Colitis - why does it happen and what can help it?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Had a colonoscopy and endoscopy today.
Still have to wait for the results but they said I have colitis (I did Google but kept getting ulcerative colitis which I don't know if it's different.

Background:
pain on Left side and above navel, sometimes pain on right (for past year)
I thought it was ovarian, been back/forth to GP.

Had a scan (March) and found a gallstone (waiting to have it removed) but still the left and centre pain too.

So - the diet had to change . I'm a vegetarian but cut out cheese, crisps. GP said cut out fibre- bread,beans,peas,lentils.

So very limited diet now, still the odd flare up.
I won't know exactly what's going on till the results. I'm hoping having the gallbladder out will relieve alot.
But what do I need to do for colitis. What to avoid? What will help?

TIA

There is little you can do. The dr will provide the treatment eg steroids.

There are lots of crank diets. Generally it is better to eat a few small meals a day ie little and often. Make sure you drink enough it is very easy to get dehydrated with constant runs. If you have a flare up you might want to try a low residue diet - white bread, refined breakfast cereals, white rice, pasta, noodles.

Managing stress can help reduce symptoms. Exercise is great to help reduce stress. Yoga can help too.

UC is the same as colitis.

DH suffered for many years (started at 21, he is now 53). He had an ileo anal pouch done 10 years ago and has never looked back.

Sorry you are suffering with this, it is a very nasty disease. I have been with DH all through his suffering.

Thanks -

the low residue diet is the exact food I have cut out and though it's been difficult, it's actually felt a bit better .
White bread replaced by Gluten Free (it's not as nice as a slice of toasted white) oatcakes and oatbased cereal.
I feel alot less tired without bread.

But I've had loose bowels for a year (after a nasty bout of D&V) I thought it was my diet (especially now with more veg to compensate for fibre loss)

I am torn between appeasing the gallstone ( any fat flares it up . Low fat halloumi in kebabs = night of pain.) and the fibre causing the bloating.

I have no faith in one of the GPs , I am really annoyed at how they treated me.

Colitis just means inflammation of the colon, it is not the same as Ulcerative Colitis, but it gets very confusing as people say colitis when they mean UC.

If it turns out to be UC then C&CUK (crohns and colitis uk) have some useful information on their website, but diet is so individual that it's a case of try it and see.