UC is one nasty disease. I have heard a low residue diet may help--is he on one? If not, make an appointment with a nutritionist to discuss his options.

UC has flares--so when he is better he can go for a run where there isn't a bathroom in the immediate vicinity but I don't think he will ever be able to go for a run where there isn't a bathroom available within short notice.

Unfortunately his gut is not working properly and there is no way to predict when the contents are going to be propelled through.

Hope he is ok.

I never did a long run without toilet paper in my pocket. Once I was diagnosed Celiac and went gluten-free that went away ????. Celiac is certainly not UC but maybe he could try avoiding gluten and see if it helps

I have Crohn's disease and I can identify with your husbands problem all too well. A gluten free diet has been very helpful for me. When I am flaring, I usually have most of my problems in the first half of the day and then after meals, so I would do my running after work but before dinner. Part of it is just getting accustomed to your body's patterns. I try to keep my sleep and eating patterns to a routine and that helps me know when I can expect "issues". Also, I always carry TP with me. I would be lying if I said haven't had to stop and "make like a bear" more times than I care to count. I try run where there are public facilities or on heavily wooded paths. If I run in my neighborhood, I stay close to my house if I am experiencing issues.

Is your husband on any treatment for his UC? I have tried several times to control my Crohn's with diet alone, but I always end up back on the meds. Right now I do Remicade infusions, which I know are very scary to a lot of people, but it has been a God send for me. IBD can be tough to live with, but it does not have to be a death sentence. I have completed numerous half marathons and a full marathon since my diagnosis 11 years ago and am about to begin training for another full. Feel free to PM me or friend me if you have any other questions. I think it is terrible that you should have to worry that people on the general forums will be unkind. That makes me sad.

My husband was diagnosed 7 years ago. He is now "in remission". My husband is on Lialda for maintenance. My husband kept me pretty sheltered when things were REAL bad, but I know it took longer than 5 months to get things running smoothly. It has taken us this long to narrow down the cans and can nots. No nuts, minimal fiber, no iceburg lettuce, no spicy, no garlic, you get the idea. Every tummy will react differently but until your husband and the GI get things under control I strongly urge getting back to basics. Just like when we start an infant on a new food, Try nothing new for a few days, see how the body reacts. Dairy made hubby go a lot during the time he was trying to get diagnosed. Is your husband getting the infusions of Remicade or something like that? Hubby did that for a while until the allergic reactions got too severe. The infusions are not suggested for long term use due to cancer risks. I believe Reddit.com has a UC/Crohns board he may turn to for help.

I wish you both the best of luck and glad you have a diagnosis to work with! UC sucks but it is manageable, just a lot of trial and error!

BTW My hubby is now able to run with me for all distances. There are times he has to stop and walk due to the urge but that is rare.

If it was me and I was still experiencing symptoms I would be going back. Some times with IBD meds it's a case of getting the dosage right before looking to add new things in.

Check out www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk there is a publications page which has free downloadable information sheets on UC and treatments. I don't normally suggest looking on the Internet, as it is the quickest way to 'google yourself dead', but this UK charity only publishes information that has been peer-reviewed by an appropriate panel of medical experts.

I guess if you're out of the UK some of the brand names will differ, but the type of drug (ie mesalasine) is the same. Good luck.

Did they at any point have him on steroids to get the inflammation down? Hubby has to keep a prescription on hand just in case. First sign of an issue he takes a couple for a couple days and keeps things in check. I would suggest he go back and get possibly a second opinion.

I'm so glad I found this post...I was just diagnosed on Wednesday and one of the first things that went through my head was "what if I can't run anymore?!?!?!" It's good to hear people are doing it...soooo...when can I run again? I was thinking of just going out and doing like a mile or two, just to see how I felt...my pain is pretty much resolved so I seem to be coming along pretty quickly, despite having to have been in the hospital for four days...I just miss running so much and have events planned for the fall. When is too soon to give it a shot and see how it goes? My GI didn't say no exercise, but we didn't really talk about it either...I was too afraid to hear him say no...and I don't go back for follow up for 4 weeks....I'd really like to run before then....thoughts?

My doctor has always told me that it is okay to run provided I feel able. Exercise should not affect your colitis. You may want to consult with your doctor first, but my doctor and I both believe that, for those with a chronic illness, being able to function as normally as possible is important for both the body and the mind and spirit.

That's my thought too...I was just out running last Saturday and did 7 miles...I was undiagnosed, but clearly looking back on it, I was in the middle of a bad flare because I was in the hospital by the wee hours of Tuesday morning, less than 3 days later...I figure if I was doing it then, I should be BETTER off now that I am being treated to control my symptoms, right? Honestly, my stomach issues seem to cease while I'm running...I've chalked it up to stress relief even before having this diagnosis....I feel like it would do me a world of good to be able to have that release right now....

Thanks again I will definitely check with my doctor, it's just nice to hear someone else is doing it...makes me feel much more positive in general. I had just started training for my first half in November, and I have a few shorter runs (5K and 10K) im registered for before that so...we will see how it goes...