Ulcerative Colitis - advice needed please

[ProudparentofaMuffin]

My DH was diagnosed with UC a few years ago now. He then went into remission for a good few years before we decided to start a business and it came back with a vengeance- a huge flare up. Stress is definitely a factor with his flare ups.

He has been typically "him" about all of this, finding it all quite embarrassing, trying to block it out, ignore it...which I totally understand, but this cannot continue. He's so poorly and very down about it all, he is on meds and under a consultant and the IBD nurse etc.. but how can I best help him at home?

Diet? - is excluding anything from a diet helpful to anyone?

I'm trying to find ways to reduce the stress, work is going exceptionally well so I suppose we could look at other ways to manage that... has managing stress helped anyone else?

We have just joined Crohns and Colitis UK, their website does seem very helpful.

Any advice on coping strategies very welcome.

Thank you.

I've just had a bad flare up and after 8 weeks of steroids and pentasa feel miles better.

Food Triggers for me prior to the flare up was too much caffeine so switched to caffeine free coffee and Diet Coke.
Certain alcohol mainly lager or very sugary ones. Prosecco seemed to be ok possibly as a 'lighter' drink.

Veg such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, peas and sweet corn I avoid.
Also wheat products so I only eat white or sourdough bread.
Have cut out all cereals - I think Rice Krispies are the only safe one but about as nutritionally useful as eating paper so I don't bother.
Dried fruits as well are a big no so avoid raisins/etc no mince pies etc

I totally understand - I tried to ignore my flare up for 6 months and was getting worse and worse. It's such an embarrassing condition as well although I do feel there's more of a shift with people talking about it and IBS more. Sympathies to your husband.

Also exercise at the gym (I do weights) really helps with stress and feeling calmer in general.
I love walking as well but get panicky about not being near toilets. Being in a gym is reassuring as you can get to a bathroom so fast.

Thank you so much for your reply, a lot of what you say resonates with what he says to me, I think he feels very alone with it so I only hope he can may be find some solace with the C&C UK website - that there ARE others with the same condition.

Thank you for the advice re diet, I think we need a major overhaul and look carefully at any potential triggers.

No problem the hard thing is as well is I think food triggers are different for lots of people so can be a bit of a lengthy process.
But if he just keeps a note on his phone of anything he thinks might be making it worse.
I would have a 'safe' breakfast and lunch to start with and then experiment with dinners then played around with different lunches - well you get the idea.

The things I've found agree with me is Meat and fish in its natural form seem to be fine, most forms of potatoes, eggs, melon/banana, carrots, most salad, dairy (although cream and ice cream can aggravate it) but seem to fine with all hard cheese and yoghurt. White bead products ok as well.
Tell him to drink plenty of water as well as that helps 1) with helping digestion but also strangely I have found myself to feel much more anxious if dehydrated and as you both will know, any kind of anxiety can trigger colitis symptoms.

Another thing that really helps is having an actimel every day. It takes about 6 weeks to start noticing a difference but definitely when things have been unsettled I think it helps my gut bacteria. There are very pricey probiotics out there on the market and I'm sure maybe better ones but while actimels seem to help me I'll save my money!