First - I want to thank everyone who has the courage to post here, share their experiences and do their best to help people who would otherwise be complete strangers were it not for this thing we all, unfortunately, share.
My GI wrote prescriptions for Rowasa enemas and Asacol about this time last year. Because I want to avoid pharmaceuticals as much as possible, I have not filled either one. I am now considering filling one or both but wanted to see what the group had to say.
I'm going on year two of my diagnosis. I've learned to live with UC - and with changes in diet and excercise I'm actually in the best physical shape I've been in for a very long time. Initially, change in diet (no dairy, sugar, wheat, bread, etc...) and some of the supplements seemed to do the trick (VSL#3, Chlorella, Spiriulina, Citrucell) - along with an occasional Canasa suppository (I have been taking those), but all those things aren't working quite as effectively as they used to.
For what it's worth, the issues I have tend to be with urgency, gas and whatnot in the evening, with the same thing waking me up two or three times during the night. I usually have 3-6 BMs in the morning. Oddly enough, I go through the day without a lot of difficulty. Usually have to go sometime after eating lunch but that's about it.
I'm not anywhere close to considering surgery - but I feel like I need to do more than I am in order to at least stay where I am in terms of the UC. Although, like everyone else, I'd love for it to get better.
Thanks in advance.