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Are we what we eat? AND liver question

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Posted 5/24/2010 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
I just read a comment that I've seen many times in the chat room....that really, it almost doesn't matter what we eat.  If we're good, we're good - but if we're flaring, we're horrid.  Does anyone else feel this way?

If I am in remission I can eat pretty much anything (within reason...no piles of onion rings or vats of cream based soup).   If I'm flaring, I don't find that eating 'soothing foods' really helps all that much.  The disease IS where it IS in the process.

Probably not a great idea to eat Mexican food during a flare, but we still run to the bathroom all day anyway.  I know some folks have a particular sensitivity to certain foods (ice cream, etc) - but i think just UC has a mind of its own! 

Question - I have never been particularly warned about Asacol being processed through the liver and to seriously watch alcohol consumption.  We're wine drinkers - as in: we would take a dream vacation through French wine country if we could afford it.  Anyone had problems with liver enzymes?  Prednisone also?

Posted 5/24/2010 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
I just read a comment that I've seen many times in the chat room....that really, it almost doesn't matter what we eat. If we're good, we're good - but if we're flaring, we're horrid. Does anyone else feel this way?

No I don't feel this way. I have proof that diet modification works-for me-because I am in remission for the first time in 10 years-and it is totally due to changing the food I was eating. Many others have also gotten remission this way.

I don't need to convince anyone else to change their diet, that is a personal choice and belief, although I do get tired of certain people constantly saying that diet has no effect. It feel disrespectful to me because I have worked hard to achieve my improved health.
Posted 5/24/2010 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Food and diets had no bearing on my UC. When I had UC (had surgery) I used to eat anything regardless as well as drink anything. some things made me go to the bathroom more than others but changing my diet never put me in remission nor did any of the medications.
Posted 5/24/2010 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
I think why you watch for liver problems is the disease itself not asacol.I had an enlarged liver when I was flaring bad. I think kidney issues with mesalamine are a rare complication. Most of the drug passes with the stool

I think the MD communication that food doesn't cause UC gets scrambled into food doesn't aggravate symptoms. Certain foods definitely make things in a flare worse for me but not that much when I am not. UC definitely has exploded as far as percentage of the population and nobody knows why. It happened in such a short time frame that it must be something in the environment not genetics that is responsible. I wouldn't rule out long term effects of something we are eating. Some people may very well have dietary issues that did cause UC(allergies?) or causes flares. Who knows, UC could be triggered by a pathogen that only infects people that have a weakened immune response caused by many different environmental factors(diet, chemicals, stress,antibiotics...)

I enjoy wine myself and find that red wine is the easiest to process especially with food. I think a liver enzyme test is pretty cheap at a lab and you could always watch it if you are worried?
Posted 5/24/2010 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Inflixamab/Remicade made my liver levels extremely high. I contracted acute hepatitis - itch like crazy, turn yellow, swollen legs, feel miserable - 3 months later my levels were normal to high. I've been reading about the UC drugs and I think most of the UC meds affect our livers :o( I guess I'm lucky, coz I haven't lost weight and my UC comes and goes. Acidophilus is what I'm taking now and I've been good :o) Good Luck <3
Posted 5/24/2010 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Oh and I agree with your statements about eating during a flare and eating when healthy.
Posted 5/24/2010 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
I am nearly 70 and diagnosed about 3 years ago now.  BUT - I have had IBS for many years - since about age 35.  I feel that when flaring eating low residue, low spices and very low fiber help me feel better when "going" but if I have diarrhea or gas pain, etc. it is probably due to IBS as I feel that for years and seems the same.  Only difference is more urgency and blood!

ElaineNY

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