17 year old with UC struggling-- advice is welcome and needed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUyi3UfzBYI

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I feel your pain. I was scared when I was first diagnosed and afraid to eat anything. Have you tried broths or other gut healing foods? Small amounts, easy to digest to help heal the intestine. Broth, jello, rice, yogurt (made with coconut milk or grass-fed), unsweetened applesauce, fish, cooked veggies. And take vitamins and drink sports drinks and lots of water to stay hydrated. Coconut water is great! Try Turmeric for inflammation and maybe a butyrate supplement to help fight the bad bacteria in the large intestine. Peppermint oil, just a drop or two on the tongue or in a tea.

There are many suggestions on this forum. Eat only organic and try to manage stress. Fear of the illness can cause stress, try to stay calm and relaxed and take one day at a time.

If nothing else some of these things may ease the symptoms. I wish you the best. There is hope. This can go into remission. It's good that you are staying positive. That can make a big difference.

"A calm heart is the life of the body." Proverbs 14:30

Hi Sam and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you've been struggling with UC so much. I was curious what medications you've tried and failed thus far.

We've had a number of posters who've undergone surgery and are doing very well since then! What exactly scares you about the thought of surgery?

The end-result is a j-pouch, which means you'd poop by sitting down, as you do now. Other than a few small scars, there'd be no sign that you'd ever had an UC or surgery. So, as far as body-image goes you'd look just like everyone else.

Sam i've had UC for over 10 years and i only joined this forum earlier this week, you've come to right place, I feel so much better mentally knowing there's a place where i can just ask anything because we're all in the same boat and everyone knows the hardships we have all been through. the hardest thing i found was talking to people about the condition, especially those that don't understand it.

always stay positive - the majority of things i have read about surgery have been really good.

iPoop said...
Hi Sam and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you've been struggling with UC so much. I was curious what medications you've tried and failed thus far.

We've had a number of posters who've undergone surgery and are doing very well since then! What exactly scares you about the thought of surgery?

The end-result is a j-pouch, which means you'd poop by sitting down, as you do now. Other than a few small scars, there'd be no sign that you'd ever had an UC or surgery. So, as far as body-image goes you'd look just like everyone else.

I've tried Remicaid, Entyvio, Pentasa, Humira, and a couple others that I can't remember the name of, as well as a few steroids like prednisone and entocort.
What scares me about surgery is that in my family, we have a history of waking up during surgery because we metabolize medication quickly, the pain of the surgery is scary to me, as well as the possible pain medication because my family also has a history of drug abuse, I'm also really worried as to how the surgery will go, like if there are any complications.

HI Sammie, so sorry to hear you are suffering so much! Last week I really had a very bad flare up that has been coming for some time but got quite intense last week with cramps, so much pain etc.
Now I feel so much better.
It’s crazy how much this illness directs and leads our moods and our lives.
I have (unknowingly) put myself into Remission by smoking for 17 years. Not a single sign of colitis on a single day. Have you discussed Nicotine therapy with your doctor? I don’t recommend you smoke, but apparently patches work well too.
From being on this forum (since a month?) I have learned so much (THANK YOU to everybody being part of this Forum), the biggest thing being that everybody’s UC is totally different, just as our bodies are.
Some people benefit from stress control with the likes of yoga and meditation, others from changes and tweaks in diet, others from supplements like Curcuma and fish oil. If you need help with the yoga and meditation part, feel free to ask, I am a certified Yoga instructor and happy to help with this.
For me, the hardest part to cope with is the loneliness that seems to come with this illness, it’s not exactly what you talk to your friends to about, right?
Also, after getting my Colitis back I started rejecting my body even more. I am very body conscious anyway, and then running around looking bloated all time didn’t help. But I believe my Colitis has actually helped me to uncover my underlying body issues. I have rejected my body so much, my whole life. I have punished it with diets, working out until I wasn’t able to function properly anymore etc. Currently I am trying to be compassionate. With my body, my illness. My body is trying to tell me something, there is something not right. Now, i am trying to listen.
I have learned so much, started reading about the body, started testing what makes me better and what worse, I am closer to my body now.
For me, what puts me into remission is Curcuma, Boswellia and enjoying life.
I added CBD oil now to see if this can help with my personal underlying problem. I have a few other things in mind I would like to try that I have been recommended by other users willing to share like Qing dai.

I suppose what I am trying to say is; UC is a journey and (un)isn’t that eaasily treated by a one drug fits all approach. And; I hear you on the body issues.

Don’t let it get you down. I wish you all the best and send the biggest hug your way

Palmtrees, I have a post for natural remedies on this forum, it’s quite interesting how different things help different people. Happy for you to contribute.
Post can be found here;

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=3985260