My intro

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone.

My name is Kathy, and my dd, who just turned 3 today, has been diagnosed with

Ulcerative Colitis. She has been taking azulfidine for almost 2 months and we

are not seeing any kind of improvement in her stools. If anything, it's

worse...more blood and mucous, watery stools. She was also diagnosed with

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 18 months. She was on methotrexate

(injected weekly) and naprosyn up until March of this year. She has had watery

stools as long as I can remember, but docs dismissed them until we started

reporting blood in the stools. We took her off the arthritis meds altogether in

March, without the consent of docs, because we couldn't tell if the meds were

causing her stool troubles. She's had absolutely no arthritis flares since July

of last year when she started the methotrexate. Her bowel symptoms didn't get

better, so she's been through colonoscopy, small bowel follow through, and

several blood labs that have

brought us to the diagnosis of UC.

I just bought Breaking the Vicious Cycle and plan on reading it tonight. I'm

very concerned that there seems to be no response to the medication (she takes

the suspension - was 1 tsp 2x a day, now 1-1/4 tsp 2x a day). I'm also

concerned that JRA (poly type) originally diagnosed was not the case. I know

now the naprosyn couldn't have been good for her bowels. The pediatric gastro

is telling me that if the colitis were the type caused by naprosyn, it would

have been relieved by stopping the meds. I am somewhat leery of medical

opinions these days, as my daughter has been through so much and one struggle

seems to lead to another. I won't go into detail, but the whole JRA thing

started right after an immunization. She was very healthy and climbing like a

monkey before this...docs refuse to make any connection, but I'm not so sure

about that. I'm hoping that I can help her with a dietary approach, as I'm

getting little guidance on diet from her doc

other than for her to eat yogurt and avoid foods that bother her. (I can't

tell, as she always has the symptoms). Any advice you might have, references

that I can read, anything at this point would be so appreciated.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group Kathy,

<<My name is Kathy, and my dd, who just turned 3 today, has been

diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. She has been taking azulfidine

for almost 2 months and we are not seeing any kind of improvement in

her stools. If anything, it's worse...more blood and mucous, watery

stools.>>

Perhaps she doesn't tolerate that medicine - has she tried any other

kinds for UC? Some people do better with different meds. I took

azulfidine (aka Sulfasalazine/Salazopyrine) for many years. I

tolerated it okay for a very long time and it was helpful sometimes

before I started SCD. Since I have been on the diet I started

having mysterious problems. Finally last year I realized that the

medicine was the problem. I weaned off it (with GI's knowledge) and

now my health is very good.

<< She was also diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at the

age of 18 months. She was on methotrexate (injected weekly) and

naprosyn up until March of this year. She has had watery stools as

long as I can remember, but docs dismissed them until we started

reporting blood in the stools. We took her off the arthritis meds

altogether in March, without the consent of docs, because we

couldn't tell if the meds were causing her stool troubles. She's

had absolutely no arthritis flares since July of last year when she

started the methotrexate. Her bowel symptoms didn't get better, so

she's been through colonoscopy, small bowel follow through, and

several blood labs that have

> brought us to the diagnosis of UC.

>

> I just bought Breaking the Vicious Cycle and plan on reading it

tonight. I'm very concerned that there seems to be no response to

the medication (she takes the suspension - was 1 tsp 2x a day, now 1-

1/4 tsp 2x a day). >>

Often the suspensions for children have SCD illegals in them. Some

people get their medications made up with SCD fillers at compounding

pharmacies.

<< I'm also concerned that JRA (poly type) originally diagnosed was

not the case. I know now the naprosyn couldn't have been good for

her bowels. The pediatric gastro is telling me that if the colitis

were the type caused by naprosyn, it would have been relieved by

stopping the meds. I am somewhat leery of medical opinions these

days, as my daughter has been through so much and one struggle seems

to lead to another. I won't go into detail, but the whole JRA thing

started right after an immunization. She was very healthy and

climbing like a monkey before this...docs refuse to make any

connection, but I'm not so sure about that. I'm hoping that I can

help her with a dietary approach, as I'm getting little guidance on

diet from her doc

> other than for her to eat yogurt and avoid foods that bother

her. (I can't tell, as she always has the symptoms). Any advice

you might have, references that I can read, anything at this point

would be so appreciated.>>

Since she is having blood and diarrhea now it would be best if she

started the diet with the Intro diet. It is in BTVC and also at

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

there are some intro diet recipe ideas for the intro at

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

These links may also be helpful:

http://www.pecanbread.com/new/scdfoods1.html#transition

http://www.pecanbread.com/new/scdfoods1.html#beyond

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

mom of and