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Slippery Elm and Mesalamine

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/15/2012 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Need advice on if/when you should take Slippery Elm powder if your currently using Mesalamine Enema nightly.

Also would I be able to mix it into my protein shake with/without VSL#3?

(And for all you LDN dabblers - my update is I've been on it for 3 weeks, currently taking 1/4ML nightly.. having seen any improvement yet.)
Posted 3/15/2012 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
I've been experimenting with the Slippery Elm (and I am taking the rowasa and canasa), just trying to figure out a convenient way and time to take it. I am finding that I like it in my herbal tea with some honey. It thickens the tea but still tastes like the tea, and I drink a lot of tea at work so it is convenient that way.
I am also in my third week of LDN. I took 1.5mg the first two weeks, now at 3mg for two weeks, and then I'll go up to the full dose of 4.5mg next Friday. My LDN doctor told me to expect zero improvement until I was at the full dose, but I am seeing some improvement. Before I started it, I would say I was at 95% remission - felt great but still seeing some occasional blood and having some urgency. Now I'd say I'm at 98% remission, the urgency is gone, and really my only symptom is a little pulse of pain in my lower left every once in a while. Very minor, but it tells me there is still some activity. I've gone to every other night with the rowasa and will stop that when I finish it in two weeks, assuming I still feel this good of course. And the canasa I will start tapering too and see what happens.
Posted 3/15/2012 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Gonk-
My 2 cents.........
If I were in your situation where remission is becoming a reality (100%), I think I would reconsider discontinuing the Rowasa entirely. Same with the Canasa.
I think one of the mistakes people make is discontinuing meds ENTIRELY when they feel better.
I'm still taking my Colazal generic even though I have not had blood or serious D for 6-8 months. I've been tolerating it well for about 10 years.
The slippery elm and Benebiotics have helped with urgency and reduced the number of BMs. Changes in diet have probably also made a difference.
Also use a slippery elm enema occasionally.

I started LDN around the beginning of February and have been gradually increasing dosage. I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy in April and hope there is a noticeable improvement.
I think that if I reach a point that I consider "remission", I won't change what I'm doing.
This from a person who hates taking drugs of any kind...but I sure don't want to slip backwards.
Best of Luck :-)
Posted 3/16/2012 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
Gonk - how much slippery elm do you mix in with your tea?
Posted 3/16/2012 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
tcf5010,

When i was flaring, I used to take slippery elm powder (about 1 teaspoon) 3 x per day, after each meal. Now in remission, I still take it once a day, after dinner.

Here's how I take it:

1 teaspoon of slippery elm powder in 1-2 oz. of water (room temp and filtered), add in 2 packets of VSL#3, add 2 capsules of S. boulaardi, mix thoroughly, making sure to use the back of the spoon to smooth out the lumps - if it's too thick, I just add a little more water.

And if you hate the taste, you can add a little honey to it too.

Hope this helps.

Posted 3/16/2012 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
IAS,
Thanks for the feedback. I won't go completely off the Canasa until I'm 100%, but I always have it on hand and start it up again if I feel the slightest activity. The Rowasa I will taper down and stop it in two weeks unless I feel I really need it. If I am feeling good and can take a break from putting things up my bum for a bit, that would be nice! And I am still on the 4 Lialda per day and all the many, many supplements. I won't think about cutting the Lialda until I have at least 6 - 12 months on the LDN, and maybe I won't ever cut that - the damage to my hairline is done and that has been the only side effect for me.

tcf5010,
I am using 1 heaping teaspoon of the Slippery Elm in my tea. I am new to the Slippery Elm, so still figuring out what works best for me. At 1 heaping teaspoon, I do get a few big globs that I can't break up, so today I'll try a little less to see if I get less clumping. Not a big deal though.
Posted 5/1/2016 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
MY GI Doc says 'urgency' means the rectum is inflamed and it's good to do the enemas or suppositories for this.
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