New to site with bad flare up

Like you said, different food choices work in different people so no matter what anyone says it is a crapshoot as to whether it will work in you or not. Have you tried any probiotics? VSL works in quite a few but it can be expensive.

Try to eat gluten free for a couple of weeks to see if your symptoms lessen. Then the same for dairy. Gluten and dairy are the usual suspects but any food can cause problems. So I prefer a food diary or journal to isolate dietary triggers. For example, I always tried to eat healthy for years with generous amounts of cruciferous vegetables, etc. Now I find that cruciferous such as kale and broccoli trigger flare symptoms.

As far as other alternatives go, you can almost say that rectal meds such as mesalamine enemas are alternative since so few doctors prescribe them unless specifically requested. But they have an excellent reputation for effectiveness with relatively few side effects.

Popular supplements are fish oil and getting your blood levels of vitamin D, iron, and B12 checked to correct any deficiencies. Some like me use soluble fiber such as psyllium (Metamucil or psyllium seed). Others swear by herbal demulcents like slippery elm. You can search the forum for these topics.

Probiotics are probably the most popular supplement for IBDers. There are numerous research studies showing that certain probiotics, such as Saccharomyces Boulardii and Culturelle, are effective for maintaining remission. VSL#3 is probably the most popular and has been shown to prevent pouchitis. Benebiotic and RenewLife Ultimate Flora are also very popular choices. But we are all different and certain probiotics are more compatible than others.

Another alternative might be LDN:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2204683&p=5

Our individual signatures indicate what foods we avoid and which meds and supplements we are using.

Post Edited (BabeintheWoods) : 3/12/2013 8:15:36 PM (GMT-6)

I agree with StealthGuardian--definitely talk to your GI if your current treatment isn't working. I tend to just carry on with treatments when they're not working, instead of talking to my GI. When I do that, I stay sicker for longer.

Enemas might be really helpful--either mesalamine enemas, or even hydrocortisone ones instead of doing a course of prednisone.

I stick to a low residue diet when I'm flaring. Fruits and veggies make me much sicker (symptoms are temporarily worse--they don't prolong the flare), and I tend to stick to things like meat, white grains (pasta, bread), non-creamy soups, Jell-O, pudding, ice cream ... basically anything that's low in roughage and that I feel like I have an appetite for. I am not lactose intolerant, and while I do get gassy when I eat dairy during a flare, it doesn't make my symptoms worse enough for me to really care. If it's "eat mac and cheese" or "don't eat at all," I'll go with mac and cheese!

Hi, just coming out of a bad flare. I have been eating mashed potatoes, eggs, toast, little butter, and apricot jam (some people can't tolerate any fruit - this is seedless and I needed something sweet!). I tried chicken soup and it made me bleed, big time. After a few days I added steamed fish, another day, steamed carrots. Just keep adding things back in very slowly. Hope this helps.

Babeinthewoods, how much mcg of B12 is the right intake daily? I have been reading about B12, but for some reason I can't find like a base amount of daily intake

I never said to take vitamin B12, only to get your blood levels tested. You may not be deficient. It is more important to test for vitamin D since most people really are deficient.

Welcome to HW.

I find that in my particular case, food doesn't have much impact on my condition. WHen I am flaring, the general rule is, the less I eat, the less I poop. When flaring, my day consists of being in the toilet WAY too often. For my own benefit and the ability to get through a day of work, I usually don't eat very much. Fortunately, I've been doing very well since i began 6mp and I eat whatever I want. I am in no way saying not to eat, just stating that food = trips to toilet for me - there is only one way I can function somewhat normally.

Wailuku43, treating proctitis with oral meds is just not a good idea. Do you know how high up in the colon your inflammation goes? To treat the rectum you need rectal meds. You said the Asacol gave you bad side effects, though, so I wonder if you are intolerant of mesalamine? If so, your "easy" med options are pretty slim.

Rectal steroids can be very effective but are not for long-term use. You should talk to your DR about other medical approaches.

I agree with others about diet. Some people have gotten great relief from using probiotics and also adding fiber.