8 years, no medication

Hi All,

I wanted to post here to tell my story to help others in a similar situation or those who are thinking to get off medication.

I was diagnosed with UC since 1998 which flared up bad during my final exams.
For about 6 years i took a medication; the first was sulfur based and caused an alergic reaction; the second mesasal was fine and took this for 6 years and slowly reduced the dose. I never felt happy about taking medication and thought that it would be good to see what happened.

Since then I have not taken any medication but have changed my diet so that I have no milk and very little dairy. I substitute this with soya products. I also just completely cut out any oily or faty food, spice foods, and alcoholic drink but do have the occasional beer or two a week. I have also been a vegetarian for 2 years now and eat much more fruits and veges. I do still eat fish, mainly salmon from time to time.

8 years have passed with no medication and I have been fine. Actually the last couple of years have been great and never felt healthier. I have had probably 1-2 small flair ups that lasted a day or two that were stressed related to a new job in new countries but other than that its all good.

I have just moved country again, and started a new job so I am a little stressed (this is the 3rd country move; really have to stop doing that!) so there is some very slight cramps but nothing more than that.

I keep thinking that I should get a check up but to be honest I am not sure if its even worth the worry and hassle since I feel its ok. I have no doubts UC is still there but it is under control. If I get a check up they will probably just tell me its still there and take medication.

Anyone in a similar situation or has similar experiances.
Anyone trying to get off medication for whatever reason (you dont need one?) have a look at your diet and lifestyle. Figure out what works for you and relax, no point stressing.

thanks

very true. I probably should not call them flares however I found that personally stress related symptoms start quickly and stop quickly once I stop stressing.

D

I call those "blips" - when you get symptoms for a day or two. But I'm glad you found something that works for you :) I wished my UC would behave with diet modifications! But my colon is a stubborn one.

You should still go in for a check up and possibly have a colonoscopy since its been a while yes? Having UC increases the chance of colon cancer so it's wise to get scopes just to be on the safe side.

Thank you Red. As if now 1-2 day flares will be called "blips". :)

Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing David. Glad a a change in diet keeps you in remission.

There are also misdiagnosis...which is a possibility.

Where exactly is the location of your UC...limited (to where?) or throughout?

q

i flared and was diagnosed in 1991 and did not flare again until 2006, so I had a 15 year remisssion.

from 1991-2001 i was in remission with no meds, no diet change, i drank, i ate fast food, i had 2 kids, i had tons of stress etc.  i didnt even follow up with a gi.  my only gi symptoms were gas and bloating which ended up being attribute to a lactose intolerance.

in 2001 i was dx +hypylori ulcer by my gi, that was treated and resolved and the gi put me on asacol for my in remission uc.  i took it sporadically then stopped for a few years, again, same lifestyle no diet change etc. 

2nd flareup in 2006, 15 years after my first one.  got back to remission in 3 months(lots of rectals, asacaol etc.)  i took meds for a bit and then stopped.

3rd flareup 2008.  my luck ran out.  this flare up has lasted until july 2012, and i am really only about 95% now.  during my 4 year flare up(2008-present) I take my medicine religiously, have been in several differnt drug trials, tried diet modification, went gluten free, tried numerous probiotics and alternative things, i eat healthier, gave up lactose, gluten, chocolate, fast foods, most processed foods, COFFEE, sugary foods, you name it i tried it, and still blood, urgency, flare, blech!  finally i am on imuran and i am about 95%. 

it astounds me that when i did nothing my uc was fine and when i do everything my uc still flares.  uc is a freaky, weird , predictable disease that is poorly understood why we flare up.

really, is there any rational explanation for what ive been through?

IBD has more of a mind of it's own than we give it credit for...I have been told by multiple GI's that flares/remissions can indeed last from a day to years, sounds crazy I know, but the truth of the matter is, not enough is known about IBD and it still puzzles researchers/GI's on a daily basis.

It's very individual, some people have only one flare up in their life and are able to stay med-free, others are not so lucky...in the world of IBD it seems that almost anything is possible. Because not enough is known, nothing can be ruled out....no rhyme or reason with dreaded IBD.