What Should I Ask My Doctor
If you have ulcerative colitis, you may want to ask your healthcare provider:
- How much of my large intestine is affected?
- What risks or side effects can I expect from the medication?
- Should I change my diet?
- Will ulcerative colitis affect my ability to get pregnant?
- What can I do at home to manage my symptoms?
- What are my surgical options?
What Are Surgical Treatments For Crohns Disease
As many as 7 in 10 people with Crohns disease eventually need surgery when medications no longer provide symptom relief. During a bowel resection, a surgeon:
- Removes the diseased bowel segment.
- Connects the two ends of the healthy bowel together .
After surgery, the remaining part of the bowel adapts and functions as it did before. Approximately 6 in 10 people who undergo surgery for Crohns disease will have a recurrence within 10 years. Another bowel resection may be a good option for you.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Ulcerative Colitis
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include diarrhea which may be associated with crampy abdominal pain and sudden urgency to have a bowel movement. Diarrhea may begin slowly or quite suddenly. Loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue are also common symptoms. In cases of severe bleeding, anemia may occur. Approximately half of all patients with ulcerative colitis have relatively mild symptoms. The symptoms of ulcerative colitis tend to come and go, with fairly long periods in between flare-ups in which patients may experience no distress at all. These periods of remission can span months or even years, although symptoms do eventually return. Of note is that the disease is not always limited to the GI tract it can also affect the joints, eyes, skin, and liver.
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Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms And Causes
Ulcerative colitis is thought to develop when a person at genetic risk is exposed to certain environmental stressors.
These environmental stressors either change the ratio of gut bacteria or alter the way the immune system responds to bacteria .
As a result, the immune system attacks the intestinal lining causing inflammation and other symptoms, including:
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Do Any Medications Have Nutritional Side Effects
Moderate to severe flares of IBD are often treated with corticosteroids , cholestyramine and 5-ASA compounds . These medications have nutritional side effects that should be addressed. If you use any of these medications, talk to your doctor or registered dietitian for treatment advice.
- Prednisone causes decreased absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the small intestine. It also causes increased losses of calcium, zinc, potassium and vitamin C. With continual use of high doses of prednisone, the result may be bone loss and development of bone disease. People on prednisone may need up to 1200 milligrams a day. Protein needs also are increased for people taking prednisone because it increases protein breakdown in the body.
- Cholestyramine decreases absorption of fat-soluble vitamins , as well as folate, vitamin B-12, calcium and iron.
- Sulfasalazine interferes with folate absorption. People taking this drug also should take a 1 milligram folate supplement each day.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Is there a cure?
No, IBD cannot be cured. There will be periods of remission when the disease is not active. Medicines can reduce inflammation and increase the number and length of periods of remission, but there is no cure.
How long will IBD last?
IBD is a lifelong condition. A few patients find their disease becomes milder after age 60, but many do not.
Do I have to take medicine forever?
Probably. IBD is a chronic disease, and most patients need a maintenance medicine to ease symptoms and reduce the number and severity of flares. Most maintenance medicines act fairly slowly, so if you have an active flare, you may need to take additional medicine temporarily.
Are there some medicines that can get me out of a flare quickly?
Yes. These are not necessarily used long term because of side effects. Patients will often change over from rescue medicines to long-term maintenance medicines. Rescue medicines include steroids such as prednisone and cyclosporine.
Why do I need to keep taking medicines when I feel well?
Its important to keep taking maintenance medicines because they reduce the recurrence of flares. For biologic medicines it is important to keep taking them to prevent the formation of antibodies against the medicine. The formation of antibodies can lead to allergic reactions and loss of benefit from the medicine. Taking biologic medicines regularly can maintain their good effect.
Why might I need a colonoscopy?
Will surgery cure my IBD?
My August 11th 2021 Response To Dr Hellers July 29th 2021 Email Can Be Found Below Complete References Are Listed At End Of This Article
Dear Dr. Heller:
Thank you for your offer to apply for a Crohns Colitis Foundation of America grant. Unfortunately, as I replied to a similar offer 15 years ago, I dont qualify for these grants.
My central message is straightforward. The clinical and experimental data unambiguously indicate that colonic epithelial hydrogen peroxide is the cause of ulcerative colitis and its therapeutic reduction can lead to a cure.
This is the first time that the CCFA has ever been presented with concrete evidence of a cause and cure for ulcerative colitis. Because the whole purpose of the CCFA is to find the cause and cure for ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease that afflict millions of Americans, I strongly urge that you take the following steps as soon as possible:
With your commitment to prioritize this research, we can finish these preclinical studies in a few months and proceed to clinical studies with a novel therapy that I have developed to normalize colonic epithelial hydrogen peroxide, which is highly effective at completely healing ulcerative colitis and appears to have achieved a cure in one patient with refractory disease . I am confident that a cure for ulcerative colitis is a real possibility. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Jay Pravda MD MPH MBE
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Get Regular Exercise To Reduce Inflammation
Snider says exercise is useful in managing many of the complications associated with ulcerative colitis, including decreased bone density, a weakened immune system, emotional health problems, stress, and weight gain.
âTry to engage in a moderate-intensity exercise like swimming or biking, three or four days per week,â he says. One research review notes that moderate exercise releases protective myokines such as irisin from working skeletal muscles, which promotes healing and helps with inflammatory bowel disease inflammation.
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Ways To Naturally Treat Ulcerative Colitis
Is yoga the key to soothing ulcerative colitis? Will an herb provide relief? Natural remedies for ulcerative colitis may not be your primary treatment approach, but they can help you manage symptoms and reduce the frequency of flares.
To date, there is no cure for UC, a chronic disease of the large intestine in which inflammation brought on by a faulty immune response creates sores or ulcers in the lining of the colon.
The chronic condition affects nearly 1 million Americans and tends to run in families. Epidemiological research shows that Westernized populations and people with diets high in fat are at higher risk for UC, as well as Caucasians and Ashkenazi Jews. But no one has yet uncovered the main cause of the disease.
Although the official cause of ulcerative colitis has evaded the medical community, its important to understand that it results from an interaction of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, says Benjamin Snider, ND, a naturopathic doctor in private practice in Kitchener, Ontario.
Treatments for ulcerative colitis include medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system suppressors, and steroids to control inflammation and other symptoms of the condition. Surgery to remove the colon and rectum is another form of treatment if medication doesnt prove effective.
- Wheatgrass juice
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What Are The Surgeries For Ulcerative Colitis
Different types of surgeries are done for ulcerative colitis depending on the patient’s preference and the surgeon’s experience. The most common are as follows:
- This procedure is commonly adopted in ulcerative colitis surgeries. It removes the colon and rectum with the creation of a pseudo-rectum from a portion of the small intestine. This operation is usually completed in two stages in the form of two separate surgeries performed about two months apart. Some patients may require three separate surgeries.
- Proctocolectomy with ileostomy: This is another common surgical procedure that involves the removal of the entire colon and rectum. The small intestine is connected to the abdominal wall through an opening so that stool empties into a bag. This surgery is usually done in elderly patients and obese patients.
Does Ulcerative Colitis Make You Immunocompromised
Ulcerative colitis doesnt make you immunocompromised. Some of the medicines that treat it may change the way your immune system responds. This change is different for each medication. Some of these changes may increase the risk of certain infections or other issues. A discussion with your health care team before starting a medication is the best way to understand these risks and ways to prevent them.
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The Ulcerative Colitis Diet
1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Studies have found that an omega-3 fatty acid called eicosapentaenoic acid has the power to fight inflammation. It blocks certain chemicals in your body called leukotrienes. A benefit of fish oil is its a good source of EPA, and in some tests, people benefited from very high doses of it.
A 2010 case report published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine evaluated a 38-year-old woman who had ulcerative colitis and used omega-3 fatty acids as part of her treatment. In 1998, at the age of 27, she went to the emergency department after 10 days of bloody diarrhea and lower abdominal cramping pain. She described up to 15 bowel motions daily with urgency, and she lost approximately six pounds. She was also clinically dehydrated.
After weeks of various treatments that only led to short-term results, the patient turned to omega-3 fatty acid treatments. The EPA and DHA doses were well-tolerated and had no side effects. Her bowel frequency slowly decreased, and within a week all rectal bleeding had resolved. The woman continued to take one gram of omega-3s and 2.4 grams of mesalazine, an anti-inflammatory medication that did not have the same reactions when given alone. The patient went into remission after adding omega-3s into her diet.
2. Probiotics
- High-fiber foods.
In addition to the problem foods listed above, infants, children and teenagers can also experience issues with:
- Dairy products.
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References Cited In My 2nd Email To Dr Heller Dated 11/aug/2021
1. Santhanam S, et al. Impairment of mitochondrial acetoacetyl CoA thiolase activity in the colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis. GUT 2007 56:1543-1549.
2. Shi XZ, Winston JH, Sarna SK. Differential immune and genetic responses in rat models of Crohn’s colitis and ulcerative colitis. American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. 2011 300:G41-51.
3. Pravda J, et al. . J Inflam Bowel Dis Disor. 2019 4: 130.
4. Pravda J, Gordon R, Sylvestre P. Sustained Histologic Remission 12 Years after One-Time Treatment of Refractory Ulcerative Colitis with Novel Combination Therapy: A Case Report. Journal of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Disorders. 2020 5:1-5.
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Are Bananas Good For Ulcerative Colitis
Bananas are high on the list of healthy foods if youre in an ulcerative colitis flare. Theyre easy to digest and rich in potassium . People with irritable bowel disorders, like ulcerative colitis, are often deficient in this mineral. Blend one cup of low fat milk with one cup of yogurt, a ripe banana, and ice.
Natural Intestinal Healing Remedies
Due to the common complaints associated with medications and surgery, research has uncovered many natural options for healing a damaged digestive system. From lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, and stress reduction techniques, ulcerative colitis can not only be prevented, but it can also be successfully healed.
One additional benefit is that many people, especially the elderly, cannot tolerate many medications. Natural options allow for healing without additional pain. These include:
Regular Exercise: Exercise is beneficial to your overall health, but when it comes to ulcerative colitis, regular activity can help with many of the complications associated with the condition. Studies have shown that individuals with ulcerative colitis also suffer from decreased bone density, emotional health problems, weight gain, and suppressed immune system.
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Exercise can help boost moods, promote weight loss, boost energy levels, and support bone health. In addition to this moderate exercise triggers the release of specific chemicals called myokines that promote healing from inflammatory-related damage.
Yoga is a specific exercise that takes care of the digestive system and provides relief for many ulcerative colitis symptoms.
Stress Reduction: Stress and anxiety are intricately linked to inflammation. The release of inflammatory chemicals is a direct result of the body experiencing stress.
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Ulcerative Colitis Treatment Options
The primary goal in treating ulcerative colitis is to help patients regulate their immune system better. While there is no known cure for ulcerative colitis and flare ups may recur, a combination of treatment options can help you stay in control of your disease and lead a full and rewarding life.
Treatment for ulcerative colitis is multifaceted and includes the use of medication, alterations in diet and nutrition, and sometimes surgical procedures to repair or remove affected portions of your GI tract.
Ial Or Total Colon Resection
In a total resection, the entire large intestine is removed. While this is the only true cure for UC, it can reduce quality of life.
In a partial resection, colorectal surgeons remove the diseased region of the colon with a margin of healthy tissue on either side. When possible, the two remaining ends of the large intestine are surgically united, reconnecting the digestive system.
When this cant be done, the bowel is routed to the abdominal wall and waste exits the body in an ileostomy or colostomy bag.
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Main Differences Between Colitis And Diverticulitis
If Your Doctor Has Recommended Infusion Therapy Let Infusion Associates Help You
At Infusion Associates, we provide medically-prescribed infusion therapy for patients with chronic conditions in a welcoming and friendly environment. Our team of healthcare professionals is fully committed to making the experience as comfortable as possible for you or your patients. We always inform patients of any potential side effects and answer all their questions before starting treatment. In addition, we have a Registered Pharmacist on-site to make the process as seamless as possible.
If you would like to refer a patient to us or want to inquire about the treatments we offer, you can contact us by calling us at or filling out this form.
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Can You Cure An Inflammatory Bowel Disease
There are only two types of inflammatory bowel diseases: ulcerative colitis and Crohnâs disease. They are both very similar and relatively prevalent, affecting one million people. A half-million of them have Crohnâs, and a half million have ulcerative colitis. I had ulcerative colitis. I say I had because I had my colon removed. Does that mean an IBD can be cured?
Well, yes and no.
There is essentially a cure for ulcerative colitis since it only affects the colon. Believe it or not, we can live without a colon, so if we have the colon removed, the disease is gone.
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Can Colitis Cause Eye Problems
Approximately 10% of those with ulcerative colitis an inflammatory bowel disease that causes tiny open sores, or ulcers, inside the lining of the colonalso have eye pain, vision problems, light sensitivity, and, in rare cases, permanent vision loss when either their UC or the related eye condition is left
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Ulcerative Colitis Causes And Risk Factors
Ulcerative colitis happens when your immune system makes a mistake. Normally, it attacks invaders in your body, like the common cold. But when you have UC, your immune system thinks food, good gut bacteria, and the cells that line your colon are the intruders. White blood cells that usually protect you attack the lining of your colon instead. They cause the inflammation and ulcers.
Doctors arenât sure why people get the condition. Your genes may play a role the disease sometimes runs in families. Other things in the world around you may make a difference, too.
Things that can affect your risk of getting ulcerative colitis include:
- Age. Itâs most likely if youâre between 15 and 30 years old or older than 60.
- Ethnicity. The risk is highest in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
- Family history. Your risk could be up to 30% higher if you have a close relative with the condition.
Food and stress donât cause it, but they can trigger a flare of symptoms.