Does Taking Supplements Help Your Ulcerative Colitis?

I was diagnosed with UC about 8 years ago because of a bad flare because I had quit smoking. I actually had UC for many years before but it was mild. Unfortunately I started smoking and quit a couple more times before I finally quit 2- 1/2 years ago.

I went on Remicade for a few months early on but had to quit because of the out-of-pocket costs even though I got financial help with the co-pay. It stopped my flare the first day of infusion. I went back on it one more time but quit again because of costs.

I used Enbrel and methotrexate for about 5 years, which helped my arthritis but I was also smoking again. After the last time I quit, I went on prednisone and azathiaprine because of a bad flare. I got real sick, like flu sick and stayed that way for 3 weeks! I’d never been sick that long ever! My flare quit, I quit the prednisone, which I’d gained 10 lbs. on, quit the azathioprine. Eventually I had to quit drinking alchohol. That was in Nov. of 2009. The Enbel stopped working for my arthritis so I went on Humira. Then the following April I had a mild UC flare so I went back on azathioprine. I was sick for 8 days and on that day I came into the kitchen, feeling better, and saw the dose of azathioprine on the counter so I took it. Within an hour I had diarrhea again and was vomiting, then I knew it was the azathioprine!

I also take a lot of supplements.

I’m just getting over the worst flare ever from medications given to me by the naturopath like anti-fungal for candida in the gut.

Humira 40mg., bi-weekly
methotrexate 2.5 mg. once weekly
Entocort 3 mg.
The entocort for this last flare has worked well, it took a few days to kick in. The Humira works pretty well, I went off it for 7 months while seeing the naturepath, am back on again.

written by Maggie

submitted in the Colitis Venting Area

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