HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

First timer need advice getting flair under control.

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/2/2015 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Everyone,

I was diagnosed with UC in July 2014. They put me on Asacol 800mg for a total of 6 pills a day. I was ok for a little while things seemed to be going back to normal and then around Christmas things flared up again.

Early January they put on 5mg Prednisone 8 pills a day for 2 weeks, 7 pills for 1 week etc.. till where I am now where I'm taking 1 pill a day till the pills are done. The GI is out of town so I wont be able to see him till March 13th. I keep a log of what I eat and bathroom frequency.

This past Saturday was the worst with 9 trips and Sunday only 2 and things seemed normal
but today its bad again I'm already on my 6th trip.

I'm trying a gluton-free diet see if it helps.

medications:
6 pills of Asacol 800mg
1 Align
1 Multi-Vitamin
2 x Iron/B12 supplement.(Salus Floradix Formula)

Typical daily Diet.
- 1 x Banana
- 1 x Probiotic Yogurt
- Soups for lunch
- Chicken, Rice, Veggies for dinner.
- Vega Protein shake

- Liquid intake is primarily Water & Plain Tea (no sugar, milk etc)

Excercise:
40 Mins on treadmill daily
and pushup/pullup etc.. every other day.
1 Rest day every 3 days.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Post Edited (rt5645) : 3/2/2015 7:13:29 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/2/2015 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
Don't assume anything in regards to diet. Ripe bananas are high in histamine, which would do me in. What do you mean by probiotic yogurt? Are you talking about yogurt in general? Many store bought yogurts can actually make you worse. What kind of soups are you eating? Again, many, especially creamy ones, can make you worse. Chicken, rice, and veggies are big words. They can mean just about anything and some of those could be making you worse, as well as "a vega protein shake", whatever that is. Many times juicing or shake concoctions can make you worse when you just assume they are good for you. Other than those diet things I recommend you take a real probiotic, such as VSL#3. While Align is good for the general population it is like one drop in a very large ocean for a UC'r. Most that have success with probiotics (which is many) usually take 50 billion CFU's or more per day, sometimes astronomically more. Also, most people need to take both oral mesalaimine such as Asacol as well as rectal meds.
Posted 3/2/2015 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
Please call your GI and ask for mesalamine enemas. The combination of rectal and oral mesalamine is the best approach to treating UC before moving on to stronger meds. You should have been given this med at the beginning of your illness but it is not too late.

And I agree with Gary - I would ditch the "probiotic yogurt" and Align and the vega protein shake. Work with basic, simple, non-processed foods.
Posted 3/2/2015 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
I'm surprised this wasn't mentioned before but iron supplements can be extremely harsh on your gut.
Posted 3/2/2015 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
After my last flare, I gave up yogurt, and all milk products. I like the almond milk ( some people have issues with almond milk, but it does not bother me) and even though I do not have celiac, I limit the amount of breads and cereal that I eat. I use some of the gluten free breads, bagels and snacks. The only thing I don't care for is gluten free pizza, so I cheat and eat regular pizza once a week.

I feel much better! No more gassy bloated feeling, and so far no more flares.
Posted 3/2/2015 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
it would be good to know the extent of the UC, and how severe it was rated.

the more urgency there is, or if the sigmoid inflammation was severe, the more helpful rectal meds could be.

I have used VSL, but it is not the only option. It is live with a high count, but it is also just certain strains. If you can hit an strains that give you relief, that is key - even if the count is only 15 billion instead of 450 billion. Experiment a bit.

It might also be good to try to get some byturate fermentation. IF you can tolerate the fiber, some oat bran fiber might help.

unless you are anemic, perhaps best not to do oral iron supplement. if you have a moderate amount of anemia, best to get an iron infusion.

good luck
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply