Food allergy blood test suggestions & genereal HELP!

I see my GI Dr on Monday and I want to ask for some food allergy/sensitivity tests to be done. He has always said that this disease has nothing to do with what you eat, but that I may be lactose intolerant. I already knew that much.
I just came off of a pred taper, starting at 40. This is the 2nd time this year I have been on it, then there was the time I was on it IV. I have has UC for 10 years. I am told I have 15 inches affected. This (starting last November) is about my 5th flare. All of the others have been easily taken care of by a pred taper. I also take Imuran, although during those years of remission I only took 50mg and I ate whatever I wanted. I am trying to make sense of this mess of a disease, one day everything looks good (blood only about once a month, mucous most, but not all of the time). Urgency is an issue, luckily, I've always been home when it happened. I take all of the supplements I think there are known to man, probiotics, Asacol, Canasa when I remember (who likes to remember a suppository?), fish oil. Now I don't know what to eat or not eat. Some people say spinach goes through them really fast, others say it's really helping them, I guess I should try it. Is it a mater of cooked vs. uncooked?
Also have A LOT of really low back pain. GI referred me to a back DR a few months ago. I had all of the tests (MRI, X-Ray) done and they show nothing , physical therapy only helps a little. Back Dr says with no diagnosis (tests normal) he'll give no pain meds; I should go to GI Dr, GI Dr says go to back Dr, it's back pain. So I take ibuprofen, sit on the heating pad, read some of your silly posts that make me laugh (Olympics), and pray....
Jen 37

Oh! Use ICE for back pain, not heat! I made that mistake for a while. Ice will reduce inflamation in your back. It helps me a lot, especially after gardening or playing golf, about 20 minutes. My car has chilled seats, and I use them daily, too! I have a slightly bulging disk, barely noticeable on the MRI, nothing serious and I think the ab exercises actually helped even though they weren't strenuous.

We have some of the same experience, although I've taken fewer variety of meds. I don't know if regular doctors will do the food sensitivity testing my naturopath did (a blood test). It was not covered by insurance, $300 (the naturopath has me get any test that is covered done by my regular doctor, like for anemia or vitamin D). But it has made a tremendous difference! Night and day, especially relieved to no longer have the urgency I did. I think it was the gluten. I tested highly intolerant, not quite allergic. Less intolerant but sensitive to about a dozen other things, including tomato and soy and cow's milk, garlic, sunflower, watermelon, egg whites, an odd assortment.

As far as I've heard and read, all NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, are a bad idea if you have UC. Some people can tolerate them, but it's not something I'm willing to gamble with during a flare.

I'm with Peety, get a food allergy test done. I'm supposed to get one done soon myself. I go to a naturopath as well and she said its a simple blood test that tests the intolerance and sensitivity to almost 100 different things. I've actually seen it online somewhere for only about $100. Then you take it to a blood lab and they send it to the company for you. My naturopath has had me avoiding all dairy and gluten for 4 months now because the proteins are hard to digest. Even if you don't have any kind of sensitivity, eliminating the casein protein (dairy) and gluten proteins can give your colon a much needed break. I think the allergy test would be worth it, because honestly, most people have some sensitivities and they just aren't aware of it. But getting rid of things that bother you, even if only slightly, can only help you in the long run.

Sunshineonmyface- I saw on another page you wrote you are a Christian, I am too. He is the best comfort for us.

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I may have the food sensitivity test done. I hear from family members (Drs) that it is really unreliable, but I have nothing to lose (except some $). I'm confused about whether you have to have a food present in your system at the time of the test to show whether or not you are sensitive to it.

I know I should cut out sugar, I don't eat tons of it, but if you count the pasta, bread, etc, it's significant. I have done the gluten free diet, it didn't make a difference for me. I forgot to add that I'm also on the nicotine patch, that helps.
I've laid off of the ibuprofen, just took it yesterday when I had to drive a bunch with the kids and couldn't take the last painkillers I had left.
I really appreciate you guys and it helps to have people to turn to!

Jen

Since Tylenol isn't helping you, you should ask your doc about a prescription pain killer.  I used Hydrocodone for a torn calf muscle and for gall bladder surgery recovery, and it was a big help.  It can make you drowsy, but you sound like you're really needing the extra help. 

Jen,

     I agree with Katie.  I was hospitalized for ten days in May with UC.  When I was discharged, I still was in bad shape...terrible pain which radiated into the insides of my legs and my vaginal area.  My doctor prescribed Hydrocodone.  It is a good pain killer with 500 mgm of Tylenol.  It helped me tremendously!  The prescription said I could take it every six hours, but I didn't need that much of it.  I have a pretty high tolerance for pain and only took about two pills a day for a few days.  It helped me get much needed sleep too, for I only slept about a total of 15 hours the entire time I was hospitalized.  Felt like a zombie.  If I may add, I went to my gyn doctor to make sure no infection had spread to my vagina.  All was clear.  She said that the inflamation was so severe in the rectum it just made it feel like it had spread down my legs and into my vagina....ugh.

Sweetie31105 said...
Sunshineonmyface~ and jenjim

Had to comment on observation to u two. It's great to find other Christian women on this forum. I am a Christian myself. I've taken this disease like "God doesn't give us what we can't handle." I've been remission months after I got diagnosed, so I've just been popping in and reading. Sometimes I post. I'm about 10 years younger than u two. Oh well, we all are going through the same thing right?

Age really is funny, because everyone can relate pretty much.  I had a friend tell me this is her proof that there is something eternal about our soul, we feel the same no matter what the number says.

I know what you mean about God not giving us what we can't handle.  There have been many times already that I felt I couldn't handle this (I look at the long timers here with a lot of admiration) but God has always given me a little more strength to get through it.

aww that is sweet. What foods do you avoid?

Hi you guys,
I was away at the beach for the weekend. I was so glad to see your replies when I got home! I actually dreamt about the Dr's appt I have tomorrow that started this whole post. I have no idea if he will give me anything to help with the pain. Thanks for all of the great input. At this point I guess I'll do an elimination diet. I suppose I can google it to get started. I figure it starts with plain chicken and steamed veggies?!?
sunshineonmyface- yes, I too am 37, will be 38 on Wednesday. Hope to not be in a lot of pain for the day!
My husband doesn't seem to be as protective about what I eat. He never said anything about the cost of all of the stuff I tried when I was trying a gluten-free diet a few months ago. He will indulge me; if I say I want what he knows I am trying to avoid (dairy, eggs, sugar) he'll run right out and get it. He's really sweet, just too east tot talk into stuff!
Thanks for all of the help.
Have a great week. God Bless.
Jen