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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/13/2008 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Firstly many apologies for the lack of knowledge and understanding on the subject compared to most of the posters here! I've done a few searches and read a load of posts and it's most humbling seeing what most of you have to go through each day

I'm posting on behalf of my girlfriend who has suffered/coped with UC for 10 years or so. Since Xmas she's been having a mild flare up that's not getting any better so has bitten the bullet and started using her prescribed Asacol foam enema (she is really anti taking tablets for anything). In the past she's taken Asacol tablets and various other enemas but with limited success

She's trying a zero fibre/controlled diet but that doesn't seem to being having any effect but the trouble is now that she's really not comfortable with the Asacol during the night and is contemplating going to a more liquid diet of soups in the evening to try and stop the feeling of wanting to go to the toilet all through the night

Its a viscous circle of lack of sleep causing stress causing the flare ups and it's hard to know what to do first. She's losing quiet a lot of blood recently and combined with the lack of sleep is really feeling spaced out

I know there's no quick fix or answers but can anyone suggest something to try?

Posted 2/13/2008 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
I think zero fiber isn't good, because we need some fiber to bulk the stools. It sounds like the liquid diet would be a good start, or she could try those supplemental drinks like ensure, but I can't remember the name of the ones people on here use, hopefully someone else can chime in with the answer. I use Lomitil pills which are prescription anti- spasmodic pills when I have too many bms. They make me sleepy but I am able to rest without going to the bathroom and when I get up, usually the bms have stopped. The pills and rest and a light diet are the only things I know of that get me by.
Posted 2/13/2008 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
scd diet. pecanbread.com

Posted 2/13/2008 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
If she'd like to try a liquid/predigested diet to give her colon a chance to rest and heal, check out the book IBD Remission Diet. It gives instructions for using elemental shakes, healthy oils, broths and juices. In one test, an elemental diet was as effective as steroids in inducing remission.

I'd also recommend you check out Breaking the Vicious Cycle, Listen to Your Gut and The New Eating Right for a Bad Gut for various IBD diets. Don't go into this blindly. Do your research, then it's trial and error from there. Also, don't expect overnight success. It takes a long time for the body to get ill to the point of IBD. It's going to take a long time to truly heal.

In addition to dietary changes, she should also look into probiotics and supplements that are healing to the gut like l-glutamine, which can be very effective in controlling diarrhea.

Kudos to you for helping your girlfriend.
Posted 2/13/2008 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
I think you are going to get many different answers. I used to take Ensure during flares also. however, I don't anymore. It has too much sugar, which seems to cause me problem. Anti-fungal diet has worked for me more than anything, including the meds. I think you'll find plenty of posts about anti-fungal diet.
Posted 2/13/2008 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I am also new here.  I am really excited to find a place that has so much information to offer.  I am here on behalf of my husband who has ulcerative colitis.  Thank you for having this website so I can continue my quest. scool   
Posted 2/14/2008 9:21 AM (GMT 0)
Many thanks all and there's obviously a lot more research to be done yet! Thankfully though a liquid diet isn't considered a bad thing which was my main concern

Another question if I may?

We visited the local chemist yesterday to see about getting some more Asacol to finish this course and they didn't have anything listed (we moved to Spain from the UK a year ago). They did however have something called Claversal (in foam enema form) as an alternative. Does anyone have any thoughts on this, I assume Asacol is probably a tradename and that it's an identical product?

Post Edited (A&G) : 2/14/2008 3:55:35 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/14/2008 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
A&G, Claversal is the same drug, different name. Lucky you, living in Spain!
Posted 2/14/2008 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thought so!

LOL, it has its benefits (although having to pay 50€ for a pack of Claversal stings a bit!)
Posted 2/14/2008 3:05 PM (GMT 0)

A&G said...
Many thanks all and there's obviously a lot more research to be done yet! Thankfully though a liquid diet isn't considered a bad thing which was my main concern

A liquid diet isn't something she should do indefinitely... maybe just try it for a week or two. I believe the IBD Remission Diet is recommended for 4-6 weeks, but I don't have the book in front of me. It's important, too, to use an enteral formula so she's still getting the protein, carbs and healthy fats - the balanced nutrition she needs.
Posted 2/14/2008 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
The plan was that she'll try it for roughly 7 days just to give things a chance to calm down a bit. We found some Spanish products that contained probiotics, omega3 etc as well as being a meal substitute so assume that would be fine?

I'm going to buy her the IBD Remission Diet but couldn't find anywhere selling it in the UK/Spain (Amazon want ridiculous money for it) so have emailed the publisher to see if they'll ship out here
Posted 2/14/2008 7:28 PM (GMT 0)

A&G said...
The plan was that she'll try it for roughly 7 days just to give things a chance to calm down a bit. We found some Spanish products that contained probiotics, omega3 etc as well as being a meal substitute so assume that would be fine?

Be aware there is a difference between a meal replacement shake and an elemental shake. (I was using the wrong terminology in my earlier post and corrected it.) An elemental formula provides liquidized nutrients that are predigested so little or no work is required by a compromised digestive tract to absorb the nutrients the body needs. Regular meal replacement products used by body builders and the general public are not predigested, although they would probably still provide an advantage over solid foods if there aren't any objectionable ingredients like lots of sugars or unhealthy fats.
Posted 2/15/2008 10:07 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks

Looks like I've got to find somewhere in the EU that sells it now as the cost of shipping from the US would be prohibitive
Posted 2/15/2008 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
Have you talked to the folks at Caramel about your dilemma?

You can reach them at [email protected] or call 1.888.866.7745
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