How do you keep your Uc at bay and does it require medication?

IMO, it's a LOT better to be on Humira than it is to be on prednisone for a year and a half.

My current meds are in my signature, but it doesn't look as if they'll work for you.

Are you sure the wheat grass, fish oil, and other things are actually helping you and not making you worse? Sometimes people just assume these things are helping when, in fact, they are actually making you worse or preventing you from healing.

I cannot say but research has shown they prove to heal. Out of curiosity, is Claritin for your UC? I have noticed multiple people in the forum on Claritin and so I'm curious if there is some relation to UC.

Maddy, that was my point. There are many things from supplements to meds that have proven science behind them that show that they work or improve UC but some of us have found that some of them do the reverse and make us worse. Some, like me, are sure that VSL makes us better. Others report that it makes them much worse. Nothing is written in stone with this disease. I could see some of the things you are taking could make some much worse instead of better. Unless you know for sure what they are doing for you, don't just assume that they are good for you or making you better just because you read or heard it somewhere. Many have complained about some of the things you are doing as making them worse.

The enemas are much better, as they are a much higher dose of meslamine (4g is the usual dose for enemas, although you can find 2g ones, and the supps only have 1g) and they reach a LOT higher in the colon, as the supps only treat the rectum. The oral meds often don't effectively treat the distal colon, which is why the enemas are so effective.

So what's the story with Lialda?

Also, how extensive is your UC?

hey 102 -

so far, i am 100% sure that i agree with garylooville - there are many things i can put in my body now that i couldn't when i was still sick - the fish oil might help some folks, but like gary said, it has made others worser -

if you can't know for a fact that something is helping, leave it on the shelf -

I'm on Remicade, but I agree with fruitgirl that is likely way to early to try it. Generally, most GIs will follow this sequence:
1.) Prescribe meslamine oral (Asacol HD, Lialda, Apriso, etc.) and meslamine rectal (canasa suppositories or a Rowasa which is an enema). GIs prescribe suppositories (e.g., Canasa) for those that have their uc limited to just their rectum (known as Proctitis) as that is as far as thay medication reaches. For those who have uc that extends further (e.g., Proctosigmoiditis which includes both the rectum and the sigmoid colon), an enema is given as it goes at least that far.
2.) If the meslamines described in step #1 are not enough to keep uc in check, they are then given a form of immunosuppression medications (Imuran, 6mp, Aza, etc.) in addition to the meslamine meds. The combination of meslamine and immunosuppressants works well for many.
3.) If the immunosuppression medications are not enough, then biologics (Remicade, humira, etc) are added.
4.) If nothing else works then surgery is the "cure" for uc.

The only uc medication that gives everyone side effects is prednisone. The medications described in steps 1, 2, and 3 have very rare side effects that very few encounter. So yes, very limited side effects on all of these.