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Posted 10/12/2011 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi I was diagnosed with UC about a month ago... I was prescribed Asacol(2 tablets 3 times a day) right now I'm still trying to figure out what to eat and what other supplements I can take to stop the flare ups...Anyone have any suggestions on what worked for them I would greatly appreciate it
Posted 10/12/2011 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
It's good to keep a food journal because different foods/beverages/ingredients bother different people. Some things to look out for are:

lactose (milk, cheese)
fructose (many fruits, HFCS, honey)
gluten
wheat
yeast
pro-inflammatory foods/beverages/ingredients (MSG, HFCS, processed meats, fried foods, spicy foods, soda, coffee, ...)
high fiber
popcorn, nuts/seeds (not butters)

Some find the spinach and sunflower seed diet helpful. Basically, it requires eating spinach and some form of nut/seed butter (except peanuts, which are a legume) every day. I read somewhere that the best way of cooking spinach is in the microwave (whereas it's not the best method for veggies like broccoli). I usually buy an Indian frozen spinach dish and cook it in the microwave. I'll eat bananas with sunflower seed butter or some other kind of nut butter.

Foods/ingredients that tend to help are:
rice
bananas
green leafy vegetables
salmon
nut/seed butters
yogurt
green tea
ginger tea
turmeric
ginger
water

Of course, even these ingredients/foods/beverages might bother some people, that's why it's best to keep a food/beverage journal.
Posted 10/12/2011 6:05 AM (GMT 0)
How bad were your symptoms a month ago when diagnosed? Any improvement yet with the asacol?
Posted 10/12/2011 7:56 AM (GMT 0)
In regard to supplements...

I take (or have taken) these:

L-Glutamine - repairing lining of the intestinal tract
Omega 3 - anti-iflammatory
Calcium and Vitamin D for bones
Magnesium - anti-inflammatory (which is probably why some do so well on the spinach and sunflower seed diet.)
Glucosamine and Chondrotin - for joints
Turmeric - anti-inflammatory
Probiotics - to add good bacteria to colon (unlike fecal transplantion, bacteria will not take hold; so must be taken daily)
Supplement for skin, hair, and nails
Resveratol - to slow aging process

Some people take:
Boswellia and Slippery Elm when flaring. I haven't noticed any effects from Boswellia, negative or positive. I have never tried Slippery Elm.
Posted 10/12/2011 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
You'll hear a lot about Asacol versions of rectal enemas and suppositories to stop the inflammation in the rectum, the last place to heal. Asacol generally doesn't take care of that area. What are your current symptoms>
Posted 10/12/2011 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
kmoore, are you currently flaring? Not everyone has severe UC that flares up often and is difficult to control. I hope you're one of the ones with a very mild case and that you never see a flare again. Try to think positive. Asacol is a very mild drug, I wish I was able to stay in remission with Asacol but as others have mentioned, even if you're not able to, there are a lot of other options. Rectal meds can be extremely helpful, definitely ask your GI for some.

Welcome to HealingWell!

Posted 10/13/2011 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
kmoore3883,

Welcome to the forum.

Sorry about your diagnosis, UC sucks that's for sure.

Lots of folks here have had some success with the SCD diet, specific carbohydrate diet - which is pretty strict.

So, I would recommend you start off by being dairy, wheat and gluten free to start off with and then see if it helps you. I agree subdued about the food journal - it will be the only way to really definitively determine what really does not agree with you.

As far as supplements are concerned:

a good probiotic like VSL#3 is important, L-GLutamine in large quantities for colonic repair, slippery elm bark powder for healing.

Have you had your Vitamin D  and B12 levels checked?

Are you on any rectal meds?

Posted 10/14/2011 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your advice! :)
My symptoms were pretty bad when diagnosed I was going about 6 times a day sometimes even more! And Asacol at one point was literally going right through me... I seemed to be having a flare up as I am now seeing blood in my stool and I wasn't before...As for my vitamin intake I use multivitamins and Iron pills and I'm not on any rectal meds as of yet.... I've seen a pill called Amp floracel has anyone tried that?
Posted 10/23/2011 6:50 AM (GMT 0)
just to update.... Had a really bad flare up and had to go to the E.R., stayed there for 4 days and am now on prednisone and also had to up my dosage of Asacol as well... So far I am responding well to Prednisone but seem to be a little gassy now is this normal?
Posted 10/23/2011 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
kmoore3883,

I'm sorry your flare sent you to the ER, 4 days, wow.

I hope you start to feel better soon.

Did they give you any rectal meds?


 

Posted 10/24/2011 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks InSoFla,
No they haven't given me any rectal meds just prednisone and I have to take folic acid as well.
Posted 10/24/2011 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hey there, hope you are feeling better. The ER is not fun.

There are several threads about Rowasa--it's a mesalamine enema that really helped me to stop flaring. Your GI doc might consider it in the future.

Prednisone stopped my first flare in it's tracks, but it's not a long term solution as your doc probably told you.

I would also suggest a food diary. It will help you to pinpoint troublesome foods, if any.

welcome!
Posted 10/24/2011 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry you're been feeling so terrible kmoore. I hope you're able to get things under control with prednisone and that you get into a long remission. Do they plan to start you on an immunosupressant or will you try to taper off with Asacol? Definitely see about getting some rectal medications.
Posted 10/26/2011 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
So far the prednisone has it under control...and as of right now they haven't discussed any rectal meds...
Posted 11/8/2011 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
So I went saw the G.I. Specialist and they lower the dosage of Prednisone from 40mg to 30 for the next 2 weeks and then after that I finish off with 20mg... So far I haven't been going to the bathroom but have been very gassy....Also they think I may have Crohn's and not UC
Posted 11/8/2011 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
They're stopping you at 20mgs? That doesn't seem right. I've tapered from 10mgs before but never 20.
Posted 11/8/2011 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Well I'm not sure if they gonna stop me at 20mgs after that I go back and see what they say
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