What keeps yours under control?

Drugs. 4 gms of oral 5ASA had me down to a flare or two a year, adding 2 maintenance doses of 5ASA enema per week (after reading a study posted here that recommended it) has resulted in 14 months without a flare (and counting!). I go once a day after breakfast with no problems when in remission. Metamuscil and heaps of fibre helps out with the quality of the bm but probably doesn't affect my remission stats.

Possibly because my GI never used the term remission this word always sounds a bit odd to me in relation to UC.  He used the term "quiet" as in "is you’re UC quiet or active?" I like this word as it is descriptive and has the right feel to it, but I digress.  Sulfasalazine and VSL#3 with  rare use of rectal meds if something seems amiss. For some I suppose 5 BM's a day may be normal; 2 to 3 is normal for me. If I was having 5+ I would be concerned if it persisted more than a day or two. 

UC isn't caused by poor diet or allergic reaction to foods.

Aggrevation of symptoms by allergies and UC....two separate issues.

You should read about the medications...symptomatic control means less inflammation and the less likelihood of the colon doing its own thing.

Food allergies, food sensitivities, food intolerance and natural action of foods themselves are easily confused.  Many of the terms are misused and misunderstood.   Definitely best to make sure one isn't allergic to foods, but allergy would cause a specific reaction that could be seen in the blood and should be avoided totally.

quincy

Thanks for your reply guys. I was curious to see the responses. We all have individual ways to fight this ugly disease and we all have opinions about what keeps it in control. People can be in remission and not even wonder why, but the disease can come back anytime so we have to identify whats works for us and stick to it.

My UC flare has just done a 180 in the last week and I am sure I can reach remision soon. Earlier this year I had the longest remision I have ever had and I plan to beat that when I reach it again.

I'm sure everyone sees this as an ongoing lifelong disease. If they didn't then they would either be lieing to themselves or have witnessed a miracle b/c as far as we all know there is no cure still. I always though everyone with UC should strive for remission. Maybe since it has only been 3 years for me since I had and normal gut I really miss it and believe I can heal my gut and immune system. I believe I have only had 1 true remission since I got UC. It was med free and the only time I gained weight. For me I guess I see this disease as a battle b/c it attacks you physically and mentally like an opponent. I was a college athelete and may have a bias opionion about fights and battles... But anyways people see weight loss as a hard battle and my remission goals also include gaining all my pre-UC weight and then some, so it is kinda like a battle for some poeple.

NBT - love your reference to your coaches. I swear I rely on what I learned being a distance runner in high school to get me through any tough time in my life. Or the mantra from Finding Nemo - just keep on swimmin, keep on swimming. Running distance taught me to push through that miserable feeling and eventually it would just feel good. I haven't run in years because it gives me the runs but I think I want to try it up again. I gained 11 pounds in 2 months when my doc changed my birth control and Im feeling icky about it. I am tall but have a small frame so it is very noticable to me. Time to summons that old athlete again.