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What works for me, NO drugs, great improvements

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/5/2009 6:35 PM (GMT 0)

I've had UC for about 5 years now. It started as proctitis but soon spread.
I used to have frequent diarrhea, often with blood and mucus.

I was using medications such as Pentasa suppositories and Asacol oral pills.
It would help at first but a year later it would come back again.

I went through a lot of trial-and-error phases trying to find what is good or bad for me but since I've adopted (about a year ago) the things below, I have been getting better and better. I have not bled in over a year and there's no mucus in my stool anymore. I still feel a little bit of pain in my colon (especially when bloated) but it seems to go away and get better day by day.

I think the biggest impact was when I started with probiotics, pears, cabbage and B-complex.

Here are the things I do:

- eat healthy (lean meat, poultry, fish, seafood, vegetables, rice, fruits, nuts, olive oil, garlic, sea salt...)

- use only wholesome, pure ingrediences
- cook with healing herbs and spices such as turmeric
- exercise (walking, swimming)
- use probiotics (I mix all kinds, but Lactobacillus Reuteri seems to be especially helpful)
- drink kombucha tea
- drink herbal soothing teas, such as chamomile
- eat apples, pears and prunes (ease into it)

- eat raw cabbage white & red and also sauerkraut (seems very helpful)
- drink apple cider
- take B-complex vitamines

- eat fish oil and small fish such as sardines and herrings

Things I try to avoid:

- fast foods
- fried foods
- preservatives and other chemicals in food (MSG, sulfates etc.)
- stress
- milk and dairy products
- anything with soy protein (tofu, soy sauce, soy beans, soy milk etc.)
- sugar
- corn
- wheat (bread, flour)

When I do this, I keep my UC quite in check. I do have some ups and downs (usually because I eat something I should not) but the general direction seems to be going up and up.

I am not saying I am fully cured, but I feel 90% better than before and most of all, I am NOT using ANY drugs!
I am still due to undergo another colonoscopy but I hope the results will be just positive.

Petr

Post Edited (pz) : 2/5/2009 1:20:11 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/5/2009 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
     I am following the same diet Petr and I have been in remission since Nov 1st.  I don't get too excited though...not until I remain symptom free for over a yr.  My flares have been starting in the spring for the last several years.  I am on 6MP and Colazal for the UC.
Posted 2/5/2009 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
If there is anything positive about UC, it's that it has motivated me to eat right.
Posted 2/5/2009 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Petr, how many BM's per day now? (compared to before)
Posted 2/5/2009 7:54 PM (GMT 0)

Usually about two. Not really that much different than before since my UC has always been "just" mild. But the radical difference is in the impresence of mucus & blood and noticable decrease in pain. Also, the "sudden violent urges" occur much, much less.

Forgot to mention use of fish oils & consumption of sardines and other little fish in my diet.

Posted 2/5/2009 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
I stopped taking my meds in December because I felt toxic. I started following a similar diet/ supplements as well as seeing an acupuncturist and I feel so much better. I've had UC for 27 years and have noticed over the years that I usually reach remission when I am not on any type of meds. Thank you for your story and suggestions.
Posted 2/5/2009 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
That's wonderful! That's just so great. Do you eat pasta or rice, or any breads? What about ezekiel breads? I'm trying a similar thing and find it does help, if I can avoid the temptations of fatty fried food. But I miss carbs like pasta. Do you avoid these?

I'm so happy for you.
Posted 2/5/2009 8:40 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks! We're all in it together. It would be great if my findings also helped other people. I've spent a lot of time researching and trying things, still in the process though...

I do eat pasta but only occasionally and try to stick with gluten-free rice pasta (although total avoidance of gluten did not seem to make any difference for me). Same thing with breads, generally no, but if I do, I eat just a little and always watch out for soy. I have empirically confirmed that soy protein (especially in forms like tofu) immediately (like, the very same day) worsens it (I start feeling burning in my colon).

Ezekiel bread ? Don't even know what that is ! :)

In general, I try to cook for myself (don't eat much at restaurants but if I do I order things like grilled salmon with steamed veggies and such) and try to make simple meals like chicken with vegetables plus I do pretty much daily all the other good things I've mentioned.

 

Posted 2/6/2009 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Great diet and tips, I try to follow a really similar routine. The main difference is that I can't tolerate raw cabbage anymore so I take a supplement callad Vitamin U, which contains the main beneficial ingredient of cabbage :) Oh, and I take flax seed oil capsules for omega3, 'cause I really hate the taste of all fishes ^^
Posted 2/6/2009 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks! I'll try the vitamin U too. Yeah, I forgot about flexseed, I do use that too, either in form of oil or ground.

Posted 2/6/2009 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Similar things have also kept me relatively symptom free for years, although I do use a maintenance dose ASA. Thanks for sharing!
Posted 2/17/2009 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Latest findings:

I just recently added leeks and resveratrol to my diet. I've read leeks are very good for intestinal health, they support the good bacteria and healing.

Resveratrol was not really related, I wanted to start taking it for its other benefits.

After just about 2-3 weeks I can't believe the improvements. I wasn't sure which one did it (or maybe it's both of them) so I did some Googling and what do you know,  I found some articles about resveratrol being a great anti-inflammatory agent. I take 2x160mg per day.

I feel almost as good as I used to before I got colitis.

With all the things I mentioned before, it took me almost a year to get where I am.

Now, with these two latest additions, the improvement was so drastic and in such a short time ! The pain has almost completely gone.

I hope it'll last...

 

Posted 2/17/2009 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad this works for you, it takes quite a commitment.

I think my social life and success at my job might be in the toilet if I did it, since so much of that revolves around eating out and entertaining. I can cut out the gluten, tomato, things like that without being noticed, but generally try not to draw attention to my diet or appear to be a picky eater. Just trying to find the balance between all my needs.
Posted 2/18/2009 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
All I know is there was a period back in 2005 to 2007 where I was on no medicine for my ulcerative colitis. I do not recall having any flareups during that period, but I'm not sure about that totally. I was put back on Asacol 400mg in 2007 for maintenance purposes, since then I am having 3 to 4 flareups a year. I'm wondering if that is the issue, that it is the Asacol causing the flares. I've been on it one time before but did not have any problems that time, but I do now.

But I'm scared to just up and quit, luckily my flares are limited mainly to the rectal area most of the time when I have one. However, at times I can feel a little ache in my lower left side but I found out I have an area of inflammation there just above the sigmoid part of my colon.
Posted 4/30/2009 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Two months later:

I am still doing very well, no drugs, still taking higher doses of resveratrol. I even started eating dairy again (cheese, yogurt, butter, kefir, ...) and I am fine !!!
Posted 5/1/2009 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
Congrads pz, I try to get away with the least amount of maintenance drugs I can. I wish my doctor would agree to it.
Posted 5/2/2009 7:47 AM (GMT 0)
Fantastic thread and I will try that diet, many thanks.
Posted 5/2/2009 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations, and thanks for your diet info and updates. Interesting stuff, and always useful to get some new ideas on what's working for others.
Posted 2/5/2010 11:27 AM (GMT 0)

Me again, after a year.

Well, resveratrol was nice at first but then I started "being naughty" (I though I could do everything once again) and occasionally I would get "blood & puss" again. It seems like my body or the bad germs got used to resveratrol and it doens't do as much magic as it used to for me.

Nevertheless ! I have discovered another great thing and that is Oil of Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides).

I take it either as capsules or 100% oil.

Here's what the tree with its fruits looks like: http://www.fun-on.com/img/herb_Sea_Buckthorn.jpg

Search on it - it is a very powerful healer, known for centuries, and is used, beside other things, for various gastrointestinal problems.

I've been using it for a few months now and i feel very well!

I am due again for another colonoscopy so we'll see...

I will post another update after a while.

pz

Posted 2/5/2010 12:09 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, and one more thing (always forget something!) - I've noticed that eating grapes regularly helps quite a bit too !
I found other people mentioning it on the internet as well !
Posted 2/5/2010 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with OP. I also appreciate the medicine when a flare comes out of nowhere and really knocks the wind out of the sails.
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