Finding a treatment regime that effectively controls ulcerative colitis is very difficult. It took me two years of trial and suffering to find a regime that works for me. I now use a multifaceted treatment regimen to control my ulcerative colitis: I take medication, use light exercise, practice meditation, go to an acupressure therapist and eat a very controlled diet to keep my ulcerative colitis under control.
I will touch on the prescription ulcerative colitis medications first. Doctors use prescription medications to help get ulcerative colitis in a state of remission and to keep it in remission. Some of the medications also help to lessen the effects of a flare up. No medication will cure ulcerative colitis.
I tried Rowasa, which is a topical medication given in the form of an enema. This one was messy since it was an enema. I did not feel that the effects of the Rowasa were worth the hassle that I had to deal with when I was on it.
I tried Azulfidine in a pill form. This ulcerative colitis treatment was just plain awful. I had constant nausea and heartburn. Some days, I could not even get out of bed because I was so sick. In my opinion, this treatment was much worse than suffering through an ulcerative colitis flare-up because the side effects of the medicine were constant.
I am on Prednisone now. This is a corticosteroid that I take in a pill form. Prednisone works well because it is an anti-inflammatory so it reduces the swelling that causes an ulcerative colitis flare-up. There are some side effects of taking Predinsone but I can easily deal with these. I get acne sometimes. I have mild weight gain. The nausea is occasional and can usually be lessened if I eat something. I notice that I have mild mood swings, but I cannot fully say that these are a result of the medicine. My doctor says that I am at increased risk for infection because my immune is slightly weakened by the medicine. Because of this, I just have to be more vigilant about things like hand washing.
I find that a light exercise regimen, such as swimming or walking, helps to keep my ulcerative colitis in remission. I feel much better when I do find the time to exercise. Exercise helps to keep the digestive tract functioning at its best so that is why it helps ulcerative colitis.
I practice meditation to just keep myself calm. I noticed that my ulcerative colitis symptoms seemed worse when I was upset or stressed out. I am not sure if this an actual medical issue or if it was just my mind’s perception of pain. In any case, daily meditation helps me to keep my ulcerative colitis under control by helping to keep my mind and body at ease.
I currently go to an acupressure therapist. She has a treatment program that she performs on me that is meant to aid in digestion. I am very happy with the results because I do feel a lot better since I started the treatment. It seems like anything that aids digestion helps to lessen my ulcerative colitis flare ups.
My diet is very controlled. Sometimes, I can get away with eating a very small amount of a trigger food but I know that any time I try this, I am risking a flare-up. Sometimes, I just cannot help myself and I have to have that spicy Mexican food that seems to trigger a flare-up. Since the trigger foods vary from person to person, I can’t give you a set list of safe foods.
I have heard that nicotine lessens ulcerative colitis symptoms and flare-ups. This is one treatment that I will not try because in my mind, risking a life threatening disease caused by nicotine is much worse than suffering through an inconvenient disease like ulcerative colitis.
I know that surgery is an option. I am young and I am not ready to have to use a colostomy bag so, I am not considering this option either. I think that for some people, surgery is the right option. I just happen to think that I am not in that group at this time.
No matter what treatments you are considering for your ulcerative colitis, it is very important that you keep your doctor informed and listen to his or her advise every step of the way. They sometimes know of conflicts that multiple treatments can have and can steer you in a better direction.
Patience and willingness to try different treatment combinations are the keys to getting ulcerative colitis in a state of remission. Good luck in your journey to find that blessed relief.
