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Anybody's Doctor Suggest Alternatives??

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/4/2013 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
My GI explained it to me like this: I went to med school, learned by the book, so I'm qualified to suggest prescription medications to take. But I"ve heard a lot about alternative methods, and not opposed to you trying whichever you want, but I can't give you any advice about it.

Though he did mention the paleo diet and thought people had some success with that.

I have seen a hospital/university associated GI, private practice GI, chiropractor, naturopath, homeopath, and Chinese medicine. I have radically altered my diet in different directions (vegan, SCD, paleo, and everywhere in between). Honestly, I don't know what does any good any more. Nothing, really. I lead what I consider a super-healthy lifestyle. I'm sure that if I went back to lots of sugars, gluten, dairy, and whatnot I'd have a lot worse symptoms, though, so I'll continue to experiment on myself and see what works. Basically, at this point, I think I'm about as qualified as anyone else to suggest treatment plans for myself. The only thing I can't do is prescribe medications or do a colonoscopy on myself. ;-O
Posted 1/4/2013 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
My GI pretty much played it by the book. I even asked him what he knew about diet's effect on the disease and he said: "Eat whatever you want, diet plays no role." A more responsible answer would have been: "I don't believe diet plays a role. There is no research showing that it does or doesn't." Whatever. He said the same thing about probiotics. I started on SCD and other lifestyle changes immediately after diagnosis anyways because I've always distrusted the whole "only drugs can help you" school of though. I've found the internet to better source of ideas for alternative treatment than any doctor could be anyways. Probably the best you can reasonably hope for is a GI that won't roll his eyes when you tell him you're trying lifestyle changes. Then again, I have heard that some doctors are more open to the possibility that diet might play a role.
Posted 1/4/2013 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
Mine is like that. He suggested VSL 3, cutting out processed foods (he says "processed foods" rather than gluten because the "gluten free" goodies that everyone buys just substitute chemicals for gluten much of the time), trying vitamins, and seeing what works.

He has totally admitted that it's a weird disease and there is no magic bullet, so keep trying. He also is big on the conventional "treat from both ends" starting with mesalamine, and didn't do pred until I didn't respond to the mesalamines to stop the flare.
Posted 1/5/2013 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
I understand your point gary, sorry got confused.

I think I'm wary against GI docs because of that very first doctor which couldn't have been more harmful to my psyche. Refusing any diet related questions, mind you I had about 10mins of time to see him every apointment. Would not prescribe me rectal meds, suppositories or probiotics, told me to stick with the hydrocortisone cream. I even asked twice to get 'blood work' done for Vit D, B12, Iron, he said he 'couldn't do this' or didn't know what I was talking about. I thought, the hell with it! I'll put all my trust into my naturopathic doc who seemed to have a clue.

This is probably why I appear short on the subject, because I felt robbed in my own place. And I'm a talker! I ask so many questions. I can't help but think to myself how many people may still be stuck in that one guys office with the same dead-end answers! I wrote a review of him on this website, but a few months later I see it was taken off.

The next two GI docs I've seen throughout the past year were great. The one I saw this summer in my hometown was incredibly understanding and was short of words when trying to recommend this book by a woman who pioneered a specific diet. I asked, "Elaine Gottschall" ? YEP! :)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Medical Doctors normally do not go through Nutrition or Disease Prevention, but instead only treatment through conventional medicine.
Posted 1/5/2013 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
kazbern, thats great GF has worked out for you, have you cheated at all lately? I cheated a few months ago and payed the price. Few months later, and now I'm doing excellent. I've limited my intake of grains in general, and sugar. What a long road!

bananagirl, I had the same scenario with my first ND. Even though she sent me on my way to the Tea shop with prescription bags, she told me that given the severity of my case, I needed to follow my GI's orders on getting on Asacol and sticking with prednisone. I remember going in to my first ND apt with my mom, asking if I could just get off these drugs. She reminded me there is a time and place for medicine. It wasn't until 6 months later (tapering pred, following SCD) that I felt like herbs/supplements were helping.

I always think that in our situation, say acute stages, its very difficult to expect herbs and supplements to do the heavy work. I think in my case, this is where the prednisone and asacol came in, until I could find a balance. =/
Posted 1/5/2013 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Stereo, I have not cheated at all. I've been "glutened" three times by accident over the past year and it's always horrible the next few days. I really have no problems at all adhering to this plan. I do not limit anything else.
Posted 1/5/2013 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
My GI thinks VSL3 is great for light to moderate UC. That's the most alternative she was. She knew far more of the experimental treatments then I at first realized, but since they weren't scientifically studied, she didn't really recommend them. She told me that UC was not proven to be related to diet, which is true in a scientific sense. I believe that some people can find that magic diet keys that works for them.

I looked around me for something like an integrated medicine doc, but couldn't find anyone that fit the bill. At the time, I didn't know the term "integrated medicine" to do a correct search. I didn't think a chiropractor would be able to help me since internet searching did not yield any real success stories going that route.
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