How Can I Handle Ulcerative Colitis Flares?
How Can I Handle Ulcerative Colitis Flares?
You want to calm the flares that strike when you have ulcerative colitis (UC). But if you keep your disease in check, you may also have fewer symptoms over time.
Your flares might be different from someone else with UC. They can range from mild to severe and are often unpredictable. You might get diarrhea and feel an urgent need to go to the bathroom. You could have blood in your stool and be tired a lot.
Ulcerative Colitis: Symptoms and Treatment
Whenever Serena Ehrlich goes someplace new, she scouts out the location of the bathroom. That's because Ehrlich, 38, a Los Angeles-based salesperson for a commercial wire service, has ulcerative colitis. She developed the disease 12 years ago and has been in remission for the past three. Still, the old habit lingers. "Everyone who has ulcerative colitis will tell you that when you walk into a bookstore, a shop, or a restaurant, that's the one thing you want to know first. It's our rule of thumb."This...
Read the Ulcerative Colitis: Symptoms and Treatment article > >
Use these five tips to keep your flares in check.
It can be easy to forget to take your medicines when you feel good. Or you might think it’s OK to skip them because you feel fine. But you need to stick with the plan your doctor prescribed to keep up those benefits.
Many people with UC stay on low doses of drugs such as 5-ASAs, which ease inflammation in the intestines, or meds such as 6-MP, azathioprine, and methotrexate, which turn down an overactive immune system.
Some foods will make you feel bad. When you figure out which ones do, stay away from them.
Some people have trouble with beans, bran, brown rice, dairy, fruit, popcorn, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. If you suspect that a food triggers your symptoms, avoid it for a while to see if you feel better. For more help, ask your doctor to recommend a dietitian or nutritionist.
Food is not the only thing that causes UC symptoms. Other triggers include:
It’s hard to think about food when you have a flare-up. But you need to eat and drink fluids. If you don’t, you could get dehydrated or miss nutrients you need. And you may have already been dehydrated when the flare started.
Every flare is unique. Some people get mild diarrhea and bloating from time to time. For others, they can be very uncomfortable, with symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, belly pain, nausea, and fever.
Call your doctor if the problem doesn't clear up within 48 hours. Together, you can make a plan so you know exactly what to do when your symptoms start next time. Your doctor can also check on your treatment plan or see if you need to take another medicine for a short time to help you get through your discomfort.
Your flares might be different from someone else with UC. They can range from mild to severe and are often unpredictable. You might get diarrhea and feel an urgent need to go to the bathroom. You could have blood in your stool and be tired a lot.
Recommended Related to Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis: Symptoms and Treatment
Whenever Serena Ehrlich goes someplace new, she scouts out the location of the bathroom. That's because Ehrlich, 38, a Los Angeles-based salesperson for a commercial wire service, has ulcerative colitis. She developed the disease 12 years ago and has been in remission for the past three. Still, the old habit lingers. "Everyone who has ulcerative colitis will tell you that when you walk into a bookstore, a shop, or a restaurant, that's the one thing you want to know first. It's our rule of thumb."This...
Read the Ulcerative Colitis: Symptoms and Treatment article > >
Use these five tips to keep your flares in check.
1. Even on Good Days, Take Your Meds
It can be easy to forget to take your medicines when you feel good. Or you might think it’s OK to skip them because you feel fine. But you need to stick with the plan your doctor prescribed to keep up those benefits.
Many people with UC stay on low doses of drugs such as 5-ASAs, which ease inflammation in the intestines, or meds such as 6-MP, azathioprine, and methotrexate, which turn down an overactive immune system.
2. Watch for Triggers
Some foods will make you feel bad. When you figure out which ones do, stay away from them.
Some people have trouble with beans, bran, brown rice, dairy, fruit, popcorn, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. If you suspect that a food triggers your symptoms, avoid it for a while to see if you feel better. For more help, ask your doctor to recommend a dietitian or nutritionist.
Food is not the only thing that causes UC symptoms. Other triggers include:
- Stress
- Infections
- Antibiotics
- Ibuprofen, naproxen, or other “NSAIDs” (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications)
3. Keep Eating
It’s hard to think about food when you have a flare-up. But you need to eat and drink fluids. If you don’t, you could get dehydrated or miss nutrients you need. And you may have already been dehydrated when the flare started.
4. Tell Your Doctor
Every flare is unique. Some people get mild diarrhea and bloating from time to time. For others, they can be very uncomfortable, with symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, belly pain, nausea, and fever.
Call your doctor if the problem doesn't clear up within 48 hours. Together, you can make a plan so you know exactly what to do when your symptoms start next time. Your doctor can also check on your treatment plan or see if you need to take another medicine for a short time to help you get through your discomfort.
