Share your UC secrets; What really works for you?

1. A high quality probiotic supplement taken at high dosage.
2. Dietary modifications - primarily reducing or eliminating gluten and dairy.
3. Supplements and dietary changes that reduce inflammation - omega-3 supplementation (fish, flax, Udo's oils)
4. Supplements that promote or support gut healing - aloe and l-glutamine

Although I feel dietary changes alone are often not enough for people with UC, I do believe SOME dietary modifications are necessary to maintain long-term remission.

Hmm. I don't think there is really an answer to your question. almost every person here who has UC and who has at least some years of experience with it have likely used many medications/combos/strategies which may work a miracle, and then suddenly stop working. Or may not work the first time you use it, but a year later suddenly work. The problem with asking everyone for the #1 medication is that you will likely get an answer thats different and that can make it very confusing and not give you a clear cut path. Some of the suggestion may actually hurt initially(no offense to anyone!!) unless you have extensively researched it and know your body fairly well. The when you get into the holistic stuff, it really can be hit or miss and some of the stuff may be down right dangerous especially without clear guidance from an experience/intelligent doctor(can't stress this enough..I've been hurt badly and made very sick by some doctor suggestions). But then again sometimes you may hit on somthing that can really end your symptoms. UC is collection of symptoms that may have many many causes. I have discovered the UC I is because of severe mercury toxicity. I was lucky enough through extensive research and some lucky intuition to stumble on it. .. now its a race to get the mercury out before I lose my colon.   

I haven't read any previous posts of yours so if this has been postd please forgive me... but what are your symptoms and history?  Have you had a colonoscopy?  What parts of your colon have had UC? What medications/treatments/diets have tried and is there any other health conditions you have or medications potentially unrelated to UC? The answers can probably help us here maybe narrow some stuff down for you and get ya on the right path. In the meantime, RESEARCH! Colitis is/can be a true battle for your life and needs to be taken very seriously. I hadn't taken my colitis seriously for 3 years either and I just was THIS CLOSE to losing my colon in the past 2 weeks(just had a lovely 17 day stay at resort Overlook Hospital). I am still precariously close to losing it and quite terrified and I would hate to have anyone in my shoes right now and I hope this forum can help you take control of this sucker.

Vin

Post Edited (Vin) : 7/20/2011 12:19:03 PM (GMT-6)

Thanks for your replies everyone! I really appreciate them! I feel like 80% of the people on here have said something about diet modification. If anyone has any helpful websites that could give me recipes on foods that can help people with UC, please let me know. The biggest obstacle for me is making foods that taste good. I just end up boiling things and they taste so bland. This is why I can never stick to a good UC diet.

As for the details on my UC:
1) I have had both a colonoscopy and endoscopy
2) The GI said I have inflammation going all the way up my descending colon; when I was first diagnosed it was pretty much my whole colon
3) All of the medications I've been on are in my signature. The only one that I had a very bad reaction to is the sulphasalzine which I feel as though I'm allergic to.
4) I haven't tried any diet modifications yet or any holistic means in order to treat this UC; I did try psyllium seed for a little but but I did not notice a significant difference so I stopped

I've pretty much been doing what the doctor has told me to do. It wasn't until I found this forum that I started questioning my doctors decisions. I noticed a lot of people on here trying different things besides medicine and I want to do the same.

@ OldHat - Thanks for letting me know about the iron infusion. My iron is really low. I black out quite a bit and I know that's not normal! I'll ask my GI what can be done about this. Thanks again.

Baggravation said...
I feel like 80% of the people on here have said something about diet modification. If anyone has any helpful websites that could give me recipes on foods that can help people with UC, please let me know. The biggest obstacle for me is making foods that taste good. I just end up boiling things and they taste so bland. This is why I can never stick to a good UC diet.

Just google "SCD recipes" and "SCD cookbooks." There's almost a dozen SCD cookbooks out there (I own two). You'll be amazed at the multitude of yummy recipes created just for SCDers.

Happy eating!

Post Edited (Lady-V) : 7/21/2011 1:34:10 AM (GMT-6)

In addition to Breaking the Vicious Cycle (Specific Carbohydrate Diet), you may also wish to check out Listen to Your Gut, which has levels of diets according to your symptoms. As symptoms resolve, the diets get more lenient. I've also found The New Eating Right for a Bad Gut to offer helpful guidelines concerning what foods generally are well-tolerated by IBDers and what foods are generally problematic. There's also great info about omega-3 supplementation/dietary changes to reduce gut inflammation.

@ badslinke - Thank you! Read your signature. I have psyllium at home so I'm gonna start up on that again :)!
@ Lady-V - Thanks for the info especially the B-12. I get tired very easily and I'm pretty sure it's the lack of iron. I'm going to ask my doctor for a blood test. I never knew that B-12 was that essential for iron absorption.
@ princesa - Thanks a bunch! I'll definitely check those out!
@ McGut - I'm a vegetarian so I've already cut out the meat so that's one thing down. I need to stop the heavy meals though. I'm so used to eating a big big dinner aha :) I'll try to eat smaller meals. Thanks for your comment! :)

Konsyl fiber. Metamucil really didn't do much. I take a helping teaspoon in a little water morning and night. No, it does not dissolve so you better drink it before it congeals, lol. If I miss a day I notice.

6-8 hrs of sleep, cardio, clean diet(I don't fry meat anymore) and a few meds.

@ CollegeStudent - Thanks a bunch!
@ badslinke - Didn't realize there was a difference. Thanks for informing me on that! :D

Number 1 thing to help with UC......keep as much stress out of your life as you possibly can. Eat only what agrees with you. If you eat something and you have an issue, don't eat it anymore. Keep a food diary.