"it's all to do with diet"

i think i say it a lot - does that count ?

People get IBS and IBD confused all of the time. I've been educating people since the diagnosis. Got pretty tired of hearing that if only my daughter had no stress she would be cured,or if only she drank/ ate----(fill in blanks). IBD has so many unknowns, so many variables and one off's, that no wonder there is confusion.

The fact of the matter is that colitis isn't the same across the board, there's a chance that it's a broad categorization of dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of different diseases and/or conditions. Some cases, then, it goes without saying, can be resolved with a dietary restriction, some can be reversed with supplements, some eliminated with fecal transplants, some controlled via a combonation of diet and supplements, some reliant on medication alongside diet and supplementation, some only dealt with via medication, and some that necessitate surgery.

I believe the majority of people with colitis fall into the category of individuals that try a combination of medicine, diet, and supplements, but that's not to say there aren't cases of people that rely squarely on either one, everyone is different and everyone's colitis is different. We are, therefore, bound to hear plenty of advice that won't apply to us in any way, shape, or form. There's no element of surprise involved.

Yeah - everyone has their opinions and is always more than willing to share them with you. When I was diagnosed, my big goal was to beat UC using all natural treatments and diet. I couldn't wait to wean off of my meds, even though my GI wasn't super jazzed about it. I did well for a while, and then symptoms gradually caught up to me and I had another rough flare. I was so scared at that point that I had gotten a little cocky and what if mesalamine didn't cut it for me anymore? I am now at peace with the idea of taking oral and rectal mesalamine forever if that's what it takes. Flares are really humbling.

Some people do control it with diet - good for them! Everyone is different. I think people generally mean well but it can be annoying. Lately I've had people tell me that I flared because I "work out too much" (not true), that I need to do more yoga (probably true) and that all of my issues would be solved with a juice cleanse (absolutely false, I would die with that much raw produce in my system). Everyone's an expert (insert eye roll).

I like Quincy's sassy answer. I need to work that into my repertoire.

I am sure diet helps some people out of a flare - or to stay in remission, but in my case, I've tried entirely not eating and didn't have any luck getting inflammation to subside. I have tried eating just broths, no grain, SCD Diet, low residue, vegetarian... I haven't had any change in a flare because of diet- barring the obvious - the less you eat, the less you go.

I try to be sensible about what I eat and I've never been an unhealthy eater. I don't tell people about my UC unless it's 100% necessary, generally, I don't have to hear any advice from anyone. I would find it annoying if someone who knows absolutely nothing about the illness tries to offer advice. At the same time, I understand they are trying to be helpful so I would let it go in one ear and out the other. The reality is that there are people spending their entire lives dedicated to learning and researching this condition. Why would they think their brain fart is going to make a difference?

I agree with the others, there are probably many different types of UC caused by many different triggers, genetic, antibiotic related, infectious, who knows... I would imagine there are cases where diet could help. In my case, sadly it doesn't.

It's really difficult to tell if the diet helps if you're on meds anyway, maybe it's the meds and you're sitting around torturing yourself, not eating grain/nuts/sugar/dairy, whatever the culprit you've decided, for absolutely no reason.

I think too many people believe they or others got sick because they didn't eat right while others believe that if you just start eating right whatever disease you have will be cured. While that might be true in a small percentage of people it does not apply to most. It's human nature to think we got sick because we did something wrong just as some women believe they did something wrong and that's why some guy punched them.

garylouisville said...
Its human nature to think we got sick because we did something wrong just as some women believe they did something wrong and that's why some guy punched them.

Jesus Christ no

The Rock has a very good point when he says that evryone's UC is different....some respond to dietary changes..some need diet+herbal supplements..some need Mesalamine+ supplements and some need a whole combination of meds including the anti-TNF meds (suppressants of immune ssystem)
That variety of UC causes confusion as many forms of treatments work on many different people.
Pesrsonally, I believe that proper food and supplements, at least can help you stay on minimally required dose of medicines ,thus, reducing the side effects.

Is this just a me thing or does anyone else hear this a lot? It seems so common for me to hear people's advice on how to get rid of my apparently very manageable disease!!!

I never hear it because no one would be brave enough to try and tell me anything haha. I would not get physically violent but they would get "the stare" which looks like "you effing idiot" and then they'd slink away. UC is not different from anything else: pregnancy, dieting, how your kids are misbehaving, etc. People who think they are superior want to tell you what to do, meanwhile their own lives are not that great.

I hated when I was young and female because old men always tried to tell me what to do, like "smile, you don't look happy".

If it happens often then plan a few zingers to have ready "Oh really, that's not what my doctor said" or "I didn't realize you went to med school" said with a smile, one that says "you effing idiot". Or if you are really fed up then get personal, such as "Well you could lose about 30 pounds, you know that can cause all kinds of problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attacks", (keep going in a concerned way until they leave you alone).

It's not about UC, it's about other people thinking they can tell someone else what to do. Smart people don't, so you're dealing with dolts, well-meaning dolts.

Thanks for that Quincy, I was under the impression that left sided colitis only applied to ulcerative colitis and that Crohn's was a disease that impacted the whole digestive system. I suppose it's always great to learn more about IBD. I'll change my signature for the sake of clarity.

I'm Canadian myself, nice guess, did the proper English give it away? Yeah, I took a shot at America, bring it on! lol

As for my UC, it's up to my splenic flexure.

Spot on Diva, I noticed that dietary restrictions can help some people stay on a what may be considered "weaker" medications. Diet is just a synonym for nutrition when it comes to ulcerative colitis, it's undoubtedly a tricky and complicated thing.

It hurts when people whose opinion you respect imply you're just being over-dramatic, and there's nothing serious actually wrong with you. That's why I try to use words like 'autoimmune disease', 'inflammation of my whole large intestine', 'chronic bowel disease' instead of just colitis when I explain what I have. Even the word 'ulcerative' is problematic, because most people associate that with the kind of stomach ulcers you get from eating too much spicy food.