Ulcerative Colitis

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foodluver27
foodluver27 Posts: 129
in Motivation and Support
Hello! I was curious if there were others out there with Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's (or any other colon-related disease)? I have UC and when I have a mild flare-up I avoid running at all costs which really stinks because sometimes that can be 2-3 weeks. I am just scared that I will aggravate things. Sometimes just a small cold will cause a flare-up and of course stress is a huge factor..except I don't get stressed too easily. Anyway just curious if there are others out there who have UC or other colon disease and wanted to see how you handled the work-out situation during a flare_up..I am relatively lucky. I was diagnosed at 18 and have only been hospitalized twice and now when I get a flare-up I know how to treat it without going to the doctor. Overall I am very healthy and can pretty much eat what I want without any irritation. Oh and my flare-ups are not that common..maybe like 2 (at the most) mild ones every year or so. Anyway hope to hear from other people like me..this can be an embarrasing disease but I have learned to cope with it..oh and also would like to know if there are runners on here with UC or other colon-related diseases..thanks!

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  • JWeaser
    JWeaser Posts: 302
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    My 15 year old son was diagnosed with UC 6 years ago. When I started this journey back in April, he started with me. Working out and eating healthier and he hasn't had a flare-up yet so I am no real help there but I just wanted to say hello and stay strong! Good luck!
  • foodluver27
    foodluver27 Posts: 129
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    Thanks! Sorry to hear about your son...I was a senior in high school when I was diagnosed and I remember as a teenager I was completely disgusted with my disease..ha ha! But it gets easier...glad to hear he is flare-up free :)
  • jrl328
    jrl328 Posts: 3
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    Hi - I am a 37 year-old male who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease about 10 years ago. I thank God that my medication is basically keeping me in remission, but like you, I also can get a mild flare when I get sick. I work in a school so germs are always a battle for me. I guess I have a weird concern about my exercise in that when I do have a flare, I can lose weight rapidly in an unhealthy way, so I like the "insurance" of having a bit of weight on my for a worst case scenario. Is this warped??? Anyway, I hope you continue to stay healthy and reach your weight loss goals!
  • foodluver27
    foodluver27 Posts: 129
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    Hi jrl328...I honestly don't believe it is warped to want to have some weight on you for your "worst case scenario" A major flare-up can cause some severe damage...it has been a few years since I have had one but I know how much weight it can cause someone to lose. When I was first diagnosed I was a 125 pound girl and then I got down to 110 pounds. I am a medium build girl so it just didn't look right on me. After I got treated and back into remission I was just too scared to eat anything that I did not put any of that weight back on and was soo skinny..my family thought I had a eating disorder..ha ha! Now after all these years I have only had some mild ones that were easy to treat and have enjoyed eating a little too much..ha ha! But I plan to take care of that and get back to a healthy weight with time time and patience. Good luck to you too and stay healthy :)
  • briamycolson
    briamycolson Posts: 15
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    Hi there! I was diagnosed this past January with severe UC. I was incredibly sick, but also had been suffering for at least 3 years undiagnosed (they took out my gall bladder, kept diagnosing severe infection, etc.). BUT, I considered it a huge wake-up call to get the diagnosis. I had to do several months of medications, including prednisone, which was TOTALLY miserable, but I came through it. I take mesalamine (Apriso) and Align (probiotic) every day now, and eat healthy and am getting better daily about exercise.
    I have lost over a hundred pounds...about 70 or so from the disease and being sick, etc. and about 40 from hard work and lifestyle change.
    Healthy food and exercise is now a way of life. I love it! I just make sure that I only eat things that will help my body, but am not afraid to indulge a bit, as long as it's a good choice.
    Exercise is HARD for me to do, but I just have to do it....and then keep how good I feel afterward in the front of my mind.

    Good luck with your journey! You can do it!
  • foodluver27
    foodluver27 Posts: 129
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    Thanks! I know how terrible prednisone can be..it can also turn you into a monster (at least to me it did) I could not I sleep or even satiate my appetite...it was terrible! Great to hear you are doing better..good luck to you too :)
  • Softly_Sedated
    Softly_Sedated Posts: 11
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    Hi, I am a twenty-eight year old woman and was diagnosed with UC at twenty-six after having symptoms/beimg ill without treatment or diagnosis for about eight months. I've only been hospitalized once, luckily, which was actually a blessing because it led to being diagnosed in three days instead of waiting three to six months to see a specialist (I am in Canada, so it would be free, but I would have to wait). I have flare-ups with small amounts of stress, unfortunately, and have experienced the misery of having to take prednisone a few times. I currently take 3200 mg of Asacol (mesalamine) a day. Generally, I am pretty healthy, UC -wise. I don't workout when I have a flare-up. I feel awful and just want to not move.
  • losemybabyweight
    losemybabyweight Posts: 225 Member
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    Great topic - I was wondering the same thing.

    I was diagnosed with UC about eight years ago. I have several flare ups per year, and am going through one right now. I have finally brought running into my life and LOVE IT, but stopped when this flare up started about two weeks ago. Does everyone feel that they need to stop completely like that?

    Also - what do you eat? Anyone out there try the Elimination Diet or Primal/Paleo?
  • bootstrap7
    bootstrap7 Posts: 26
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    I am a runner, and I also have UC (severe ulcerative pancolitis). Feel free to message me; it's always nice to hear from people who are going through similar struggles. Also, if you're interested, you can follow my story on my blog:

    www.ronnielee-fightingforit.blogspot.com

    Good luck!

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