Can fast lead to remission?

I'm confused. I've been abstinence from (any) food (including drinks and water) for about 2 days which caused my bleeding to stop. This, by itself, doesn't fit with the outlined theory immune system keeps attacking the colon lining walls. Isn't it?

I'm pretty convinced that when I stop eating - symptoms calm down. This is the second time it happened. Why?
The only symptom I suffer from right now is bleeding. When I go back eating bleeding pops out to say hello...
UP is a darn stubborn section that won't let go... (unbelievable)

I wonder if other members experience the same or I'm all alone in this (new) field.

garylouisville - I tend to disagree. After I'm back eating I see no symptoms for a few days and I poop 2-3 times a day. It seems that sores have a better chance to heal since nothing pass through. It accidentally appeared to me as part of a religious fast, nothing initiative. Obviously quit eating and drinking is not an option (at least for me).

I didn't eat for almost a week once. During that week, I was great, felt like crap and weak from not eating, still had some blood and mucus, but my UC was not a consideration. When I started eating again, things got bad again. I agree with gary, more food = more poo. I would imagine there are cases where fasting could cause remission but in my case, it didn't work out that well. The minute my body is producing waste and it's in my colon, inflammation is there with it - but good luck.

Liquid diet is used in-hospital, as long as you are getting adequate calories fasting it's not harmful short-term but should not be a way of life. I used intermittent fasting several years ago and it was helpful, I never thought I could do it as I do love food but it was amazingly empowering to see that my gut calmed down for a time.

OP: look into your diet and see if there is anything you could remove that could be causing bleeding such as insoluble fiber.

I have also found 95% curcumin/turmeric very helpful. Lately I've been taking the curcumin out of the capsules and add chicken broth and coconut oil all heated up together. You could also try Vitamin E suppositories to help heal the rectal area.

You cannot cure IBD or go into a long term remission by bowel rest, although it may get better for a while. Your body is attacking itself. It's not a question of your body needs to be healed and once it is, you are cured. Umpteen million of us have undergone some form of treatment which completely healed our colons and then relapsed after cutting back on our treatments. That's because healing our colons does not cure the disease so healing our colons through bowel rest is not a cure or a way to reach a long term remission but is a short term solution at best.

which is why it's called a bowel rest, meant for temporary measures not long-term.

i have never noticed that fasting helps my UC at all. i've been on NPO about 4x in the hospital and for a week at a time. i was still going to the bathroom around 25-30x a day with NOTHING going in my mouth. i tend to not eat much with flares just because i am so nauseous and the thought of food makes me sick. obviously, this strategy always causes malnourishment and weight loss. if a make a meal and have to go to the bathroom 5x during the 15 minutes i am eating it, then i just stop eating cuz it's pointless.

Just want to add my experiences, as I've tried this several times. Each time, I've thought 'this is great! I feel so much better! All will be well!' Overall, yes, when I stop eating & drinking, the bleeding and cramping slows. With some Pred and rectal meds, symptoms may even seem to stop.

However, it's very dangerous! I became severely dehydrated on two occasions and my kidney function got in the danger zone. Aside from no nutrition, it impacts other organ functions too. Not sure of long term impact for those with diabetes potential. So please proceed with caution if you do this for more than a day or two, and continue to drink water with lots of electrolytes.

For my current flare, I spent a few days doing water and chicken broth, and trying one more time - experimenting with different liquid replacement meals to get protein and some nutrients. Previously i had no success with these (ensure, boost, absorb plus, vega, etc) -- not sure if it was the protein sources (I'm lactose intolerant) or other ingredients. All made me feel worse.

BUT, this time I have great news. As my weight was spiraling to dangerously low levels, I finally found some things that were as good for me as fasting - got relief from symptoms & essential nutrients:

The best overall for me are, while continuing to do lots of water with electrolytes and chicken broth: Isopure (clear liquid premixed 40 grams protein per bottle), jay Robb egg white protein mix (it seems pre-digested or just easy, very tasty too), and my new overall favorite easy to digest full of nutrients (yet no lactose, gluten free, no additives): vegan ORGAIN vanilla (16 grams protein, some carbs & fat) - it's pre-packaged, tastes great cold or room temp, and I'm drinking 4 per day. For whatever reason I can digest orgain as if it's water with no impact on UC symptoms. Without this drink, I would've landed in the hospital for sure.

Then there's always the hospital option, including TPN, but that has some risks as well, life saving benefits outweighing the risks for many of course, depending on the condition.

And all just a short term solution until we each find a way to UC induction / maintenance or surgery.... We still have to address the underlying condition. So it's critical to know that fasting isn't a cure.

Can fasting lead to remission? No.

Not eating = bowel rest, which helps you heal to a point, but as others say it is a temporary solution because your body needs nutrients to survive and not waste its self away. A large intestine without food it in collapses, so one wall touches the other side. When stool is in it, the large intestine is filled and the walls expand away from each other. Stool is abrasive, more so depending on the amount of non-digestible fiber in your diet, it rubs against the inflamed and raw tissue causing bleeding.

Your best bet is to contact your GI and get on a treatment plan to resolve your symptoms.