One year remission - Psyllium, yogurt, and mega fish oil

I have not been here for a long time as I have been pretty well. Been meaning to share my success in hopes that someone else suffering may find it works for them - clearly it won't work for all.

Short story is I was determined to wean myself of Asacol due to hair loss and extremely oily skin causing me painful cyst acne. I sought a second opinion from another GI and he told me that a NEJM study suggested mega doses of fish oil to be as effective as Asacol.

I have tried the sunflower and spinach diet as well as other things mentioned here without success.

The only thing I take is 4g of EPA/DHA every day. I have normal stools and normal frequency - almost only once or twice in the morning. I do not watch what I eat or drink period. Wheat has no effect (I once went gluten free for 3 months at my moms insistence) and we enjoy red wine regularly. I also love pepper and Tabasco. I haven't seen blood in 13 months.

The 2nd GI told me to go off Asacol slow while starting the Fish Oil - I use GNC Triple Strength. I let my Rx run out last August (2010) and started taking the fish oil. I was hesitant and nervous but what the hell. Just like with the Asacol - I experimented with quitting the Fish Oil only to find my symptoms would start to return. I've also had 2 or 3 run-ins with anti-biotics during the past year. The first one really got me and I was worried that I would not get back under control with the fish oil, but I did. The last one had no effect as I took Lactinex at the same time.

This is where the Psyllium and yogurt come in. I have found that if I have any issues, say from a course of antibiotics, using the Psyllium to stiffen up and slow down the process and eating one or 2 yogurts a day for a few days (as much as 2 weeks) brings things back to normal. I do not eat yogurt every day nor do I ingest Psyllium daily. I used them in the beginning and only during my 2 anti-biotic courses. I only added Lactinex during my third anti-biotics course over the past year. I would add them to my day if I felt like a flare was building.

My UC started sometime in 2006 (in my late thirties). I went to my GP and saw the wacky NP or LPN. I was advised a little mucous and blood sometimes was within the range of normal. Really. I went another few months until the blood loss had me worried and the urgency became unmanageable. I switched my GP and the new GP was astonished that I was told what I had was in the range of normal. A GI referral, colonoscopy and Dx followed, combined with my then self-employed health insurance, my first resistance to Asacol was the cost!

I did respond to Asacol but my GI kept dismissing my side effect complaints which led me to the 2nd GI in spring 2010. Quite honestly, the 2nd GI was not that encouraging but as he put it, what did I have to lose? Fish oil works for me without causing the painful acne. Additionally, if I need anti-biotics, Lactinex keeps things under control as well. Finally, it seems that the Psyllium/yogurt/fish oil course affects change faster than the Asacol did (my dose was 2 tabs 3 times a day = 2400mg??).

My first GI always said I was "lucky" that my UC responded so well to Asacol. Now I feel even luckier that I have become well without the need for Asacol.

Full disclosure, I did a course of Accutane when I was 19.

That is very interesting that NEJH says Asacol and fish oil give same results. Thanks for the report. It sounds like your GI was not totally onboard with the switch but went along with you because of your side effects. Asacol never gave me positive results so I wonder if fish oil would be that effective for me, although I've taken it in the past with no problems.

inspectorgadget, did your hair grown back after you stopped the Asacol? I'm taking it now and am experiencing horrific hair loss with no end in sight.

2006 for me too. My mother says I took accutane but I do not remember anything but tetracycline.

Fish not fish oil work quickly for me. Psyllium if things are not optimal, yogurt every day. Eat wide range of food always choosing natural less processed for treats or meats.

Curcumin and occasional sulfaslazine.

fadoozle said...
inspectorgadget, did your hair grown back after you stopped the Asacol? I'm taking it now and am experiencing horrific hair loss with no end in sight.

Hard to say. I think some has. I think some is genetic pattern baldness. I do miss my hair. I definitely feel as though the loss has slowed down.