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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/25/2009 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
My name is James a 33 year old male and I just joined today and I was diagnosed with UC in June 2008 and was put on Lialda pills, which didn't work and mesalamine enemas which worked right away which I thought was great. I was doing good with the disease had it under control until a month ago. No I have abdominal pain, cramping, I wake up in the middle of the nite to go to the bathroom, diarrhea 6 times a day with mucus and blood. I have lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks and I don't feel safe leaving my house. I am having a colonoscopy next Friday, which I wish was today. I am scarred to go on steroids. I would rather go the hollistic route, I even started taking Flora-Q, a probiotic, and drinking aloe vera juice twice a day. I wanted to know what people think of this. I want to go see a dietician afetr my colonoscopy to see if what I eat combined with probiotics, aloe vera, and fish oil etc..... would help instead of loading my body with steroids. I wanted to see what people thought of steroids vs alternative methods. Thank You
Posted 9/25/2009 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
James. Many of us use alternative treatments along with mainstream methods -- and that seems to work well for me. However, I think it's a good idea to try to get your symptoms under control soon, and then try alternative methods if you want to. The steroid treatment is normally short-term and hopefully that should be enough to get you into remission asap, and before things worsen.
Posted 9/25/2009 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
What r the side effects of steroids?
Posted 9/25/2009 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Right now I am only doing alternative methods. Lialda, Colazal and Asacol all made my UC 100 times worse while I took them. I have taken pred twice. It's not THAT bad in the SHORT term. Both times I was on it it was a 4 week course. It has put me in remission both times. I went out of remission the fist time b/c I had to take antibiotics. I take fish oil, probiotics and supplements from a Dr. that practices Applied Kinesiology. When you tell your GI that you want to try alternative methods they probably aren't going to be very supportive of it. My GI said that what you eat has nothing to do with UC, I don't agree (My GI did say that fish oil and probiotics are good to take).

There are tons of websites about treating IBD naturally. Here is a good one: http://listen2yourgut.com/
Posted 9/25/2009 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
AMK77...if possible could you post the details of the Dr. that practices Applied Kinesiology -- or email them to me. Thanks.
Posted 9/25/2009 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
     I am a walking tribute to the adverse effects of prednisone.  Been on the stuff far too many times and my GI doctor is NOT happy about it either.  I already have osteoporosis, high blood pressure and with this last go round of prednisone (2 1/2 months), experienced high glucose levels.  If you are able to achieve remission using alternative treatments, I say go for it.
Posted 9/25/2009 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that alternative treatments can be used along with main stream meds. First, though you need to get something going main stream and get this under control. Alternative treatments take a while to get going so they are definitely not a fast fix. And with UC you have to be right on top of it or it gets worse. You said the mesalamine enemas worked great for you. Did you stop taking them after a while or are you still on a maintenance dose like twice or once a week, etc? One thing I found out is when you use the enemas and get better you should not completely cut them out all together.
Posted 9/26/2009 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the community...I am not near as educated as many in the community, but have listened to all the wonderful advice that is given along with the incredible support. I do agree about getting your flare under control and if it is as bad as you say, the need for steroids might be that option. I hated that I was on pred for nearly 6 months, but that was truly what help me get into remission. I was actually one of the lucky ones that lost 30 pounds while on pred, but I was pooping it out as fast as I took it so it was not until my GI prescribed Tylenol #3 that I got the full effect. I am in a mini-flare right now, I can say that since I had a 2 day turn around for prep and colonoscopy yesterday, and I recognized the signs of my first flare since being in remission since November 2007 and only the first 3 inches of my rectum is inflammed. I am beginning to wonder if the IV antibiotics that was given to me when I got my wisdom teeth out about 6 weeks ago was what put me into this flare...who knows!

Keep us informed about your colonscopy and how you are doing!!
Posted 9/26/2009 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome! I've had uc for 11 years - med free for 9 - but mainly because everything I did made things so much worse. I once went in remission but only because I had 65 mg of pred. and imunnoglobulin which I will never do again, they gave me other great problems. I am on the SCD diet (The specific carbohydrate diet) google it. There are 100's who maintain remission this way. It was developed by a bio-chemist who studied the result of food on the intestines so it is scientifically based. Although the diet is hard, I found a website called nomorecrohns.com and the recipes help TONS! A few weeks ago I had the worst flare from antibiotics and it calmed it down in 5-7 days. To me it is remarkable. Good luck!
Posted 9/26/2009 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the recipe site Juilar. I m on the raw foods diet but i do use scd diet recipies from time to time. there are alot of ways to stay in remmison most popular is scd then there is david klien and paul nisons ways. there is a book called breaking the vicious cycle. its a great book. the scd diet is remarkable. but if your like me and can not really handel meat then go for raw. ive found it really healthy. do what works for you :)
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