MY SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH UC EARLIER THIS YEAR. HE IS 18.
THE DOC TREATING THE DISEASE BELIEVES THAT DIET AND NUTRITION HAVE NO IMPACT ON CONTROLLING THE DISEASE OR FLARE UPS. I DISAGREE BUT THOUGHT I'D THROW IT OUT THERE TO SEE WHAT OTHERS' EXPERIENCE HAD BEEN. DO SUPPLEMENTS HELP? DOES NUTRITION AND PROPER EATING HABITS HELP?
Hi RFleen,
I'm sorry to hear of your son's diagnosis. Only in recent years has it become more accepted in the medical community that diet can have a positive impact on some people who have IBD. That said, some GI doctors see the usefulness of their IBD patients watching they eat, while others doctors are like the one treating your son. In all honesty, diet change doesn't typically make IBD go away. But, in some IBD patients, like me (I have UC), diet changes do help symptoms to not be so severe. My father, however, who also has UC, sees no difference in his symptoms no matter what he does or doesn't eat.
You may want to take a look at my new and older Shareposts - you can find them here http://www.healthcentral.com/ibd/c/2623 - as I tend to discuss diet quite often.
Even if your son's GI doesn't think diet and nutrition can have an impact on your son's illness, I would try to seek out a nutritionist who works with IBD patients and have them help him to determine if he has any food allergies or intolerances that could be making his symptoms worse.
Best of luck,
Elizabeth
Author, Living with IBD & IBS
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