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spinachfreak
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Reged: 07/22/03
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Posts: 3
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Loc: State College, PA
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natural medicine for colitis
#14568 - 07/22/03 06:11 AM
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I am not sure if this post will make people upset with me, or if it will spark a positive reaction. Either way, i feel like i need to bring it up if it will help just one person...
I'm 22 years old, and was recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Being told that the collective future of colitis patients involved taking medications to control the symptoms in hopes that it would prevent a surgical removal of the damaged colon did not set right in my head at all. I wanted to heal.
Prednisone and Asacol do not heal. Prednisone suppresses the immune system in such a way that it (the supposed culprit in this elusive "autoimmune" disorder) does not continue to attack its own body through the swelling response. However, western medicine fails to see the importance of swelling, and that its the COLON that is the problem. The immune system works just fine. It was making desperate attempts to remove irritants from the walls of the mucosa. The drugs do not allow your body to become inherently better. They just promote tolerance so you can get through the day.
By doing various things to heal the tissue and improve smooth muscle functioning, i have been able to have normal bowel movements several times per day, and i've only been out of the hospital for just under a month. My doctors don't seem to care that i'm doing this on the side. One has admitted to me that i know more about nutrition than he does.
I plan on being off of prednisone and asacol in about a month. We'll see how things go inside of me. I'm on a very restrictive diet, but the food is all very good and enjoyable to eat. I'm also working with a holistic chiropracter who has been guiding me through this entire healing process. I'm also on some vitamin and mineral supplements, but it should be temporary until my body begins to absorb nutrients from my diet more effectively. I know a woman who had a much worse case than i did, and she's been symptom free/medication free for 8 years on this diet. If you want her email, ask me and i'll check with her.
For someone who never in her entire life responded to vitamins and a lifetime of depression, inability to focus, miserable bowel trouble, mood swings, anxiety attacks, acne, cellulite, no energy, sinus congestion, no confidence, and no hope of ever feeling normal...natural medicine has changed my life. No kidding here. I am a different person now because of this experience.
If anyone is interested in knowing more details about what i'm doing, maybe i can help you find something that works for you. I don't know, but it can't hurt to ask.
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jules
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Reged: 06/17/03
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Posts: 1140
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Loc: Michigan
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I'm very interested in what you have done naturally to help heal your body. I'm 25 and was diagnosed with IBS about a month ago. My doctor put me on "his IBS diet" which didn't resemble Heather's diet so much. I've taken upon myself to do lots of Internet research, talk to nutritionists, peruse health magazines, etc. and have found that Heather's diet combined with some herbal remedies have worked for me.
I'm a big fan of tea (fennel, ginger, peppermint, chamomile) and I'm currently looking for a digestive bitters to help with the bloating and gas pains (I'm IBS-C). My great aunt had a bitters mixture that I tried once and it seemed to work.
Please feel free to share what you've done to help heal yourself!!
~julie
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~jules
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spinachfreak
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Reged: 07/22/03
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Posts: 3
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Loc: State College, PA
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Hey julie! i tried to post a reply yesterday but it didn't work for some reason. So i'm trying again.
Basically, the list of things i am not eating is quite staggering. If you want that list, send me an email. gmr159@psu.edu. But what i am eating is mainly vegetables (except tomatoes, corn, mushrooms) I dont eat my veggies raw (unless i pulverize them in the food processor) because the particles irritate the part of my colon that was bleeding and stuff. Found that out the hard way.
I'm also baking things using millet flour, buckwheat flour, and bean flours like chickpea and lentil. I use baking soda as the levening agent. I also eat all beans, and egg whites or egg beaters. Plus olive oil, flaxseed oil, avocado, herbs, herbal teas, and spices (except salt and black pepper). I eat very minimal fruit. Basically just prune juice every now and then. And sometimes i squeeze lime in my avocado dip to keep it from getting brown too fast.
On top of the diet, i'm taking a liquid multivitamin, and calcium and flaxseed oil to improve my muscle contractions. Chelated calcium is usually a good kind of calcium supplement to take because its the most easily absorbed.
I tried a few enemas with aloe vera gel dissolved in water. Some people i've talked to swear by them, but i'm trying to avoid enemas and let my body learn to go on its own. Aloe is definitely a gift on earth, as long as its the gel from the plant or bottled pure with no preservatives.
I'm also trying to get enough sunlight and keep myself moderately active. natural Vitamin D from the sun is necessary to absorb calcium, and bowels generally work better when you're not sitting around a lot.
And i'm doing yoga twice a week.
I'm seeing a holistic chiropractor who has been guiding me through this whole healing process, adjusting my spine and improving neural connections to my digestive system. Smooth muscle is largely involuntary, so i do believe that this is an effective form of treatment. At least it is for me.
All of this is basically a brand new lifestyle that i've adopted. So it involved a lot of budgeting and planning for the future. Some of this stuff isn't exactly cheap and easy, but if it will keep me from having to refill asacol prescriptions for the next 60 years, i'm thinking its worth it.
Ok there you have it. My super long post. i hope that helped. Contact me if you have any questions!
Gina
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If you're interested...I made guacamole for the first time last night. I read that leaving the pit on top of the guacamole while it chills helps keep it green...it worked for me.
Thakns for sharing this super long post. I'm sure it will help someone out there! I hope this continues to help you.
Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Spinachfreak,
I'm definately interested to hear what you have to say! What is your diet like? I haven't been diagnosed with UC or Crohn's....but it seems I might be going down that path (I hope not!!!!). I had black poo yesterday and my doc is concerned...I'll be seeing him tom. In the meantime...he wants me on a bland diet. Any ideas? If he wants to put me on steroids....are there other options? I've taken prednisone for asthma...I gained mucho pounds....not fun! (I've already gained weight this year from meds and being sick all the time).
I can't say that I've made any decisions as of yet...but I want as much info. as I can get!
Thanks in advance for your time and response!
Happy holidays!
*hugs*
Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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JillSklar
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Reged: 06/03/03
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Posts: 461
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Loc: Michigan
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While it is not a secret that I am not a huge believer in natural medicine for IBD, I can tell you this: you are at a higher risk for developing kidney stones with IBD and eating a lot of spinach can make that risk a whole lot higher. You may want to lay off of it.
Jill
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Author of The First Year: Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis and Eating for Acid Reflux
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janice
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Reged: 09/25/03
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Posts: 12
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Loc: D.C. area
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Not sure if this will help, but some of the more natural things I'm doing that help me with my IBS/UC (mostly constipation).
Walk on a treadmill 5 - 7 times a week
Yoga 2 X's a week
light free weights 20 min. 2 - 3X's week
These seem to keep things moving, joints feeling good and inflammation down.
I follow Heather's suggestion and I try to make sure I eat soluble fiber everyday. Esp. helpful to me, sweet potato (chock full of vitamins), bananas, cooked prunes, and oatmeal. I also eat a lot of fish, esp. salmon.
In looking for more natural ways of strengthening my immune system. The route I have chosen, that appears to work for me, is accupuncture (I go to a Chinese medical doctor licensed in acupuncture.) I have been going for acupuncture since last March. It has been amazing for me. I went from EVERYTHING, and I do mean everything, making me bleed and run to the bathroom, to being able to keep my bowels under control and feeling like my intestines are not ruling my life everyday and every where I go.
Since following all of the above, I haven't taken prednisone (oral or enemas),or Rowasa suppositories in 8 months, and only take Asacol. I currently take 1 tablet of Asacol 3 X's a day (was on 6 pills a day). If I deviate some from my routine and I start to have indications of a flare up I make sure that go back to watching my exercise routine and soluble fiber more closely_and keep going for my acupuncture. My system appears to be able to "right" itself quickly if I do these things. Anyway, so far so good. Hope this helps.
If you do want try acupuncture, I'd research to make sure the person is good and really individualizes for you. Example, my acupuncturist is very respectful of my sensitive system and works to get my system stable and is not suggesting herbals due to my sensitive system. Also, she acts as an educator so I learn how to recognize signs of potential flare ups and be able to help myself. As she says, she wants to teach me so I can help myself, which will in turn will help reduce the freqency that I need to see her.
Apologies for the length. I'd also love to hear what works for others.
B/R,
Janice 
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Hello I just found out I have uc, and I am having a hard time dealing with it. It is very uncomfortable and the medication doesn't seem to work. I can hardly keep anything down and I am wondering what kind of diet would help.
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Heather
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Reged: 12/09/02
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Posts: 7077
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Loc: Seattle, WA
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And welcome to the boards! IBS and IBD diet info
- Heather
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She’s the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Larry
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Reged: 01/21/04
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Posts: 1
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Loc: New Brunswick, Canada
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Spinachfreak,
I'm always looking for natural medicine to help me with my chron's. Have had the operation and on prednisone plus many other drugs. Can you get me that person's email?
Larry W
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