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Fish oil and diarrhea

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/1/2010 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Can fish oil worsen diarrhea?
Posted 4/1/2010 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think it will worsen diarrhea but if you already have diarrhea it's just going add it to it because it's an oil. If you are currently taking it and think it's causing problems, stop it for a few days and see if you notice improvement.

Sue
Posted 4/1/2010 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
I asked my doc about fish oil and he said there's been some studies about it helping with UC, but no firm results. I asked if he recommended whether or not I continue to take it, he said I could if I wanted. It wouldn't hurt, but it also probably wouldn't help.

I agree with Sue, just like everything else with this disease, it's a trial and error process. Maybe stop taking it for a few days and see if your diarrhea improves/worsens.

With my current flare, I've been taking fish oil along with asacol and the flare has stayed at bay. Hasn't gone away, but hasn't progressed into diarrhea. I've been bouncing back and forth between normal BMs and the constipation stage.
Posted 4/1/2010 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
I think it firmed up my stool a little when I stopped fish oil
Posted 4/1/2010 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
I can't take fish oil. It increases my D as well as bother my acid reflux for some reason.
Posted 4/1/2010 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, per Mayo Clinic:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fish-oil/NS_patient-fishoil/DSECTION=safety

 

Posted 4/1/2010 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
Awesome article fruitgirl!

If anything is suspected, good advice to stop it for a while...then start it again to see if it's a culprit.

While flaring, there are so many variables....one could start it during a period when having no symptoms and not changing anything else.

q
Posted 4/1/2010 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
All I did was google "fish oil side effects diarrhea" and up it popped.

Google and me are BFFs. teehee
Posted 4/1/2010 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
Me too, but it's nice when an awesome link is presented without doing the work...lol...

q
Posted 4/1/2010 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes I seriously wonder how I did anything w/o google and the internet. It makes my job a lot easier, that's for sure. I'm not sure if I'd even know how to look up journal articles anymore without it. Card catalogue???? What's that????
Posted 4/1/2010 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Imagine what living with UC was like before we had online forums! :o
Posted 4/1/2010 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
I know what that was like.....I asked my doctor LOTS of questions and I got books out from the library and purchased some from the bookstore....

q
Posted 4/1/2010 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
And I remember what it was like to have UC and no computer forums! I spent a lot of time in book stores reading about UC and attending local CCFA meetings when my community had them. The internet took off right before I opted for surgery.


Sue
Posted 4/1/2010 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
This forum has been transformative. I believe I would be very confused, anxious and physically sick without it.
Posted 4/3/2010 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
     My friend swears flaxseed oil capsules "cured" her IBD.  My doctor said it that also could worsen the diarrhea.
Posted 4/3/2010 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
I took flaxseed for about 6-7 months and didn't notice anything one way or the other. I likely didn't take enough to cause D or even SBS.... but intuitively I felt it wouldn't be good to take huge doses!
So... when the bottle was done, I stopped it.

I asked my PCP about the omega 3s via capsule, and he said as far as heart health, etc., the doses used in testing were huge and far beyond what would be comfortable to take via capsule. So.. his 2 cents' worth confirmed my decision to just stop that particular supplement.
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