Introduction - Newbie

Hi There Fellow UC Sufferers,

First off, thank you for all of the helpful resources that are posted on this forum. I have been scanning through everything as I am new to being diagnosed with U.C. Here is my story.

I got U.C. from taking an antibiotic that my dentist prescribed me for oral surgery, clyndamycin. This has been very hard for me. I went a whole year with symptoms with no medication as I did not know there was something wrong. I had consulted with my PCP 5 months after the oral surgery and was told it's normal to have diarrhea after antiobiotic use. Well, needless to say it wasn't normal and shame on him for not testing me then. Instead I waited another 6 months to go back and express my concern, after I started seeing blood and mucous in my stool.

I received a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with U.C. I get horrible acid reflux with my U.C. so I am on prilosec OTC at the moment. I plan to try more natural items to calm this though. For the U.C. the doctor prescribed me hydrocortisone enemas for 3 weeks, they worked wonderfully. I was having normal b.m.'s again and all of my old energy had returned. My doctor then switched me over to asacol enemas, which made everything worse. Now, I am on asacol pills 800mg 3x/day. I am switching doctors though as I do not like the one I am currently working with. It took them 3 weeks to call me back after I called to let them know that the asacol enemas were giving me worse symptoms. I must have bad luck with doctors it seems :) I would really like to stay away from pills if possible as I am ultra sensitive to any medications.

Based on all the resources I have been reading, I plan to purchase some probiotics, start drinking fresh squeezed carrot juice, plan to purchase some slippery elm bark and l-glutamine.

Well, I look forward to everyone's posts and I hope that at some point I too can contribute knowledge.

Thank you,
M

welcome beiner.

If you are tolerating the oral asacol, it seems strange that you had such a problem with the rectal mesalamine. Were you really using the brand name Rowasa enemas? Or had you been given a generic brand? Some of us have found that the generic mesalamine enemas are not all the same. I had a bad reaction to one while the Rowasa brand and Teva generic were fine for me. Mesalamine enemas are a better long term treatment than the rectal steroid enemas.

Using probiotics is an excellent idea, especially considering that your UC was triggered by antibiotics.

Welcome beiner,

For acid reflux and indigestion, I would really suggest DGL. It's Degylcerhizinated Licorice Root. My whole family relies on this and sometimes I will take too, and I kid you not, right after chewing a tablet, the acid reflux is gone. It's all natural, and I believe 1 to 2 tablets is the dosage you would take only when you have symptoms.

www.vitacost.com/enzymatic-therapy-dgl-sugarless

Good luck to you.

Hi beiner1112,

I'm new the boards too. I have found the input and advice very helpful. My daughter has UC and we too are trying to reach remission.

@ garylouisville : When my daughter finally licks this thing and reaches remission. I'm going to remember that advice. It makes total sence to me.

stereofidelic89 said...
Welcome beiner,
For acid reflux and indigestion, I would really suggest DGL. It's Degylcerhizinated Licorice Root. My whole family relies on this and sometimes I will take too, and I kid you not, right after chewing a tablet, the acid reflux is gone. It's all natural, and I believe 1 to 2 tablets is the dosage you would take only when you have symptoms.
www.vitacost.com/enzymatic-therapy-dgl-sugarless
Good luck to you.

Stereo,

I agree with you about the DGL. I have been using it to relieve stomach pain during my flares. But the brand you are using doesn't work for me. It contains sorbitol and mannitol which tears up my digestive tract.

This product that I use is in a capsule and probably wasn't meant to be chewed. But I chew it anyway to get the full benefit of a more pure DGL.
www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=NT-3032