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Fish oil supplements helping?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/28/2008 7:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I'm 20 years old and was diagnosed with UC a year ago and have yet to get into a remission (been flaring for a year straight now). Ive tried Asacol, the suppositories, the foam and on Lialda right now and nothing has worked. I was reading up on fish oil and it's benefits because I have wanted to try it to strengthen my hair to read that it helps treat UC?? Has anyone tried using this?? Not sure if it will work since nothing else has but I figured I'll give it a whirl.

I'm so desperate for any suggestions or help because I can't remember what it feels like to feel "normal" again. I cried for the first time tonight realizing I will probably live the rest of my life feeling like crap all the time. :(

Post Edited (amelli) : 12/28/2008 12:52:00 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/28/2008 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
I HAVE BEEN TAKING IT BECUASE I READ ITS HEALTHY IF YOU ARE TRYING TO CONCIEVE... WHILE TAKING IT I HAVE NOT HAD ANY NEGATIVE EFFECTS SO WHY NOT TRY IT....:)  WISH YOU LUCK...BTW I VE BEEN TAKING IT FOR A YEAR NOW

29 YEARS OLD
UC SINCE 19
6 PILLS OF ASACOL DAILY (SORRY DONT KNOW MGS)
FOLIC ACID
FISH OIL DAILY
FLARE UP ONCE A YEAR DURING AUGUST, LASTS about TWO MONTHS WHICH I NEED TO TAKE PREDNISONE, HAIR FALLS OUT AROUND WINTER  LOL ( PRESENTLY IN THAT STAGE).
HAVE A WONDERFUL BOYFRIEND FOR THREE YEARS WHO IS VERY SUPPORTIVE
PLANNING ON GETTING PREGNANT :)

Posted 12/28/2008 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Tons of health benefits to fish oil supplementing whether it helps your UC or not. It's one of those things you just need to keep taking and put in your daily routine. Get one with a good amount of DHA, mines 500 mg in one cap.
Posted 12/29/2008 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
     Dr A...how many capsules per day do you take?  Does it cause heart burn?
Posted 12/29/2008 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
I do three split up through the day. No heartburn, but the only one I can take consistently that doesn't give me heartburn is carlson's super-DHA. If I do two at one time I can tell I took one. Coromega isn't bad tasting either. The orange flavor tastes a little like sherbert. You have to do two packets of it though to equal one of the carlsons capsules. I'll probably give my little boy the coromega when that time comes.
Posted 12/29/2008 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
My GI doc said not to take it. He says it sometimes can cause D in people. I also had read that it helped. I do take a aloe vera capsule twice a day and believe this helped. But has worked the most for me is diet. I am on all the pills, but when I started altering my diet is when I saw the best results. I started gluten free diet about 20 days ago and this seemed to cut my symptoms in half. THen I read Cfromutah thread about spinach and sunflower seeds and I combined this with the gluten free and I honestly believe this is headin me into remission. Am down to two to three BM's a day and I can actually "hold it" for a little bit now if I have to.
Posted 12/29/2008 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
McDonalds and Taco Bell also causes D in some people, but I bet he says eat whatever you want, lol. Makes perfect sense.
Glad your doing better bubba!
Posted 12/29/2008 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
I take it regularly. I change it up sometimes as far as brand names and try to find the pills with the most omega 3 and DHA content. Some are super-concentrated and better than others. Salmon oil pills seem to work well. I take one in the morning and one in the evening. Only negative side effects are fish burps in the morning....which taste real bad with coffee....fish coffee....yum.....

I know a girl who had pretty bad UC and fish oil suppliments helped her immensly....actually helped achieve remission..... I guess it works better for some people. No negatives here so I will continue to take it.
Posted 12/29/2008 5:25 PM (GMT 0)

I have been reading a book called "eating right for the bad gut" by James Scala. It truly pushes changing your body's fat reserves from bad fats (omega 6 etc from red meats and trans fats) to good fats (omega 3 - from fish oils and flax seed oils etc). He strongly believes and provides evidence that this promotes anti-inflammatory properties and will help extend remission times and lessen the severity of flare-ups. I haven't started taking the oils yet, although I do throw a teaspoon of flax oil in food every other day or so and have increased my fish eating in place of red meat. I am wondering if you guys know how much supplements I should take.

Also, has anyone else read this book? What do you think. I truly find it has helped me understand what I am dealing with and if nothing else, has given me "groundwork" from where to start. Like you have all said, it is an individual disease and trial and error is neccessary. I am up for anything to try to keep this in remmission. I would love it if anyone else has read this book to let me know what you think or I recommend reading it.

:-)
Posted 12/29/2008 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
I was also going to recommend Scala's The New Eating Right for a Bad Gut. It gives plenty of information about increasing omega-3 consumption - using fish and/or flax oil - as a method of decreasing inflammation in the gut and throughout the body. It's good for the heart, good for the joints - often a secondary problem with UC - good for the skin and hair. I can't imagine a doctor recommending against it.

Posted 12/29/2008 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Only reason he gave for against it was the D factor. My dad takes it for his heart also. Seems to have no problem with it. I'll prob talk to doc about it again in a couple weeks when I see him. Have alot to talk to him about. LOL. Guess He'd better cater lunch in that day. LOL
Posted 12/29/2008 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
     I read the  book too.  Can't say it helped me.  Trial and error is what helped me the most.
Posted 12/30/2008 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
My 15 year old son has Crohn's but mainly in his lower colon.  His main symptoms were loose, often bloody stools and lots of foul gas . He was having troubles with his pancreas as a result of some of his medications.  He was required to eat low fat, under 60 grams.  Shortly there after, his stools became formed with no blood.  Eating low fat is no fun but it might be worth a try to see if it helps you. 
Posted 1/1/2009 8:33 AM (GMT 0)
I have been taking Fish oil supplements for about a week now, and it has really helped out a lot. I have less BMs now, but more gas. I take two at two different meals.
Posted 1/1/2009 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
I take Omega3 and DHA capsules and I haven't noticed it helping any. I don't know if it causes D because I have D anyway.

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