Captain Crunch

I was recently diagnosed as having Ulcerative Colitis. My Doctor is treating the disease with a combination of Asacol, Ameprazole, and Prednesone (a steroid.)

I'm interested in hearing from any member with this disease who would like to share their experience. How are you coping with it, especially any side effects of any medication, and how are you and your Doctor managing the disease? Are you following a particular diet? My Doctor says I can't have any dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream, etc.) and alcohol in any form (no more pizza and beer,) but otherwise, I should just follow a "normal" diet.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

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When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier.

Rudyard Kipling

Terry

rstickle

Wow! No contradictions there!

Makes you wonder what a "normal" diet is?

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Rick

EOD - Initial success or total failure

wmhawth

Ain't those golden years grand?

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William

Bunny

:( Sorry to hear that, Captain. I don't have a lot of experience, but I was on pred once -- didn't like it at all. I gained weight like a sonofagun, about 10 lbs in 5 days, and it gave me really REALLY weird dreams. Though as soon as I went off it, things were back to normal in just a few days. They say everyone tolerates meds differently though.

Sucks about no pizza-and-beer. Okay, yes, it sounds GROSS, but have you tried soy cheese? It's not...that...horrible.

Hope the meds work and you feel better ASAP! :)

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Dal1Celt

My dad was recently diagnosed with that as well. I could ask him your questions if you want.

Don't know what I'd do without my pizza. But no Guinness, not sure how to respond.

Here's to hoping your meds work right.

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What? Me worry?

BaldSasq

I was watching one of the Discovery channels the other night, and a guy was diagnosed with Colitis, and given steroids to suppress his immune system response (the inflamation, etc...) and it turned out he had a type of worm in his intestines that had been in his body ever since he was a child. (The guy was in his 60s, and from Bangladesh I believe, and the worm comes up through your feet).

Short of it, the guy died, because the steroids weakened his immune response to the point that the worms invaded everywhere, and killed him. This guy's daughter was a critical care nurse too.

Doubtful you got worms from Bangladesh, but, if you take a turn for the worse, go see doctor # 2.

Hopyard

No worms. Not ascarole. Asacol is the correct treatment for ulcerative colitis.

His doc is doing good.

Uh, he could have gotten worms if he was in Bangladesh and I would think it important to mention that possibility to the doc if not already done. Many here never see parasitic diseases these days.

But, until we have reason to know better, he is getting the correct treatment for ulcerative colitis.

ppkheat

Capt. C

I'm not much help here, but my FIL just endured quite a few tests for colon problems, dairy was affecting him extra bad during all of this. Ultimately nothing really showed up conclusively as a result of all his tests. The only med he's taking right now for his symptoms is Wellchol (sp?) and he just started those. Actually the doc thinks it is all due to chronic stress, which he has had PLENTY of.

I wish you good luck with your treatment. I'm only familiar with Prednisone, though I 've never had to take any myself.

BTW, regarding the beer, my FIL has been advised not to drink any alcohol, so he drinks a non-alcoholic beer ever so often, and said they weren't too bad at all. Regarding the pizza, tell 'em to make you one w/o cheese, just pizza dough, red sauce, vegetables/meat, etc wouldn't be too bad?

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Whatever hits the fan will not be distributed evenly.

Tom357

I don't have the disease, but I do have a protein allergy to beef and bovine dairy products, and have had to eliminate them completely from my diet. I've also had to eliminate alcohol from my diet (very difficult for a competition brewer and brewing judge). And I'm on prednisone, among other things, for the rest of my life.

Do you know what it is about dairy that you have to avoid - the protein or the lactose? I'll go look it up. May be able to give you some tips and recipes.

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- Tom
You have the power to donate life.

A1C Lickey

So sorry to hear that sir.

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SSgt. Lickey

It takes a college degree to break'em;
and a high school education to fix'em!