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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/15/2008 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hello!
I was diagnosed with UC about 2 years ago. I'm 28. I quickly went into remission just as I went travelling (although at the time I thought it had gone away permanently!) so I don't know too much about my problem. I was given some steroids at the time which did the trick but the side-effects were not pleasant.

I'm now living in Germany and recently, I think due to stress (there is usually a correlation for me), I've had another flare-up.
The doctors are helping here but not very good at answering my questions (not their fault - I need to learn better German), and I'm feeling a bit frustrated and alone with my problem.
I'm happy I've found this forum and that there are other people out there I can relate to finally!

I've always been fairly skinny, and now I'm finding it really hard to put weight on despite going to the gym and weight training regularly.
Does anyone else here find that their stomach seems to bloat periodically while the rest of the body loses/fails to gain weight??
Please someone say yes!
What food/situation makes that happen?!?!?!?

And is UC stress-related?

I always try to make the best of any situation and don't want to have a 'disease' on my shoulder like a chip, and will not feel sorry for myself either - I'm adament I can lead a normal life but am I jumping the gun??
Any tips on how to help with the mind-over-matter aspect would be great!!

And for any knowledgeable body-builders out there - is drinking protein drinks, weight-gainers, taking creatine and carnitine good or bad for you?
I've been trying them recently but I can't tell if they are having an effect due to my recent flare-up, which may be related directly to them or to my stressful situation (moving city and job, leaving girlfriend).

So confused!

Thanks for reading...

Post Edited (lardossen) : 6/15/2008 7:37:07 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/15/2008 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HealingWell, lardossen. It must be really difficult dealing with a chronic disease when you have trouble communicating with your doctors!

I don't experience stomach bloating, but I have seen others here complaining of that, so it isn't that unusual. Weight gain is a frequent pattern for many people with UC, but not all. Be sure you're eating a balanced diet and enough protein. Sometimes that takes extra attention if you're limiting your diet because of the disease. Also, your body is using a tremendous amount of calories just trying to heal itself, so your calorie needs increase. Try eating five or six smaller meals during the day to see if that helps. Finally, if you're having serious diarrhea, it's hard for your body to absorb the nutrients and this can cause weight loss.

UC is not caused by stress. Many of us do find that stress will make our symptoms worse.

The hardest hurdle, as you've already found, is dealing with the fact that you have a chronic disease. At this time, the only cure for UC is surgical removal of the colon, which actually most people say isn't as bad as you might anticipate. But short of that, there are medications that can help control the disease and put you into long-term remissions. Some medication or combination thereof will give most of us a pretty normal life. So you don't have to think of yourself as a "sick" person; instead think of yourself as a person who is learning to live with and manage a chronic condition. Your positive attitude can only help you.

I invite you to read back through threads and check out the links with general information on UC that are on this page. We're here to offer support to one another, and to share what has worked for us. Be aware, though, that tends to be different for each person. It helps us learn patience.
Posted 6/15/2008 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome! I personally don't have all of your answers. I just wanted to say that I feel that stress is a big trigger for my symptoms. Everyone is a little different though. Good luck to you. Bellski
Posted 6/15/2008 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi..Welcome to the forum!

Where exactly in the colon is your UC.....throughout or limited?

What meds are you on at this time?

There are a few bodybuilders on the forum, I'm sure they'll offer their suggestions/experiences.

quincy
Posted 6/15/2008 6:51 PM (GMT 0)

lardossen said...
Does anyone else here find that their stomach seems to bloat periodically while the rest of the body loses/fails to gain weight??

YES! It seems as if everything I eat shows up in my stomach and not even an ounce in the rest of my body! Argh, I'm do crunches every night in hopes to flatten my stomach.

If you're trying to gain weight, you may want to try Boost or Ensure. A nutritionist recommended them to me last year when I had lost a lot of weight; they're basically just nutrition drinks.

Posted 6/15/2008 8:28 PM (GMT 0)

i have taken many supps, including everything you listed. i usually take in about a 100 grams of protien throughout the day through prot powders - no probs there.

as far as the bloating- sometimes i experience bloating and cramping but from what i gather you're not talking about bodyfat in the midsection, correct? just bloating.

Posted 6/15/2008 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
btw comedy dork - word of advice - you cant spot reduce bodyfat. eg- doing a million crunches wont give you a leaner flatter stomach.
crunches build your abdominal muscles, but if you have a layer of fat covering them - you will not see the results you want.
the key is to do a cardiovascular exercise to burn fat
to sum it up crunches, set up, etc. do NOT burn fat that has accumulated at your midsection - this is a common misconception fueled by countless infomercials selling ab lounges, rockers, etc
i am a apex certified personal trainer (part time) hope this helps
Posted 6/16/2008 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
gymratin, I don't think I actually have much body fat--I'm only 5 ft and 80 lbs right now (ugh I cannot gain weight w/ this DD)! It's just that my stomach inflates when I eat; it's completely flat if I haven't eaten much, had diarrhea, etc. I've always had this problem and crunches seemed to help some when I was diligent about them in high school.
(sorry for kinda hijacking your thread, lardossen)
Posted 6/17/2008 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Bloating in the abdomen area is not uncommon with bowel diseases. During my first flare, my abdomen was SO inflamed that I had to buy pants in a larger size despite the fact that I had LOST weight. Also, while your colon is in a fragile state, foods that cause gas can cause that extra bloating that is so uncomfortable. Problem is: almost everything seems to cause gas!

For your body building - stick with a smart, nutritious, well balanced diet. If you are going to use supplements, watch out for artificial sweeteners which can cause IBDers extra troubles - bloating included. As you know, lean protein is key to building muscle - and it's key to help heal your body.

We're glad to have you as a member of our forum! It's bittersweet - we hate that others have this disease, but we're so happy to find others who KNOW what we're going through!
Posted 6/17/2008 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
I experienced alot of bloating with my first flare up. Now that I am in remission, I get occasional bloating. It's quite uncomfortable but it does goes away. What meds are you on?
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