I am 20 years old and was diagnosed in March of 2005 with UC. I have been having a terrible ulcerative colitis flare up for the last year and a half with no relief. Some months have been better than others. I have been basically trying all sorts of diets and alternative methods of healing during this time and trying to find out what my body really needs. I do not work, go to school, or have anything I have to do so that I may get a lot of rest to recover. I had to do a short round of steroids (Prednisone) last year but until now I have been off all drugs since September of 2006.

Recently I was hospitalized for a month and gave in to start taking the drugs again because my body was not absorbing anything and i was severely malnourished and my albumin levels were undetectable (meaning i should have been dead or in a coma according the doctors). So now I am on high doses of Asacol and I am in the process of weaning off the steroids for the second time (down to 25 mgs and should be off by Independence Day). I am also following the diarrhea diet and supplementing with natural remedies that are really helping me to get off the steroids without starting to bleed again. I am having close to 10 bms a day though and still very watery.

Okay, now that you have the background.... I have a question about the L-Glutamine. I am currently taking 2 teaspoons of powder mixed with water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and do not eat for 20 minutes after. I also try to squeeze in 1 more teaspoon at night if I can find a period 2 hours after food to take it on an empty stomach. So, I am taking 2-3 teaspoons per day and still having watery stools. Jini says that she maxed out at 1 1/2 teaspoons I think and that she saw formed stools within a few days... What am I doing wrong? Do I need to just take higher doses or do I need to spread it out throughout the day? Any advice, help, or experiences? I would really like to get some formed stools so I can sleep at night and get some relief during the days...

Other question is about the VSL#3 probiotics, I am currently taking 2 packets of the VSL#3 DS (double strength prescription only) probiotics, twice daily. Has anyone had any experience with these? I read the studies that show a good success rate but I have never heard any direct feedback from someones personal experience. I am wondering if they are as good as the natren brand which I was taking prior to getting this prescription. Once again, anyone with any knowledge, advice, etc???

Thank you for the help, sorry for such a long posting.

-Addie

Hi, Addie.

Please don't ever feel you have to apologize for a long posting. The more details the better and our desire is to help and provide support for people seeking holistic healing.

So....

I'm actually going to refer you to an earlier discussion thread regarding probiotics (which included references to the VSL #3). I really like that thread because there was a real dialog going on there and there's quite a bit of info contained. Here it is:

http://www.jinipatelthompson.com/bb2/vi ... .php?t=421

As far as the diarrhea, I know this won't be what you want to hear (and believe me, I've been there, and I won't blame you), but this may be a slow process for you. For one thing, you're in a bit of a catch-22 with the Asacol and if only you could hear my voice and not just read my writing, you'd hear real sympathy in it. One of the common side effects of Asacol is diarrhea. So on the one hand, you're taking something that is likely exacerbating the diarrhea and on the other hand, you're taking something to try to stem it. In other words, when you are eventually able to wean off of the Asacol, that is when you will very likely see the best possible results from the L-glutamine as far as healing diarrhea. But only you can know when the right time is to begin that weaning process; that's certainly not something that anybody else can or should try to push you into....just as it should be entirely your decision to go on meds in the first place.

However, in the meantime, here are some tips to help you get the most out of the L-glutamine while you are still on the Asacol. Yes, your intuition is correct and several small doses spread throughout the day are better than just a couple of larger doses. And yes, you can also increase your dosage. If memory serves me correctly, Jini says that the maximum dosage a person should take is six teaspoons per day, but please double-check that in Chapter 2 of LTYG under the heading "Diarrhea".

I'm also going to refer you to one other discussion thread regarding severe diarrhea. These two people both had C. diff infections in addition to IBD, however, I think you'll still find a lot of useful information, including getting a good (or at the least, improved) night's sleep while dealing with diarrhea.

Here it is:

http://www.jinipatelthompson.com/bb2/vi ... .php?t=583

Lastly, take or leave this, but I strongly advise that you insist on your doctor having your liver function tested periodically while you are on the Asacol. Some people apparently experience no bad side effects while taking Asacol, but when they occur, they're no joke. One of the side effects is liver damage and if that's going on, it's something you'll want to catch early.

Don't hesitate to write back if any other questions arise.

Hang in there.

Nicole