Colitis
Colitis
Hope and Help
for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
If you have ulcerative colitis, you'll know it. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloody stools, cramps and abdominal pain, prompted by inflammation and sores in the large intestine.
If you have ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease (forms of inflammatory bowel disease) medication is the primary treatment. But there are some ways that you can treat flare-ups at home.
WHAT TO DO DURING AN ATTACK
Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease attacks tend to come and go. During an attack you'll probably feel like crawling into bed. But if that's not an option, here are some suggestions for keeping the discomfort to a minimum.
When To See A Doctor
If you have frequent bouts of diarrhea, bloody stools, cramps and abdominal pain, see your doctor, so that she can confirm the diagnosis and prescribe the proper course of treatment. The symptoms of colitis can mimic other forms of inflammatory bowel disease, such as infectious colitis or other conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome. It's important that a clear initial diagnosis be made, says Sheila Crowe, M.D., gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. If you have known Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, and initial medication and dietary changes don't help during a flare-up, during which you have a fever, frequent stools or blood in your stool, you should see a doctor. Flare-ups may occasionally be caused by infections, which need to be treated differently than usual attacks.
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Drink deeply. If you have diarrhea (and you probably do), you may get dehydrated. To replace lost fluid, try to drink at least ten glasses of water or juice a day during an attack, says Sheila Crowe, M.D., gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Eat sparingly. Diarrhea and cramps make it hard to tolerate any food at all when you're having an attack, says Dr. Crowe. To keep pain to a minimum, "eat very plain food, such as applesauce or boiled, skinless chicken or soft, cooked carrots--and not much of them," says Dr. Crowe.
For now, cut out the fiber. While your colitis is active, stick to bland, low-fiber, low-fat foods such as plain toast and gelatin, so that you won't irritate your colon, says Barbara Frank, M.D., gastroenterologist and clinical professor of medicine at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences MCP-Hahnemann School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
Pass up the popcorn. Seeds, nuts and popcorn irritate the bowel and, worse, impede its functioning during an attack, says Dr. Crowe.
If it hurts your stomach, stay away. There's no telling what might worsen the pain--for some it may be spicy foods, for someone else, acidic foods or a seemingly innocuous spoonful of cereal, or any food imaginable. "If you feel worse after eating any type of food at all, don't eat it during an attack," advises Dr. Crowe.
