Desperate mom

Hi My daughter who is 19 yo and is in college got Dx with UC fall 2014, is on lialda pills and enemas on side when needed. She's been ok with her 2nd flare up since september since starting college. I don't think she has really recovered but now she is home from break and is full blast going 15x/day with bloody mucous. She is becoming desperate and very moody. She is noncompliant just eating thai food 3 days ago. She LOVES to eat and this dx is really putting a damper in her life, as well as her being on the soccer team in college. She was taking fish oil, probiotic and turmeric daily with her medication and things seem to be ok until this week. What can I slowly make her understand and start eating to make her gut calm down. She has an appt with the Dr. in 2 wks. I've read about this SCD diet? what is it and does it help. As a mother I don't want to see my child suffer and would like a quick fix it diet but I know that is impossible. I would appreciate any response for this is new to my family. PS. My son of 21 years ALSO got Dx with UC in Jan 2015 (wow what are the chances?) and is on Lialda and is fine with no flare up's and knows what to eat or what not to eat. Thanks everyone

I understand you are worried, but your focus on food is like blaming the patient.

It is reasonable to try to identify trigger foods, or to make choices to manage symptoms (e.g., low residue). But Thai has nothing to do with it, and pressing someone to do SD is just wrong.

Hi

I got Dxed at the same age as your daughter, though with just mild proctitis at the time. The disease progresses over time (I'm now 53) and mine has been much worse since the menopause. I find that diet alone does not work against such a difficult and chronic disease; however, it sets the right environment for improvement with the medication and also gives you a sense of having some control over your own condition. It may take some time before your daughter is ready to commit to some changes. I have found it hard over the years and most of the time ate what I wanted. However, there are foods that can cause triggers - mine have been overconsumption of citrus fruits, too much milk and yoghurt or too much figure and grain which grazes the colon. Perhaps, she could think about including foods that soothe the gut rather than radical elimination. I have had an acute flare and am treating myself with plenty of avocado, cooked salmon, homemade chicken stews and soups, homemade stewed apple with cinnamon and coconut milk yoghurt. I also make a good squash and leek soup with fresh turmeric and ginger, which is blended afterwards. Would your daughter let you cook and freeze a few things for her to eat? Just some thoughts.

Good luck, Catherine

I am undeweight so i'm trying to eat something all day long, only low fiber and preferably bland and full of calories. No raw fruit (except bananas) or vegetables. I don't tolerate milk so i've replaced it with almond or rice drink. I think that before you go up with the meds you should let her rest (she must be tired after school) and calm down, it's normal that you panic (like my mom did :) but it can really stress her out and thus aggravate her condition. I'm sure everything will be fine :)

Look into Univ. Massachusetts "IBD-AID" diet. Similar to SCD, but has a small clinical trial supporting it. Less restrictive on carbs.

http://www.umassmed.edu/nutrition/healthy-eating/gastrointestinal/ibd/

First stop the fish oil,thins blood.
Second stop the turmeric, for me it seems to make me bleed more,while curcumin does not.

As an aside, after 30 plus years of research I am not 100% convinced that IBD/UC is isn't contagious.
Seeing two in the same family,makes me wonder. There are also cases of husband and wife where
one has it first.

Old Mike

hey luv -

maybe you could mention this forum to her - she might want to join us crazies