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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/28/2015 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor always encouraged that I eat very little if anything and instead just go through a complete fasting during the onset of a flare. Water, gatorade/Emergen-C or fresh juiced juice is best. Well, last friday I was hit pretty hard with a flare and for three days I upped my supplements, stopped eating and only consumed those beverages, and on Tuesday, I was doing so much better.

I also added in 3oz Aloe Vera Juice, Slippery Elm and like 15 (500mg) tabs of Curcumin daily and this really turned things around fast.

Fasting is tough, and not advisable with a medical condition, but I can't tell you how liberating it is to let my body get rid of or overcome whatever it needs to do to stop the pain and a full on flare with a few days. This was the shortest flare up i've had, and I hope that this is how I can deal with them in the future.

Anyone else find fasting quickens the recovery process?

I'm still dealing with some pain on my bottom of course and am not digesting fully yet. ;/ My doc says that if I sparingly consume gluten or dairy (I'm allergic) it can in fact throw me into a flare. :( Now that I live in NYC, its more than difficult to gather all my health foods.
Posted 3/28/2015 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
How long do you keep that up though? I was put on bowel rest several times (in the hospital) and yeah I felt better because there was no food aggravating my colon but as soon as food hit it again, I would be back to square one. I guess everyone's UC behaves differently. That's good if it helps you.
Posted 3/28/2015 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
i've fasted a lot just because eating/cooking was tiresome and i didn't have the energy to do it. i still went to the bathroom over 20x a day though each time i did it and was always throwing up or in pain. i sadly never found any benefit but i have severe UC and food doesn't affect my inflammation at all.
Posted 3/28/2015 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
There is some evidence that fasting helps to reset the immune system, but no responsible doctor would recommend a complete fast without admitting a patient and putting them on IV fluids/nutrients
Posted 3/28/2015 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
When I was hospitalized several years ago, I was put on a liquid diet. While it didn't help me completely, it did make me feel better just giving my colon a little rest. I haven't been fasting exactly, but I have been eating extremely light. I've been having some horrible gut issues lately - IBS and Diverticular disease not UC this time. It has been making me feel much better. Until I slipped up one day and had a hamburger - omg! I thought I was dying!

I have never been on a complete fast, nor would I want to without medical assistance.
Posted 3/28/2015 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, Red. That's what happened to me last night. I was craving french fries (my favorite) and got them and within a few hours was in some pain again on the toilet. :( But, today i've taken it easier.

Again, I don't advise complete fasting, all I did was sip bone broth soup in the morning, up my supplements and rest while having water and gatorade/coconut water. It can be difficult, and many times in that worst moment i wonder, will i need to go to the hospital this time? But, i've always come out alright.

I knew I had to let my bowels run their course and by fasting I was able to recover a bit, but not without upping my supplements. I also prayed a lot (for any believers here). :)
Posted 3/29/2015 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
I think it may be the high dose of curcumin that's helping you. The amount you're taking is what I took during my last flare and it had a positive impact within days. Keep taking six or seven grams until you recover.

I don't think fasting cures a flare. When I flare, i lose my appetite and barely eat. The not eating is to the point where I lose 15-20 lbs within a few weeks.

Not eating doesnt help other than to reduce the volume (not frequency or pain) of what's coming out.
Posted 3/29/2015 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
so what got you into this latest flare ster man ?
Posted 3/30/2015 1:14 AM (GMT 0)

kiptyn said...
I think it may be the high dose of curcumin that's helping you. The amount you're taking is what I took during my last flare and it had a positive impact within days. Keep taking six or seven grams until you recover.

I don't think fasting cures a flare. When I flare, i lose my appetite and barely eat. The not eating is to the point where I lose 15-20 lbs within a few weeks.

Not eating doesnt help other than to reduce the volume (not frequency or pain) of what's coming out.

I think doctors would agree that fasting does help in this scenareo. Our gut is raw inside, and it takes work to digest any food. The more we make our bodies work when we're ill, the less of a chance we have at getting real rest and focusing our energy on healing.

Stud, tbh, I worked at a cafe for a 2 months that had these french macaroons.. and i was hungry during most of my shifts.. and i gave in and had a few from time to time not thinking anything of it (like an idiot). I'm sure they had gluten. I still don't know if french macaroons are made with just almond meal/flour or wheat too... And i definitely had flour tortilla tacos at one point.

So stupid, because i do so well at avoiding gluten and many times crave certain foods I can't have, then of course by accident i consume subpar gluten-filled foods.

My doc said that yes, gluten can throw me into a flare and dairy (because i'm allergic).

This was the weirdest flare up i've had, the worst lasting 6 days at the most. Now i'm just dealing with diarrhea. :( Lots of BRAT foods for now.

How about you, hows things going?
Posted 4/16/2015 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
My spirit is breaking. I've spent just about four weeks now with low energy, stomach cramps, diarrhea disturbing my morning sleep and nights. I've spent/borrowed over $300+ on supplements to keep this flare at bay. I'm fighting urges to eat copious amounts of food. I've made several batches of bone broth soup, cream of rice and UltraInflamX for weeks. :(

I just started a new job that is very flexible, but I feel my worst, and am turned off by how hard i've been working to kick this flare. The last three flare ups i've had, 2013, 2013 and 2014 have randomly kicked themselves, almost as if a switch turned off and then on again to make me better fast. I still don't understand, and living in a pool of mystery, putting my life in uncertainty bothers me.

Having this disease is like being imprisoned in your body and being physically abused and tortured. It's just not fair. No one understands the pain we go through, and its so difficult for anyone to make this disease known. If we are in the future that we often dreamt about years ago, i'd love to be the artist that designs an interactive body suit that could allow a normal person to experience what we go through on an average-flare up day. Just maybe this would empower scientists to research and provide for patients in a different light, and to make alternative doctors step it up and really provide sound research we need on how food effects us. I'd love to see change. I want for everyone to be better. I don't want to lose my spirit over this disease, i'm very surprised my head and heart are still in a safe place.
Posted 4/16/2015 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, it is tough...why don't you try some UC meds? Clearly you are in need.
Posted 4/16/2015 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
I don't see what they could possibly provide for me tbh. I never have, even after using prednisone during my diagnosis. It was just a mask. I don't doubt science, and really credit it to saving my life and many others, but i don't want to rely on it. I do up the Asacol during a flare, and always have a back up of prednisone, but then I have to become dependent on these meds that may or may not sustain remission, sometimes causing side effects with a need for more meds. I'm currently on Asacol and taking LDN.
Posted 4/16/2015 2:29 AM (GMT 0)

stereofidelic89 said...
I don't see what they could possibly provide for me tbh.

Possible remission?

And the only med you can become dependent on is Prednisone. All the others you can stop cold-turkey if you wish, with no withdrawal symptoms. You basically take the one med which is the most dangerous for you by far, and which really does only mask symptoms.
Posted 4/16/2015 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
Have you been tested for C-diff? Don't take pred. until you know you don't have it, you'll get worse.

Time to talk to a GI and find out if something can be done to get you back to your normal place.
Don't let things get worse or continue feeling bad. Hope you get better soon.
Posted 4/16/2015 8:04 AM (GMT 0)

stereofidelic89 said...

Anyone else find fasting quickens the recovery process?


Nope. I fasted for a weekend to get rid of the bleeding and it helped while I fasted. As soon as I put some solid food in my mouth I started bleeding again. Not to mentioned I was weak during fasting. I would not do it again.
Posted 4/16/2015 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
I know that intermittent fasting was very helpful to me a couple years ago. IIRC it was 18 hours liquids only then 12 hours of light food then 18 hrs of liquids, did this for a week. Gave my gut a much needed rest and bleeding did stop, also used mesalamine enemas. And no the enemas alone were not the reason for improvement because I'd been using them and still had bleeding.

I would definitely do intermittent fasting again if needed. Wasn't that difficult but would not do a complete fast without some supervision.
Posted 4/16/2015 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
clearly, if you are fighting the urge to eat copious amounts of food, your body is telling you something! Don't forget, that a body needs energy, ie- calories, to fight inflammation & heal. Weakening yourself will do absolutely zero good in the long run. I think you're being a bit short-sighted, truthfully. It's not a competition, there's nothing "wrong" with using prescription meds. good luck!
Posted 4/16/2015 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
I'm fighting urges to eat copious amounts of food.

Eva is right in this case - your body is telling you exactly what it wants. You really need to get some chow into you. Fasting is great for the normal population, but those with UC need to be careful because the colon needs food to thrive and rebuild itself.

There was a time when my body wanted nothing but butter cookies and chocolate. I realize now it was because I was massively deficient in iron (alkalized chocolate) and calories. I started to improve when I honored that craving, and my colon did not complain (surprisingly).

Prescription meds are great short term tools, so they might be helpful in the beginning, but I'm not going to pretend they solve the root cause of our UC pathologies.
Posted 4/16/2015 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
sorry ster - this sucks big time :-(

seems to me that if you are continuing to have flaries, what you're doing needs some tweaking -

for me, it was something as simple as finally getting rid of all grains, not just the wheat/gluten thing - I suspect it's probably a simple thing for you too - but figuring out what you need to tweak may take some doing -

you know the saying, if man had wings, would he still have to take out the trash ?

oh wait, not that one - how bout, if what you're doing or not doing aint working, do or don't do something else - ya, that's the one -

and don't always assume that if something didn't work before, it won't work now - we're always changing and moving to a different place - just try to throw the possibility door wide open and see what happens -

hang in there good buddy :-)
Posted 4/16/2015 11:25 PM (GMT 0)

NiceCupOfTea said...

stereofidelic89 said...
I don't see what they could possibly provide for me tbh.

Possible remission?

And the only med you can become dependent on is Prednisone. All the others you can stop cold-turkey if you wish, with no withdrawal symptoms. You basically take the one med which is the most dangerous for you by far, and which really does only mask symptoms.

Try again, immuno-suppresent drugs and biologics are worse.

EvaLou said...
clearly, if you are fighting the urge to eat copious amounts of food, your body is telling you something! Don't forget, that a body needs energy, ie- calories, to fight inflammation & heal. Weakening yourself will do absolutely zero good in the long run. I think you're being a bit short-sighted, truthfully. It's not a competition, there's nothing "wrong" with using prescription meds. good luck!

That's why i'm using Metagenics UltraInflamX, it packs a lot of nutrients with a significant amount of protein. I just eat a lot and never lose that appetite. I don't think i'm being short-sighted, i look at medicine as a last resort. There's nothing wrong with that. I'm not keeling over in a hospital bed, if i was, that is my last resort. The pain is restricted to mornings and nights, and i've seen slight improvements over the past few weeks, but still have bloody diarrhea. I will certainly consider, but i'm already doing so much.

Imagardener2, i will have to ask to get tested, thats a good idea. I don't think I have been.

Your right stud, something that didn't work before, may work now. Time for more investigating. We shall see. And a doctor visit.
Posted 4/17/2015 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
There is always urine therapy if the fasting doesn't work out :)
Posted 4/24/2015 2:26 PM (GMT 0)

notsosicklygirl said...
There is always urine therapy if the fasting doesn't work out :)

Hey-O!
Posted 5/1/2015 11:52 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I've been on 40mg of prednisone for almost two weeks now and while I have some energy back and maybe one less bathroom trip, i'm still having bloody diarrhea, sometimes straight liquid when using the bathroom at 3am or 7am, and then once in the afternoon and once at night.

I'm nauseus, and my mental alertness is too out of whack compared to what my body is going through. I'm also emotional. If i can recall four years ago, these are some symptoms prednisone leaves me with. This is very atypical of a flare up for me. Since March 20th i've been flaring like this and things have only slightly improved through dietary/supplement changes and adding Asacol 2 tabs 3x daily.

Living in NY is a ***** and the naturopathic or integrative doctors here do not accept insurance which means paying close to 1k out of pocket for a consult and appointment. O_O i'm seeing a gastroenterologist who just wants to do a PPD test on my skin to rule out tuberculosis exposure so that I can get on biologics. I've been trying to figure out to perform this stool sample so that I can revisit the question of C.diff, but my bowels are not in any form to be 'collected' into a little tiny tube at home. Working on it though. Keeping with my faith on this one day in and out, feel like i'm trying to consider all options accordingly without adding so much into my body that I don't know what is helping or isn't.
Posted 5/1/2015 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
Are you absolutely sure that all of the things in your signature were helping you? If not, then what is the point? Don't know about some but Aloe Vera in particular is known for giving people diarrhea.
Posted 5/1/2015 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
I would be careful fasting on your own. When my flare first started, I had the same instinct. I pretty much fasted and lost 10 pounds in a week. The flare didn't go away, but I'm still trying to gain the weight back and am unhealthier for the weight loss.

As for the c. diff test, can you get a collection hat from your doctor or the lab? It makes it much easier than trying to go into a little cup.
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