Managing the Symptoms of UC

Symptoms

Moderate to severe ulcerative colitis can cause a variety of uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating symptoms, including:

• urgent bowel movements
• frequent bowel
  movements
• abdominal pain and
  cramping
• diarrhea
• nausea
• bloody stools
• pus in stools
• fever
• rapid heartbeat
• iron deficiency and
  anemia

Flare-ups

Medication can reduce inflammation in the colon and allow it to function properly. This can keep symptoms at bay for months at a time. Sometimes a trigger or another unknown factor can cause the inflammation to return.

Avoiding your triggers is the best way to prevent flare-ups. The most common triggers include:

• stress
• upsetting situations
• certain foods
• skipping medication
  or incorrect dosing
• non-steroidal
  anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
• smoking

Finding what triggers a flare-up is crucial to managing your condition. It can be helpful to keep a food journal to record what you eat and how it affects you. Everyone is different, so what triggers a flare-up in someone else won’t necessarily be an issue for you.

It’s important to see your doctor when you have a flare-up or develop new symptoms. Flare-ups can indicate that it’s time for a new medication or surgery. Changes in symptoms can also be the result of a new complication or a different medical issue altogether.

Diet

Besides following your doctor’s advice and taking your medication as prescribed, you can also make some changes to your diet to help you manage your symptoms.

You should:

• Avoid foods known to
  aggravate the gut, such as artificial sweeteners, fatty foods, and lactose.
• Limit foods that are
  hard to digest. This includes nuts, seeds, popcorn, and raw fruits and
  vegetables.
• Keep fluids to a
  minimum during meals and drink after you eat.
• Eat smaller, more
  frequent meals.
• Avoid eating foods
  like caffeine, beans, and prunes. They can increase stool output.

While you should limit or avoid certain foods, you still need to make sure that you’re getting enough nutrients. Talk with your doctor or a nutritionist and ask them to help you get the nutrition you need while adjusting your diet to manage symptoms.

Supplements

Supplements can prevent or correct deficiencies that may worsen symptoms and lead to complications. You may be at risk of not getting the right nutrition if you limit your diet because of symptoms, eat less because of a loss of appetite, and/or have frequent bouts of diarrhea. Taking a daily multivitamin can help you get the nutrition you need while symptoms are present.

There are several supplements that can help you manage the various symptoms of ulcerative colitis. For example:

• Vitamin C is an
  antioxidant that promotes tissue healing. Higher amounts have been found to
  have a protective effect and may lead to longer remission intervals.
• Iron deficiency
  anemia is common in those with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis from
  rectal bleeding (blood in stool). Taking an oral iron supplement may be
  essential.
• Omega-3 fatty acids
  are known to reduce symptoms and may prevent flare-ups.
• Folic acid is
  beneficial if you take sulfasalazine, a medication that has been found to lower
  levels of folic acid.
• Probiotics, also
  known as “good bacteria,” may help reduce symptoms and improve gut health.

Exercise

Research about the role of exercise in UC is ongoing. In 2013, researchers at the University of Illinois found that when exercise was performed freely and without stress, it reduced the inflammation and symptoms in mice that had been given an agent for ulcerative colitis symptoms.

Exercise has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, which are common triggers of ulcerative colitis. Physical activity also has a positive impact on overall health.

As with any chronic condition, it’s important to consult a doctor before starting an exercise regimen.

Having moderate to severe ulcerative colitis can be unpleasant, but there are steps you can take to make the condition less irritating.