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Resting while flaring

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/26/2017 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
I had another rough day yesterday. Was doing so well (only a handful of trips to the bathroom, mostly gas and blood/mucus, but still better than the day before).

Then last night when I got home the D kicked in a good bout- as soon as I walked in the door- and then the games were on. It took so much out of me. The gas pains were bad and the blood is still just as bad as it was two weeks ago when I started the pred. I decided to stay home today. I feel like a wimp but I really think just laying here on the couch and resting will give me a good day- better than I would have if I were working and running around doing errands. Does anyone else find this? Literally, I hope to just lay in bed.

Do you think it makes a difference how active we are in our daily routine, in terms of how much it impacts how we go- frequency?

I am Working full time while in a PhD program which I travel two hours and stay overnight on campus every other weekend. That's tomorrow- so I thought just hanging here today and doing nothing is best. Idk if I can keep this up.

Did I mention I'm planning a wedding for Oct too? Ugh.
Posted 1/26/2017 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
When I was in a flare, I still went to work. I think that was a big mistake. I should of taken time off to just rest. I think it's very important to eliminate as much stress as you can and resting helps a lot.
Posted 1/26/2017 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
I personally don't think it matters as far as impact on your symptoms, but it certainly makes life difficult and causes a lot of stress. No one can really answer this question unfortunately. I know I've had periods of time where I did nothing, didn't work, had no obligations, no stress, ate very carefully - SCD, and my symptoms were terrible and headed downhill. I've also had the opposite. It's very unpredictable. I personally wouldn't plan a wedding with the unpredictability of UC looming - hopefully it's managed by October, but it just seems like an unnecessary stress to me. Not to say I would change plans, but I would 100% want to have an answer well in advance - need to know something works. Don't want to be in a white dress with an accident or have a moonface in pictures. Starve myself at my own wedding... Did you ever try any of the antiTNFs?
Posted 1/26/2017 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Like everything else, it seems to work differently for each of us. Some people swear by exercise, that is helps to reduce their symptoms. For me, tons and tons of rest absolutely helped me heal. I tested it (not really on purpose, LOL). I would exercise, feel good immediately afterwards (the endorphins no doubt) but the next day have just an awful awful day where I could only lay on the sofa. The day after that awful day I would feel better... and decide I could exercise! Same result.. over and over. Took me a while to figure out the pattern: feel worse the day after exercise, feel better the day after resting. So I decided what if I just say screw exercise until I am in remission, and just REST. I did that, even though I felt like a lazy slob. For me.. it gradually worked, along with switching to a completely low fibre diet, and no alcohol.

For my second flare, I immediately went to the full rest formula, except added gentle pilates and LOW weight training (just so my muscles would not completely atrophy). No cardio. Again, for me --- it worked. Can't say it would for anyone else.
Posted 1/26/2017 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Resting while flaring is important.....especially if you aren't improving. If you don't slow down, your body won't have the energy to keep up with the demand of a busy schedule. And yes....the more demand thats you put on it, the less likely you will improve.

q
Posted 1/27/2017 9:34 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I always find that working through a flare makes it so much worse, just being uncomfortable in the office, restrictive clothes, self-conscious about my noisy belly, no privacy in the bathroom when I need to go. But if I have two days at home where I can lay on my side as needed and fluff as needed ( 😊) then I just find
myself get better and better. I've managed to organize a work from home option during these times to help things.
Posted 1/28/2017 6:19 AM (GMT 0)
Yes you absolutely must give your body the rest it needs! It's assumed you aren't absorbing nutrients efficiently and the prednisone has your adrenal system all whacked out. Seriously don't beat yourself up about needing to take a day or two to recuperate. After my first flare up I rushed back to work/school and was hard on myself about being unable to function like I used to. Big mistake. It took so long to heal, I had no energy to perform the simplest tasks, I'd be up one day, down the next and was always super anxious/paranoid about untimely bowel movements. Going on medical leave was the best thing I could have done. The time off allowed me to really focus on recovery. I'm grateful I was able to as I know we all don't have the luxury of doing so. Good luck on your recovery as well as school/home life!
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