When is there TOO much Blood & Nutrition Questions

So I've been flaring for a solid 3 weeks. During this particular flare, I am noticing a lot of blood (I'm not exactly sure how to quantify). Suffice it to say, most of it is bright red and comes at the very end of the diarrhea. How do I know when I am losing too much blood? I don't feel weak or lightheaded. I just want to make sure I know when to get some help for loss of blood.

Here's the other question: How do you make sure you are getting enough nutrients while flaring?

Because I have been flaring on and off for the past year, I get nervous about not getting the nutrients my body needs. Here's what I do:

Take 4 Lialda per day

Take a multi-vitamin daily (Men's 1 a day)

Take 1 fish oil pill

Take 1 probiotic pill

Juice fruits (mostly leafy green vegetables) every morning

Anyway--this morning I juiced 1 apple, 8 oz. of juice worth of spinach, and about 15 green grapes. Literally an hour and a half later, I had to use the bathroom and it was GREEN! It was almost like the juice (which was green) went RIGHT through my system. This is the first time it's gone through me that fast.

If that is the case, did I get any of the nutrients from the juice? Maybe less than I should have?

What do you do to make sure you are staying healthy while flaring?

Thanks for the feedback! As always, this forum is fabulous!

-Trevor
UC diagnosed March 2010

Apart from rectal meds, ask your GI for something to slow down your colon, like Bentyl or Lomotil. If your colon keeps peristalsis so fast, you won't be able to retain any rectal medication.

You mention, you take 1 fish oil pill. What is the amount of oil in it? I suspect, one may not be enough.

Many folks recommend using fibre. I have tried it a lot but it has never worked on me so I avoid insoluble fibre.

Frankly, on this forum people talk a lot about changing diet and how it has helped them. My GI strongly suggests against changing diet unless you have any allergies. Hence, I have not changed diet at all, exception being spicy, oily food. I am currently on flare but its because of Neproxen that I take for my migraine.

about quantifying blood loss, don't bother unless you are excreting only blood. Its not much. (Make sure to take Vit. B12 in good amounts)

Most important is, if you have any stress, try to reduce it. Stress is a trigger factor.

Thanks for the feedback.

@quincy: I definitely each actual food in the morning (usually a rice cereal or cream of rice) along with my juicing. I like to juice first thing in the morning to get it over with--it's not enjoyable at all. But I do it because I KNOW it's extremely good for me. I am using a probiotic. It's called Phillip's Colon Health Probiotic Supplement. My UC is throughout my colon; all the way to the very end (just not on the bridge that leads to the small intestine). My GI said that Rowasa wouldn't help for that reason. I don't LOVE my GI; actually, I'm looking for a new one as we speak.

@deltaforce: I take 1 1000 mg fish oil every morning. Should I consider more? Awww... if only I knew how to just totally reduce my stress. I don't even think I am stressed, but maybe I am... :/

@erinkate23: Thanks for the advice. I'm not quite to that point.

Also, I am throwing up once or twice a week during this flare. It's awful. I only throw up right after or before I use the bathroom. Not fun. :(

UC... what an awful thing. Am I right?

Actually fruit juices and grapes can be a bad thing with the acid content and fructose content. Maybe back off from fruit juices for a bit and see what happens? Just a suggestion. Even when I didn't have UC too much fruit juice gave me the scoots and would give me stomach cramps.