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?
Q: MY SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH UC EARLIER THIS YEAR. HE IS 18.
Answers (2)
11/ 5/09 2:45pm
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
12/26/09 5:04pm
Two words Miss. HA. HA. My doctor said the same darn thing. I was diagnosed three years ago. This same said doctor only put me on prednisone and asacol...meanwhile I was losing weight rapidly while living in extreme pain and nausea 24/7. The doctor was incompetent enough never to test me for a bacterial infection that many IBD patients get known as C. Dificil. I had it for a year, and after recent treatment at last due to a very expensive trip to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, I am nearer to remission than I have been in years.
This doctor never tested me for C. Dificil. But he did want to take out my colon (I am 17...I'm rather attatched to it, and I would like to keep my colon at all costs thank you) or put me on a medication known as Imuren. Imuren ... there is a test to see if you are able to metabolise this drug well, and not suffer the nasty side effect of losing ones abiliity to create red blood cells. I fail that test and therefore I'm told to try Remicade... another drug that I believe is given to you through an IV. It's expensive, no doubt!
Diet and Nutrition... well they definitely helped me. I elminated wheat, dairy, eggs, rice, and soy from my diet. Of course, after losing 30 pounds and feeling pretty spruce I'm enjoying wheat and eggs again. The purpose of naturopathic nutrition, or nutritional therapy, is to eliminate foods that can cause inflammation and affect systems and hormones in the body. After giving tmy new diet a chance I felt healthier, more energetic, and my stomach pains were less. My enzymes that I took to help digest food helped greatly as well. But here's a tip; do not eat meat and bread together. Meat takes 30 minutes to digest. If eaten with something that's easily digested like bread, it results in the bread being a soupy mixture long before your meat is. This doesn't aid in the elimination of runny stools. A sad truth; I love a good burger.
I also turned to organic foods. They are available on the internet, Fred Meyers, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and Wild Oats stores. Coconut milk ice cream is a good non-dairy treat... a little tip for your son!!!!!
Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of The HealthCentral Network. The HealthCentral Network does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
