How do you heal your gut?

I'vw been on Pred for a while and I feel it has controlled the inflammation. All I have left is blood and mucous. I beleive the Pred is hindering my healing process. 

So what is good to promote the healing of your gut? The problem area sems to be in the lower left side.

I'm going to try an Orgain protien drink diet for three days to allow my bowel to rest, but that won't be enough.

I have started probiotic enemas weekly using VSL#3 and slightly warm water and am cutting back on Gluten. I heard of l-glutamine as well but never used it.

Any suggestions?

Hello, I take aloe vera stomach formula and l-glutamine powder daily along with my 5ASA... no blood or mucus

I stopped the budesonide enemas/suppositories. It was like putting vinegar on an open wound. I tried probotic enema and I could feel how irritated I am down there. Feel better w/o the enemas.

Besides the 5-ASA only cover up the symptoms. They're anti-inflammatory meds, not healing meds. The doc thinks that I gave the 5-ASA a fair try. Doc is ordering tests to see how I may tolerate 6MP.

Peace&Harmony said...
Besides the 5-ASA only cover up the symptoms. They're anti-inflammatory meds, not healing meds. The doc thinks that I gave the 5-ASA a fair try. Doc is ordering tests to see how I may tolerate 6MP.

 

 

How would 6MP heal compared to 5ASA....5ASA doesn't mask symptoms, how would you think that? I'm healed...unless I'm imagining it during my scopes...NOT!

 Have you used the 5ASA enemas at all?

q

Yes I have been on mesalmine enemas and suppositories and I still went from very mild left side UC to mod-severe pancolitis in a short period.

6MP is a maintenence drug and I need to be in remission first before it will work.

These products just put a coating over your colon lining and are an anti-inflammitory drug. If you heal then you must have good natural healing capabilities.

It's best to rest my bowel right now as passing stools is painful and seem to irritate my open wounds. Rectal pain is deminishing and I'm starting to see blood clots so that's a good sign.

Will look into l-glutamine.  Is there a recommended dose to use? Also I believe you need to take it on an empty stomach so it focuses on the gut instead of building muscle.

texasmax - I'm slowly weening off food. As long as I eat something solid I will continue fiber suppliments; however, on a pure liquid diet this makes no sense to continue. Fiber doesn't stimulate the bowel it just produces good firm stools

Peace&Harmony said...
Besides the 5-ASA only cover up the symptoms. They're anti-inflammatory meds, not healing meds.

 

What's the difference between getting rid of the inflammation and healing? I thought that was one and the same. 

Getting rid of Inflammation is part of healing...unless that's all you have. It's the under lying cause that causing our colon lining to bleed and ulcerate. This is why it's important to take care of the inflammation right away...so you don't get to the point where your lining is damaged.

The Steroids took care of the inflammation...I no longer have tenesmus. This is the feeling of needing to go but can't...like constipation but cause by inflammation not hard stools.

Right now the lining of my colon is very tender. It's basically feels like a razor blade shred it up. I have blood, mucous in the toilet from this. Getting rid of the inflammation give this lining a chance to heal.

Just started L-glutamine. Taking 1/4 tsp of power to start. Max dose per my integrative doc is 5 grams. 1 tsp + 5g according to the container. Hope it works!

seeing more improvement from resting my bowels too. Less blood mix with the mucous this evening..YIPPIE!!!

Peace&Harmony,

Sorry to see you are still struggling. I know you have tried so many avenues :(

IMO all the meds are only temporary band-aids, which don't get to the root of the problem: healing the inflammation of the gut.

Yes, they are useful, but still band-aids.

IMO, permanent change in levels of inflammation can be achieved through diet, SCD, certain supplements which promote anti-inflammatory status, and LDN (I know you've tried LDN without success) which helps boost the immune system.

Which supplements:

1) L-Glutamine, 15 grams added to protein shakes made with almond milk. Be careful on L-Glutamine, there are different ones, i.e L-Glutamine is different from Glutamic Acid.

2) L-Arginine Ethyl Ester - this is something aguywithuc turned me onto. You could ask him the details and the data as back up.

3) Axasthantin.

4)Slippery Elm Bark Powder

5)Krill OIl

With regard to protein shakes, I don't agree that it makes for a lazy colon. I think it gives you the nutrition you need without taxing your inflammed gut. Kinda of giving your gut a vacation. And in the short term, there's nothing wrong with that, as they do it in the hospital for those that are very very very sick with UC.

Even though I am eating normally, I still do my protein shakes 2 x per day because my body needs it.

I would suggest you try LDN again. For Badslinke it only worked when he did the oral pills vs. transdermal. But that's your call.

 

I'm still on LDN and never stopped it. I think the steriod doses were too high which interfered with the healing process and LDN. 

I read on some post to not start LDN until you're at 10mg Pred.  Been on LDN since March and increased dose to 4.5mg in April.  Sometimes it takes time for the LDN to work.  Maybe that's why I'm seeing some improvements now. 

Feel better limiting my food intake.  My colon definately needs a vacation!

Found some good articles on Glutamine too:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/527938-l-glutamine-and-the-intestines/

In the last 2 weeks, I've been cranking on VSL yogurt, L-GLutamine (25g/day), and psyllium seed powder (2 heaping tablespoons/day). I "feel" like it's helping, though I'm never able to tell a definitive difference except within the 2-3 days after a Remi infusion, or within a few days after recently getting back on Pred.