I'm on the verge of having a flare up with Ulcerative Colitis and I was wondering what can I do to prevent it?

4 Comments

1. D R says:

   July 10, 2010 at 1:36 pm

   First of all, Asacol is not a medication you can just ask for and expect to prevent your flare-up. Asacol is a medication you take to maintain your colitis. There is also no garuntee you can go down the number of tablets you can take after a few years or so. It does however have no side effects and is one of the best to take. I have been on it for a few years now and it help me maintain my colitis – it has greatly helped me have less flare-ups but it is not a quick fix.

   Depending on the severity of your colitis you may or may not be on medication – but most people are. From MY exeperience, severe flare-ups are treated with prednisone. I would be told to go on it for about a week or a little more starting with a certain amount of tablets and tapering down. I would do this while still keeping up with my asacol. Predisone, because it is steroid, IS a quick fix. It DOES have side effects as well.

   Since colitis is something you live with forever, some people chose to self manage their illness. This should only be done after talking it over with your doctor. For example, I was given a prescription for prednisone and kept it for bad flar ups. Because I knew my doctor would prescribe it if i went to see him, i would just do exactly what he would tell me to do in the past – a few days, starting with a few tablets an tapering down. I DO NOT reccomend doing this without doctors advisement… but it is an option.

   You question seems to sound like you KNOW you are going to have a flare-up. Could this be because you did something you were not suppose to do (eat something or not take meds?). If that is the case… do not do the thing you aren’t supposed to (duh, right?). Well, if you don;t know what you did to trigger it… and you are getting frequent flare-ups – keep a diary of what you eat, drink and do each day. You can review it yourself or take it into your doctor.

   Healthier and non-medicated ways of avoiding a flare-up can include avoiding stress (if you find yourself very stressed often try taking a yoga class or talking to a counsellor – this REALLY helps). Also, be very careful what you are eating. Stay away from fried foods, nuts, seeds, dairy, raw vegetables etc and lettuce. From personal experience when I KNOW I have a flare-up I tone my diet way down and keep it bland. I usually eat plain cooked chicken, bread etc. This will prevent you from eating anything that either triggered the flare-up or make it worse.

   Your body is going to be different from everyone else. Just because you have ulcerative colitis doesn’t mean you are like everyone else with colitis – in fact, what works for me may not work for you. I have had it for over 5 years and finally know how to control mine but every so often i find myself caught off guard. Be very careful. If you are not on medication you probably should be. There are very mild and safe medications that you take everyday to AID in the prevention of flare-ups. Find a specialist if you dont have one – don’t settle until you find one you like and feel respects you.

   hope this helps
2. jellybean says:

   July 10, 2010 at 1:36 pm

   Follow your doctors orders!
3. Gordon C says:

   July 10, 2010 at 1:36 pm

   Ask your doctor for asacol tablets —2 three times a day—works wonders —after about a year you can cut back to 2 twice a day —there is no cure but this stuff is good and if taken properly there is a good chance of no flare ups for years and years –good tip –use baby wipes instead of paper.
4. mikeynev says:

   July 10, 2010 at 1:36 pm

   See your doctor and make sure you are taking your Asacol/Pentasa/Dipentum or whatever else you should be taking to prevent a flare-up. A severe flare-up might need a course of steroids.

   Truth is you need medication for a flare-up of UC, and you need to start treatment as early as possible. Dont sit on it. See your doctor.