The following is an Editorial Resource from YourTotalHealth.
Is there an alternative treatment to medications?
I've had ulcerative colitis for some time now. The only thing that seems to help is taking probiotics, but occasionally I've noticed a few drops of blood when I wipe. Is this normal? What about when there is a lot of blood?
Are there other things besides medications and probiotics that can help? Maybe dietary changes?
?diet-pepsi-addict
The cause of ulcerative colitis remains unknown. However, the inflammation of the large intestine tends to wax and wane, and when it is active, as you well know, your symptoms include rectal bleeding, urgency and frequent trips to the toilet. One theory about ulcerative colitis is that it is related to a change of the bacteria of the bowel, and there is intense interest and research going on in this field. However, although the theory is enticing and there is much more information we have yet to learn, we have not identified specific probiotics that we can use to treat active ulcerative colitis, and have not clearly confirmed any specific probiotic for maintenance of the disease condition.
A probiotic is a bacterium, or a collection of bacteria, that can be administered orally, and in theory, offer beneficial effects to the intestinal system. Remember that there are more bacteria that live in a healthy large intestine than there are cells in the entire human body! Therefore, the concept of taking several billion of a single (or several) species of bacterium orally daily to somehow modify an immune response in the intestine, all the way down to the rectum, is a very challenging one and one that remains unproven. There are limited studies that certain species of lactobacillus in conjunction with other active maintenance treatments for ulcerative colitis can aid in maintaining your disease control.
While it is enticing to consider being off of any maintenance therapy or using probiotics, I would urge you to realize that seeing blood occasionally suggests that your disease is not in perfect control. The risks of having ulcerative colitis that is not under perfect control include extension of the disease to involve more of your large intestine, the development of a more refractory disease that is harder to control, and emerging evidence strongly favors the idea that untreated or incompletely treated ulcerative colitis may increase the rare risk of colorectal cancer.
I would ask you the five questions I ask all my patients with ulcerative colitis to assess whether they are truly in a stable remission:
1. Do you have formed bowel movements?
2. Do you ever see blood?
3. Do you experience rectal urgency and rush to the bathroom?
4. Are you sleeping through the night without bowel movements?
5. Are you able to distinguish between gas and liquid?
Answering these questions can help you and your doctor understand whether you have truly achieved a stable remission of this condition. Anything less may put you at risk for future problems and negatively impact your quality of life.
My general approach to the patients in my practice is to encourage them to use an approved and effective maintenance therapy, such as the aminosalicylate therapies and in some cases, other immune drugs, and to be open-minded and supportive of the concept of using a probiotic as an additive therapy. However, I have not embraced the idea of a probiotic alone for a long-term maintenance therapy.
?Dr. Rubin
What's Next: IBS or Colitis?
