UC or Crohn's

Hi Teri,

I just answered you most recent question about diet, before I saw this. Your headaches are most likely a result of dehydration and not being able to keep food (and subsequently water) in your system. That is most likely also the reason you are feeling so exhausted. When your food is passing through your system so rapidly, your body does not have time to absorb the necessary nutrients your body uses for energy.

The ana test (Antinuclear antibody test) is a way to test for certain diseases, like autoimmune diseases (such as IBD). Positive test results indicate that your body has a higher than normal level of antibodies indicating the presence of disease.

I hope this helps answer some of your questions.

Dear Teri,

 My son who was diagnosed with UC about a year and a half ago (161/2 yrs old, he is now 18 yrs old) after a colonoscopy was performed.  He was going through the EXACT symptoms that you have been having, going to the bathroom 15 to 20 times a , stomach cramping, he was up at all hours of the night, it was wearing him out especially trying to go to school, he would eat then about 10 minutes later he would run to the bathroom, it got so bad he was scared to go out to eat with friends and family, he would starve if he was'nt home where a bathroom was near by. He lost 25 lbs in about 6 weeks, no Doctor or hospital or emergency care center would listen to me when I took him there. They would say well maybe he has had a stomach virus!!! I knew they were wrong because it went on for 6 weeks. Finally I demanded for his doctor to recommend a  G I specialist and they did. The G I specialist immediately recommended a colonoscopy after our first appt. After his colonoscopy the doctor put him on Asacol=-9 pills a day (3 inthe am, 3 in the afternoon and 3 before bedtime) AND he prescribed him an antibiotic for 10 days because his colon was infected (blood and mucus was on the ulcer on the colon). It cleared the bloody stools up for about a week Then the bloody stool started again, so we did another round of antibiotics. That time it cleared up the bloody stools.  He now has been weaned to 6 pills a day and every once in a while he will have a bloody stool. But the G I doctor told him find out what food is irritating his bowel,  it could it be spicey foods, peanut butter, etc. He has to pay attention to what causes him a flare up. The doctor said anything that causes a flare up, keep that food in moderation, dont eat for example Pizza 3 days in a row or eat a jar of peanut butter. Also, his G I specialist said that his bowels do not absorb protein very well. I hope this information has helped you somewhat. I am also told UC is like arthritis, every once in a while you may have a flare up, and sometimes you can go for years without any symptoms. I wish you the best of luck getting  this problem solved.   Gina