How to Handle UC?

UCNewb,

I'm sorry to hear of you being so young and having this. Maybe this will be in your favor. If you go through the different links active from today you will get a lot of information as I have. Also, just because the subject may not seem related, i encourage you to read through them anyway. It sometimes changes and you get more information that meets the eye. I have yet to try any diets either as I am still new to this too. Some have suggested Low Residue diets and others the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (or SDC as you'll see it called in other threads) but everyone is so different as you will read one person found high fruits and beer to work although I don't think would be good for someone of your age :P Others will tell you that stressing is a MAJOR factor and some will say knocking out soda will be the biggest but more effective change. (Not sure if you drink soda)

I would also like to say keep the communication open with your doctor as much as possible, there are other treatments out there if this one is not working. Be honest with him too. If he says don't drink milk and you are used to drinking milk everyday and you don't think you can stop or plan too, tell him when you slip and drink it. It may help him find other ways to help you without changing your entire life.

I wish you luck and hope you find your happy place and if you are still unsure - ask. There are some really wise people on this site and most of them are very quick to respond.

-AA

Hi, I was diagnosed when I was 19, I am 30 now. I was on pred and asacol but am now on only asacol. I agree with AA & JT, everyone is different. I kept a BM/food diary and that helped me learn what foods tended to make my colon angry.

I'm new to this forum too but I've found the folks here are super helpful and it's so nice to know that you are not alone with this disease! Hang in there!

Hi and welcome. I'm sorry you have UC - it's not easy.
As others have said, we are all different in how we respond to foods and medicines, so you need to figure out what helps or hurts you. A little notebook in which you can record foods, medicines, and poops is really helpful.
For diet, what I've found most helpful is that when I'm flaring I stay away from foods that night be scratchy going through - raw things, salads, coleslaw, corn, popcorn.... and gassy things, because the gas hurts when I'm flaring... and I'm told that greasy things are tough to digest for anyone. Sometimes acidy things (tomato sauce) bother me, sometimes they don't.
Check out the resources and hints from the Crohns and Colitis Foundation (ccfa.org)....and I've found the book "What to Eat with IBD" really helpful (you can check it out on Amazon.)
You might find a good probiotic helpful..... and I like Metamucil to sort of glue my poops together (even though it's sold as a laxative.)
It's great you found a doctor who listens; it really helps to be an active partner in your own care.
And ask question here! There are a lot of good folks who can help you understand things.

UCNewB,
Everyone here has such good advice to give. The information that you can get from this forum can be invaluable. As you can see, there is no "one size fits all" where UC is concerned. Sometimes you have to try a few different medications before you get one (or two or three) that work well with you and your system. It's difficult to be on Prednisone, as sometimes the side effects can be worse than the disease that it is treating. It's also difficult to wean yourself from it, but if done verrrrryyyyy slowly, it can be done.

Diet is also a very individualized area. I think that the diary is a really good way to go. Enter EVERYTHING that you put in your mouth and when. Also keep track of how often you poop. For example: Do you go 5 times a day everytime you eat cooked beets? Do you have horrible pain after eating raw veggies or salad? Maybe there's a pattern, etc. The most common offenders seem to be dairy, sugars, anything fried or greasy, alcohol or anything carbonated, caffeine, raw fruits and veggies, meat. But that doesn't mean that all or any of them will bother you. There are alternatives for almost everything out there (rice milk, almond milk, coconut milk, soy, cooked veggies, etc.) That's where a food diary becomes a great tool to have, so that you can look back and see if there is a pattern.

There are so many good books out there. My favorite, after being dx'd, was The First Year, Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, an Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Jill Sklar. But there are many great books out there on the subject. Being an informed and proactive patient is the best kind of patient. It takes time to absorb all of the info, but it makes you a better patient in the end.

I would also recommend looking up your local chapter of The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). Visit their website (ccfa.org) and you will find a wealth of information for patients there. I am a volunteer for our local chapter and we help patients just like you every day.

I would not be where I am today without the help of the people here on HW. So read as many posts as you can, stay active and ask lots of questions and I think that you will find lots of caring people ready to help you with anything.

Use the rectal meds....which ones did he prescribe for you.

q