Colitis info???

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2000
Colitis info???
4
Thu, 04-06-2006 - 5:02pm
I have GERD, controlled with meds, but for about 5-6 months have been having vague but very real stomach discomfort, not "pain", just this sense of emptiness - it feels like you feel when you're getting hungry and your stomach WANTS to growl, but it doesn't get that far. At times I feel downright sick, just once in awhile. My GI just did a colonoscopy this week and one of the findings on the hospital release sheets says "active colitis". I've looked it up all over the internet and almost everywhere you do a search for active colotis, it brings up "active ULCERATIVE colitis". I know that's just how a computer will do this, it's searching for those words - active colitis and did find them. But I take it there are a number of types of colitis and that reading more on the internet might be a waste of time. I'll see my GI in May, but just wanted to be sure - is "active colitis" the same as "active ulcerative colitis"? I get the impression it isn't. Colitis would explain a whole list of symptoms that have defied explanation for awhile, like ongoing anemia. What is the treatment for this? My stomach is ULTRA sensitive to antibiotics - I'll start throwing them up in under a week, and I think I was reading that's one of the major treatments. Yikes! Do you GET RID OF colitis? When you research this stuff, you end up confused! I have yet to do a couple of at-home tests.

 


~~joannaran~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2000
In reply to: joannaran
Fri, 04-07-2006 - 1:17am
Also, are there herbs/supplements you can take to help calm down colitis? I read somewhere fish oil capsules apparently can do some good, I used to take that.

 


~~joannaran~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2003
In reply to: joannaran
Fri, 04-07-2006 - 1:49pm

Hi Joanna--My name is Mary. I"m about to be 40, and I suffered from colitis for about 2 years before having life-changing J-pouch surgery. Perhaps I can answer your questions. Most likely, the diagnosis was for ulcerative colitis (UC). Its often referred to as just colitis--the "active" description meaning its not in remission. It is an autoimmune disease, so its possible to get into periods of remission when it is not active.

A very inexpensive but helpful book for you to read is "The New Eating Right for a Bad Gut" by James Scala, PH.D. It can be purchased on Amazon. It will help you to eat the right foods and avoid "aggravators". Yes, fish oil can be helpful--specifically Omega 3 fatty acids. He gets a little technical, but it was very helpful to me.

For some, it is easy to control. For me, remission never occurred. I had J-pouch surgery, and my life is better than it was before I got sick. Truth be told, I was probably sick long before any symptoms. I don't have to have a bag, and I go to the bathroom just like everyone else. My life is perfectly normal. You referred to something that you were diagnosed with--Im not familiar with it at all--GERD? maybe?. sorry, cannot help you there.

Please feel free to post any questions you might have for me. I feel like I'm somewhat of an expert-lol.
Mary

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2005
In reply to: joannaran
Thu, 04-13-2006 - 2:39pm
I've also read that fish oil capsules are wonderful for many conditions, particularly inflammatory conditions.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
In reply to: joannaran
Thu, 04-13-2006 - 9:05pm

Hi Joannaran,


Welcome to the board.