flare up of UC...need advice

[jdrtwin1]

I recently had a flareup of my UC after being in remission for about 1 year and its been terrible...the pain, diarrhea, and occassional small amounts of blood. I was just released from the hospital for severe dehydration and but my veins blew(all of them) and was unable to get rehydrated the last day, now i'm having severe symptoms and see my doc tomorrow but how do I insist on him doing something more than a shot of steroids and making an appt for the following week?

I believe I need to give my gut a rest from food and ensure I can't keep down(i'm vomiting some as well)  should I insist on vein feedings or tube feedings?

please help!!!

[TrudieC]

In my experience the doctors try to avoid tube feedings unless it is absolutely necessary.  Mine used to threaten me with them when I avoided eating.  I would recommend you do take an anti-nauseant, an anti-diarrheal and ask him for an anti-spasmodic.  These can make a huge difference (anti-spasmodics especially - it is the spasms in the colon that are causing the nausea and pain).  It is time for your doctor to put a more comprehensive plan in place for you.  Steroids and enemas can be used to help control this flare but you may want to explore getting into the immune suppressant drugs.  My son's UC is very severe and he started on Imuran and is in complete remission and feeling better than he ever has.  They are finding that with aggressive treatments like that early in your disease that it can put you into long term remission and stop the damage to your colon.  Back when I had UC (almost 20 years ago) they didn't have this option.  My colon continued to deteriorate until it perforarted and resulted in emergency surgery.  I now have the J-pouch and have delighted in being disease free.  Explore your options with the doctor and don't settle for the status quo.

[utilaman]

You try anti-INFLAMMATORY foods and Enzymes?

Try this:
-With each meal, you take Bromelain or Papaya Enzyme to help breakdown your food faster.   I found Papaya enzyme at walmart.
-Garlic......I eat a couple forks full of garlic daily.   This minced garlic is found in a large bottle in walmart near potatoes and apples in produce section.   get a glass of water, fork full of garlic, Place garlic on tongue and drink down fast with glass of water.
-Cayenne pepper has capscaicin which NOT Only KILLS Cancer but is also very anti-inflammatory.  People use it for neuropathy pain and arthritic pain.  Know some guy with Prostate Cancer? then Google Hot Peppers Prostate Cancer. You can add stuff like MD Anderson or UCLA to your search to see interesting research on hot peppers!
I suggest you start with 1/8 teaspoon or less of powdere cayenne pepper in glass of water to see what happens in 12 hrs or less.   And gradually increase your Dosage to 1/4 tsp if possible.  IF TOO HOT, THEN FORGET!


GOOD LUCK!