need advice about uc flare

[Guest guest]

Our 9yo son had been having slight breakthrough bleeding with no d

for about 6 weeks, and last week got a cold and started having d and

much more b with each mvt. We put him back on the intro diet (with

no milk products). But he still has very loose d with varying

amounts of b (sometimes a little on the tp, sometimes a bowl full) 2-

5 times/day.

This is his rough time of year -- 2 years ago he was hospitalized in

September for 3 weeks, last fall he needed 2 transfusions and was

out of school for 6 months both years. We started SCD last fall,

and hope that this will help him get through this tough season.

He's getting very tired of the intro restricted diet, and I would

love any advice about how long we should keep it up until we see

some progress. He's also severely allergic to peanuts and tree

nuts, and may be allergic to milk (he's never had it). Here's what

he's eating, pretty much 3 meals a day:

Homemade gelatin made with frozen raspberries (carefully strained),

Welches white grape juice, and honey (he eats 6 cups/day)

Chicken and carrots from chicken soup (he doesn't like the broth

much)

Baked salmon with olive oil, lemon juice, and dried dill

Baked chicken with olive oil, lemon juice, cilantro

Pear and raspberry sauce (again, very carefully strained to get out

all raspberry seeds)

Before he got the cold and the increased bleeding, he was also

eating green beans, duck, cooked blueberries, cooked cherries,

butternut squash, and sometimes lamb, but we cut back on all of that

when the flare got bad a week ago.

I just found pumpkins in the store -- is it ok to introduce pumpkin

pudding (with gelatin, honey and cinnamon) or should I wait until

the bleeding stops? Would butternut squash be a better thing to

introduce?

The dr has recommended Canasa suppositories -- has anyone had

success with that?

Have others found that a cold or other virus can exacerbate the uc?

If so, how long until things get better again? Also, has anyone

else found that late summer and early fall are particularly

difficult times?

Thanks in advance for any advice,

, mom to 9yo ds with uc, diagnosed spring 05, SCD since 10/06,

3000 mg Azulfidine, fish oil, Culturelle, folic acid, iron, Vit D,

calcium, Chinese herbs, homeopathic remedy

[Guest guest]

Hi

So sorry to hear about the difficult time you and your son are going through....

I'm sure some of the experts on IBD here will chime in, but something that

struck me reading your post is the potential " illegals " that your son may be

getting in his supplements. There are two types of Culturelle but only one is

legal. Have you checked which kind you have? (if you search the posts on here

you will find the info. My baby is in the other room so I can't do it now).

\

Also, can you talk w. your dr. about having IV iron, rather than pills? Much

gentler on the digestive tract.

Homeopathic remedies are usually in lactose base, so I don't think they would be

allowed. Would anyone here know if it's legal to dissolve the remedies in water

and then just use the water rather than taking the pills themselves?

I know lots of herbs are illegal, so I guess it would depend what kind of

Chinese herbs your son is taking....

My heart goes out to you both. IBD stinks . Good for you for looking for

alternatives to just plain meds.

Ellen in Boston

10 y/o dd scd since 5/06 for Crohn's

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

<<Our 9yo son had been having slight breakthrough bleeding with no d

> for about 6 weeks, and last week got a cold and started having d

and

> much more b with each mvt. We put him back on the intro diet (with

> no milk products). But he still has very loose d with varying

> amounts of b (sometimes a little on the tp, sometimes a bowl full)

2-> 5 times/day.

>

> This is his rough time of year -- 2 years ago he was hospitalized in

> September for 3 weeks, last fall he needed 2 transfusions and was

> out of school for 6 months both years. We started SCD last fall,

> and hope that this will help him get through this tough season.

>

> He's getting very tired of the intro restricted diet, and I would

> love any advice about how long we should keep it up until we see

> some progress.>>

The intro diet should be done for no more than 5 days. After that

you really should introduce more foods: veggies, fruits etc.. If

still symptomatic fruits and veggies should be peeled and cooked

(deseeded if necessary).

<<He's also severely allergic to peanuts and tree

> nuts, and may be allergic to milk (he's never had it). Here's what

> he's eating, pretty much 3 meals a day:

>

> Homemade gelatin made with frozen raspberries (carefully

strained),>>

FYI, Raspberries aren't part of the intro diet - even if strained.

The foods that are part of the intro are listed in BTVC in the

chapter entitled " Introducing the diet " you can also find the

ingredients of the intro at

http://pecanbread.com/new/scdfoods1.html#intro

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/beginners_guide/beginners.htm

<<Welches white grape juice, and honey (he eats 6 cups/day)

> Chicken and carrots from chicken soup (he doesn't like the broth

> much)

> Baked salmon with olive oil, lemon juice, and dried dill>>

Salmon, dill, olive oil and dill aren't on the intro.

<<Baked chicken with olive oil, lemon juice, cilantro>>

cilantro isn't on the intro.

<<Pear and raspberry sauce (again, very carefully strained to get out

> all raspberry seeds)>>

Pears aren't part of the intro.

<<Before he got the cold and the increased bleeding, he was also

> eating green beans, duck, cooked blueberries, cooked cherries,

> butternut squash, and sometimes lamb, but we cut back on all of

that when the flare got bad a week ago.>>

It may help to go back to the strict intro. If your son is having

diarrhea he can stay on the strict intro for up to 5 days. If he is

having formed or semi-formed stool you can do less (2-4 days). Doing

the strict intro gives the body the easiest to digest foods which

allows a number of things to happen. Since the body doesn't have to

work as hard it can 'focus' more on healing. Some of the more

complex foods that you mentioned are a little harder to digest so

less of the bodies' energy can go to healing. Fats and oils (like

the olive oil) are harder to digest especially when the body is not

well. Pear and raspberry have more fiber which means more that the

body has to break down.

After a few days doing strict intro reintroduce one new food at a

time. After a flare up like this foods that were okay previously may

not be okay until the body bounces back. You may have to take it

slow (introducing foods) for a while.

<<I just found pumpkins in the store -- is it ok to introduce pumpkin

> pudding (with gelatin, honey and cinnamon) or should I wait until

> the bleeding stops? Would butternut squash be a better thing to

> introduce?>>

Some find the butternut or buttercup less fibrous than pumpkin (I

tolerate buttercup very well but others do better with butternut).

When things settle down and he is having formed bm's again very

cautiously try one of these. Start with a small amount and slowly

increase the amounts.

<<The dr has recommended Canasa suppositories -- has anyone had

> success with that?>>

I haven't tried them.

<<Have others found that a cold or other virus can exacerbate the

uc? >>

When I was symptomatic I found that colds/viruses did make symptoms

worse.

<<If so, how long until things get better again? Also, has anyone

> else found that late summer and early fall are particularly

> difficult times?>>

It differed each time. If I took it easy for a few days that often

helped.

I don't notice a difference in times of year. Could there be

something triggering it at his school?

> Thanks in advance for any advice,

>

> , mom to 9yo ds with uc, diagnosed spring 05, SCD since 10/06,

> 3000 mg Azulfidine, fish oil, Culturelle, folic acid, iron, Vit D,

> calcium, Chinese herbs, homeopathic remedy

Culturelle has inulin,

Iron supplements can cause constipation , cramping and bleeding for

some.

Which fish oil?

Which calcium?

Not all chinese herbs are legal.

Homeopathic drops or tablets (w/lactose)?

Sheila, SCD Feb. 2001, UC 23yrs, PCOD 22yrs

mom of and

[Guest guest]

need advice about uc flare

I just found pumpkins in the store -- is it ok to introduce

pumpkin

pudding (with gelatin, honey and cinnamon) or should I wait

until

the bleeding stops? Would butternut squash be a better

thing to

introduce?<<

,

Do you have a recipe for this pumpkin pudding?

TIA,

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

Hi Rhonda,

Beth's recipe is at

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pecanbread/message/70753

Some have had trouble with pumpkin lately (maybe because it's

fibrous). The pumpkin puree must be homemade , not canned. If you

find pumpkin troublesome or not tolerated yet winter squash

(buttercup, butternut, acorn...) may work instead.

Sheila, SCD Feb. 2001, UC 23yrs, PCOD 22yrs

mom of and

<<

> ,

> Do you have a recipe for this pumpkin pudding?

>

> TIA,

> Rhonda

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Rhonda,

For the Pumpkin Pudding recipe you can substitute pureed carrots or squash

instead of the pumpkin. I just made it with the carrots and it is a little

sweeter and fabulous!

Beth

Re: need advice about uc flare

Hi Rhonda,

Beth's recipe is at

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pecanbread/message/70753

Some have had trouble with pumpkin lately (maybe because it's

fibrous). The pumpkin puree must be homemade , not canned. If you

find pumpkin troublesome or not tolerated yet winter squash

(buttercup, butternut, acorn...) may work instead.

Sheila, SCD Feb. 2001, UC 23yrs, PCOD 22yrs

mom of and

<<

> ,

> Do you have a recipe for this pumpkin pudding?

>

> TIA,

> Rhonda

>

[Guest guest]

My 7 yr old son has UC and he never has tolerated Culturelle and the chinese

herbs are making me suspect as well... we tried some last summer and he flared

from them (completely symptom free before that). Also, iron can complicate UC

as well - when we were forced to supplement with iron during a flare, I opted

for Water OZ which did not irritate his gut at all and we tried a chelated iron

supplement once by Carlson labs that he did well with also.

Oil of oregano helped bring him out of that flare along with the standard

prednisone, which he weaned off rather quickly with no complications. We did

opt to wean in 2.5 mg increments instead of 5mg increments though.

Robbie

mom to , UC

SCD 3 yrs

need advice about uc flare

Our 9yo son had been having slight breakthrough bleeding with no d

for about 6 weeks, and last week got a cold and started having d and

much more b with each mvt. We put him back on the intro diet (with

no milk products). But he still has very loose d with varying

amounts of b (sometimes a little on the tp, sometimes a bowl full) 2-

5 times/day.

This is his rough time of year -- 2 years ago he was hospitalized in

September for 3 weeks, last fall he needed 2 transfusions and was

out of school for 6 months both years. We started SCD last fall,

and hope that this will help him get through this tough season.

He's getting very tired of the intro restricted diet, and I would

love any advice about how long we should keep it up until we see

some progress. He's also severely allergic to peanuts and tree

nuts, and may be allergic to milk (he's never had it). Here's what

he's eating, pretty much 3 meals a day:

Homemade gelatin made with frozen raspberries (carefully strained),

Welches white grape juice, and honey (he eats 6 cups/day)

Chicken and carrots from chicken soup (he doesn't like the broth

much)

Baked salmon with olive oil, lemon juice, and dried dill

Baked chicken with olive oil, lemon juice, cilantro

Pear and raspberry sauce (again, very carefully strained to get out

all raspberry seeds)

Before he got the cold and the increased bleeding, he was also

eating green beans, duck, cooked blueberries, cooked cherries,

butternut squash, and sometimes lamb, but we cut back on all of that

when the flare got bad a week ago.

I just found pumpkins in the store -- is it ok to introduce pumpkin

pudding (with gelatin, honey and cinnamon) or should I wait until

the bleeding stops? Would butternut squash be a better thing to

introduce?

The dr has recommended Canasa suppositories -- has anyone had

success with that?

Have others found that a cold or other virus can exacerbate the uc?

If so, how long until things get better again? Also, has anyone

else found that late summer and early fall are particularly

difficult times?

Thanks in advance for any advice,

, mom to 9yo ds with uc, diagnosed spring 05, SCD since 10/06,

3000 mg Azulfidine, fish oil, Culturelle, folic acid, iron, Vit D,

calcium, Chinese herbs, homeopathic remedy

[Guest guest]

Oh and i have heard that any viral infection can cause the immune system to go

haywire, triggering flares. I can't say it's happend to my son, but I've heard

stories. Summertime can trigger flares as well - something about the sun

suppressing immune system. For example, sunshine can trigger a cold sore

because it activates the virus by depleting the immune system. I always hold my

breath during the summer, though we made it through this year with no problems.

yippee!

Robbie

mom to , UC

SCD 3 yrs

need advice about uc flare

Our 9yo son had been having slight breakthrough bleeding with no d

for about 6 weeks, and last week got a cold and started having d and

much more b with each mvt. We put him back on the intro diet (with

no milk products). But he still has very loose d with varying

amounts of b (sometimes a little on the tp, sometimes a bowl full) 2-

5 times/day.

This is his rough time of year -- 2 years ago he was hospitalized in

September for 3 weeks, last fall he needed 2 transfusions and was

out of school for 6 months both years. We started SCD last fall,

and hope that this will help him get through this tough season.

He's getting very tired of the intro restricted diet, and I would

love any advice about how long we should keep it up until we see

some progress. He's also severely allergic to peanuts and tree

nuts, and may be allergic to milk (he's never had it). Here's what

he's eating, pretty much 3 meals a day:

Homemade gelatin made with frozen raspberries (carefully strained),

Welches white grape juice, and honey (he eats 6 cups/day)

Chicken and carrots from chicken soup (he doesn't like the broth

much)

Baked salmon with olive oil, lemon juice, and dried dill

Baked chicken with olive oil, lemon juice, cilantro

Pear and raspberry sauce (again, very carefully strained to get out

all raspberry seeds)

Before he got the cold and the increased bleeding, he was also

eating green beans, duck, cooked blueberries, cooked cherries,

butternut squash, and sometimes lamb, but we cut back on all of that

when the flare got bad a week ago.

I just found pumpkins in the store -- is it ok to introduce pumpkin

pudding (with gelatin, honey and cinnamon) or should I wait until

the bleeding stops? Would butternut squash be a better thing to

introduce?

The dr has recommended Canasa suppositories -- has anyone had

success with that?

Have others found that a cold or other virus can exacerbate the uc?

If so, how long until things get better again? Also, has anyone

else found that late summer and early fall are particularly

difficult times?

Thanks in advance for any advice,

, mom to 9yo ds with uc, diagnosed spring 05, SCD since 10/06,

3000 mg Azulfidine, fish oil, Culturelle, folic acid, iron, Vit D,

calcium, Chinese herbs, homeopathic remedy