentioned is one step toward thinking outside of the box and more studies like this need to be conducted. I don't think patients and caregivers are in any position to recommend basic treatment strategies, but maybe your gastroenterologist would be willing to monitor you with a course of VSL 3 if the antibiotics are not working.

My surgeon and his team have been conducting tests with VSL#3 against active inflammation and he has reported good results. Apparently they have posted an article in British Medical Journal (although I haven't read it myself). So I'm not sure you can just dismiss this as an aberration.