Find a gastro experienced in treating IBD, someone who keeps up with the research. If you're in the U.S., you can consult the Physician Finder on ccfa.org Website, where they're listed by state/city. This is very important as you apparently got the wrong info RE oral 5-ASA med from your current doctor. Just because you reacted badly to sulfasalazine does not mean you cannot tolerate another oral med such as Asacol, Colazal, or Pentasa. These meds do not contain sulfa, which causes problems for many UCers who try a sulfasalazine Rx. Apart from a knowledgeable gastro, you need to figure out whether specific foods aggravate your symptoms, which you can do by keeping a food diary for about
a month. I helped myself a lot by switching to low- or nonfat lactose-free milk, & stopped drinking carbonated anything, plus avoid caffeine. In general, fried, fatty, spicy, sugary or junk foods do rev up my gut-- so I do myself a big favor by trying to eat simple, healthy meals instead, such as broiled or roasted skinless poultry or fish with plain-boiled white or brown rice & steamed or sauteed veggies, farina, oatmeal, scrambled or hard-boiled egg, banana, applesauce-- definitely low-residue items when flaring. I also avoid heavy citrus; just drink 4 oz. o.j. with pulp daily at breakfast. Natural yogurt also helps with beneficial organisms. Read ingredient labels so as to avoid possibly harmful food additives like dyes & stabilizers. When your colon heals, you can phase more foods back into your diet; it's hard to be selective if you're away at school but give it a try. Be sure to supplement any vitamins/minerals that show poorly in your blood tests! After diet, work on reducing stress by prioritizing your activities so that you expend your limited energy on what is most important. You might want to practice breathing exercises or yoga to help with relaxation. It's good that you're able to sleep as long as 8 hrs. nightly! Best wishes! / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Post Edited (Old Hat) : 7/19/2011 6:56:41 PM (GMT-6)