Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
148354 tn?1211233906

ulcerative colitis,seeking diet advice and how to cope with pain!

After 7 months of chronic abdominal pain, new dr suspects ulcerative colitis.Colonscopy in april did show  mild inflammation, with pain that put me in hospital for 3 days, but gi dr passed it off as ibs.,new dr thinks then it was mild colitis and now its hitting me,with other symptoms (rectal pain,nausea,body and joint pain,fever,constant urge for bowel movement) only thing I dont have is bloody loose stools ..yet,mostly dry and hard,but with alot of mucus and have passed blood clots few times,sometimes I alternate but I can control loose stools with Imodium,but the pain is awful,lost 70lbs in 7 months due to appetite loss because of pain.Nov 7th go see new gi dr prob will have to repeat colononscopy.
     Is there is special diet for this? I been on ensure,yogurt,orange juice,rice,chicken,turkey,crackers for months,hard to tolerate solid food so I mostly drink ensure,could milk products make it worse? I also smoke ciggs and drink 1-2 cups of coffee in morning.I try to work back solid food for normal diet since i have alot of hair loss from lack of proper nourishment,I get scared worrying if it will trigger more painful attack so I avoided food..I know..dumb..
     Dr put me on asacol,but I hestitate to take it not knowing for sure if this is colitis,especially after reading the side effects..,I hate taking pills! Is there anything to ease the pain? its more stabbing pain than crampy along with rectal spasms,what is most annoying is constant urge for bowel movement.I'm 28 and at my wits end and scared,any advice appreciated ,ty (:
10 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Does your friend with UC drink Ensure? I have been drinking the gluten and lactose free stuff? is that bad?....Jason
Helpful - 0
560501 tn?1383612740

   I realize this is an "OLD" post...Posted back originally in 2006....not sure if you knew that or not razzley :)   But Hey, I thought i'd jump in there with you!

  It has been shown that a GLUTEN FREE diet eliminates almost ALL of the problems associated w/ UC.  A very dear friend of mine has UC...Usually hospitalized about once a year because of it.....of course her diet was so restricted of what she could and could not eat.....FINALLY after much research....Yes! A Gluten Free diet had made it where she is now eating foods that she has not eaten in 10 or 15 years....

    According to the CCFA the Carbohydrate diet is not advised :
  Decreasing poorly digestible carbohydrates may decrease symptoms of gas, bloat, cramps, and diarrhea in patients with IBD, but that is NOT the same thing as decreasing the inflammation, or affecting the disease process. Unlike the gluten-free diet for celiac sprue, which has a WELL-RESEARCHED BASIS, and well-demonstrated track record for affecting the underlying mechanisms at work in the disease process, the SCD does not.

Take Care,
~Tonya
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes ulcerative colitis causes hair loss but you just have to get it back on track and the hair will come right back
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi everyone,

I have had moderate U.C. for 8 years now and I have taken prednisolone tablets (steroids) about 3 times over that timeframe, but generally I control my U.C by using prednisolone enemas which I am doing at the moment. I'm relatively healthy despite needing to go about 4 times a day but I'm never really in remission. Anyway my question is are there any other women experiencing a little bit of HAIR LOSS as I find my hair is thinning around my crown abit, and my part seems to be widening. I am the type of person who is also a worrier and a stresshead at times, so I don't know whether it's to do with that as well. Anyway it would be great if you could let me know.
Helpful - 0
148354 tn?1211233906
2 weeks ago went to er again this time turned out to be my appendix! had it out,but still having bowel issues and abdominal pain,my family dr agree's it was chronic,and now he dont suspect colitis,but since having appendix out,no change it pain or symptoms? now im really confused and more frustrated!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just got diagnosed with UC 2 weeks ago finally after 5 months of chronic and painful diarrhea that started out of the blue. Frustrated that the meds I was prescribed didn't help any, I discovered info about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, by Elaine Gottschall. I tried it and my colon pain was gone after 3 days, and my stools were down to 1 a day after 5 days!! It's a very difficult diet to be on, but let me tell you, I was in so much pain, and so depressed and anxious from my symptoms that I was willing to try ANYTHING at that point. I stayed on the diet for 3 months and I do believe my colon started to heal. I went off it when I had my colonoscopy, because I think I needed a mental and taste-bud break from the diet monotony. I literally went hog wild. Now I'm paying for it again! I'll be going back on the diet again soon. 2 websites to look at if you're curious: www.healingcrow.com and www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info. The book cost me less than $20. Less than I paid the doctors who didn't know what to tell me.
Not everybody responds well to this diet, though. Definitely spend some time researching websites like these to check other people's feedback. Everybody is different. This diet just happened to work for me. Thank God. Others started the diet and slowly tried ditching their meds - it worked for some. Good luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Your symptoms are the symptoms of IBD and if they found inflamation and the doc wants you on Asacol it means you have a mild form of UC. Asacol is the med that has the least side effects and is used on mild cases. UC is not a disease to fool around with and NOT taking the medicine could make the disease progress even faster. Remember UC is a progressive chronic illness. Please take the meds and be on the safe side. A few months of waiting for a proper diagnose won't hurt.

Good luck
Helpful - 0
148354 tn?1211233906
Hi,thank you both for your replies.I read your post hbeachgrl and have same symptoms as you had.I have alot of heart pounders and irregular heartbeat with chest pain but I'm also anxious person too.I have alot of muscle and joint pain, backaches ..headaches..metal taste in mouth,and no appetite,Dr tested me for mercury/toxin poisoning,normal results.I remember taking anti-botic in Feb (didnt finish them) for ear and sinus infection, these abdominal symptoms emerged late in march ,early april.In hospital for pain was put on flagyl in April.Before stomach and other symptoms I had bad sinus and allergy problems.Had stomach probs before but not this severe,I could tolerate it.Nov 7th go to gi dr to prob repeat colonoscopy.. this "maybe" its colitis dont settle with me,last colonscopy did show inflammation in May,I want to know for sure,but I do have alot of colitis symptoms.
     Its been almost 8 months of this living hell! rapid weight loss is scary,weighed myself today,135lbs from 220lbs! I'm 5ft 2.I have hard time forcing myself to eat,due to nausea and pain,hair loss is getting worse.How long did your symptoms go on for? I've wondered about fibromaylgia,what did you do to get rid of your symptoms ?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi

I'm sorry you are having so much trouble.  I have IBD, but so far it's just ulcerative proctitis and my main issue is some bloody stools and mucus.  I've been keeping it under control for the most part by using Rowasa enemas.

There is a great website for ulcerative colitis sufferers that may be able to help you greatly.  People that have more in common with you than I do.  I don't think I can list it on here, but if you google ulcerative colitis, you will probably find it.  That's how I found it.  It is a website that helps people with many different chronic illnesses.  

Good luck.

Helpful - 0
148354 tn?1211233906
also forgot to add have constant stomach/bowel noise and rumbling,is this common with colitis? its annoying,so loud keeps me awake at night.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Gastroenterology Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Learn which OTC medications can help relieve your digestive troubles.
Is a gluten-free diet right for you?
Discover common causes of and remedies for heartburn.
This common yet mysterious bowel condition plagues millions of Americans
Don't get burned again. Banish nighttime heartburn with these quick tips
Get answers to your top questions about this pervasive digestive problem