newly diagnosed with UC.

I'm 43 and just diagnosed with UC last week. My head is spinning, I feel like someone threw me into the deep end of the pool and I don't know how to swim. The GI doctor confirmed by colonoscopy and biopsy that I have mild left side UC. He prescribed me prednisone, 30mg/day week one decreasing by 5mg every week after for 6wks. Also 2 Lialda a day. I was then told to come back in 4-6 wks. That's it. Today I drop down to 25mg of prednisone I'm still having diarrhea, blood and mucus but maybe 3-5x/day instead of 20.

I feel like I don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing. I've done a lot of reading but everything is so vague. I'm not sure what to eat, it seems that everything I was eating is on the "foods to avoid" list. Should I take any other supplements?

Thanks for reading, sorry it's so long.
Any helpful advise would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Definitely call your GI and let him know your symptoms are not improving. I agree that 2 Lialda isn't enough, you should be on 4 and rectal meds.
If you don't like this GI, don't be afraid to find a new one! This disease is hard to get a handle on. I feel like I am just starting to understand it now, two years after diagnosis. Hang in there!

Yes, I think it should be 4 pills a day of Lialda. 2 pills are for maintenance, 4 pills are for getting into remission. You might be able to call Lialda directly and see what their recommendation is. That way you can go directly back to your GI with information right from the source.

This forum is both a blessing and a curse for someone recently diagnosed with UC. There is so much information on here it can be overwhelming. Keep in mind many of the people on this forum have a more severe form of UC and only post when they are in an active flare. Reading all the topics and comments can sometimes be depressing and scary. This can skew your perspective about UC and put you at risk for a negative mindset. However, there is a lot of useful information on here too and I think this forum is a necessary asset for someone with UC. Just filter the information and try not to see yourself in every tale of woe, especially, since you have a more mild form of UC. Many people can achieve long periods of remission and manage their UC well.

As far as diet goes, much of this is a personal thing. Keeping a food journal will let you know what foods agree with you and those that don't. There is a lot of contradictory information out there. One of the things that really helped me was cutting down on processed meats, foods loaded with preservatives, fast food, and anything with artificial sweeteners in them. These things aren't good for you anyway. It is hard to avoid them entirely but limiting these things can help. Actually, artificial sweeteners should be cut out completely, as they can really cause inflammation.

You might consider taking a probiotic too at some point. I think the refrigerated versions are best.

Oh and you are still early on in your prednisone treatment. You should see more improvement this week and next. Keep positive and good luck!

I'd maybe seek a second opinion from another GI doctor since it sounds like you're not getting better in your description

good luck

I would strongly second dusty's advice. UC is a highly variable illness with very different manifestations and outcomes. Mild colitis can be very manageable. My advice to you would be to make sure you're getting the right medication to get you into remission and once you are stable, look into diet modifications and supplements. As everyone on here will say, everyone is different, but they can help some people significantly. The obvious path on the diet front is the SCD or some form of Paleo. That said, those diets definitely don't work for some people, who find they need to omit other things, or can't tolerate red meat, or have issues with dairy, etc etc. On supplements, tumeric, good quality probiotics and boswella are worth trying to see if they help you.

Good luck.

I think it's weird how this illness and treatments are so varied. when I was diagnosed (before Lialda), I had pancolitis and 3200mg of asacol daily got me from a mild/moderate pancolitis flare to 100% in a few days. I was great for about a year and a half following - no symptoms at all. I did use canasa rectally regularly and I recommend you use enemas since yours is left-sided but, I am surprised he didn't try a higher dose of mesalamine with rectals instead of presnisone.