Maintenance Medication Needed?

Originally from Philadelphia. Avid runner and spin classer. Played water polo in college. Maiden name rhymes with my married name.

No active UC/Symptoms (!!!!)

Hi, my name is Lauren and I was diagnosed with UC in 2013 while I was between jobs and went off birth control (great timing). My UC seems to flare based on hormonal changes, as I experienced significant flames following the birth of my two children. The flare after my first child prevented me from leaving the house for several weeks. My UC was under control to the point of going off medication within 6 months of having each child.

I get preventative colonoscopies every 3 years. I haven’t had a flare (or even symptoms) since early 2018. I had a recent colonoscopy and my doctor confirmed that my UC is not active. Yet she still recommends that I take my UC maintenance medication (Lialda). Lialda works for me but makes my stomach feel bloated, crampy and makes me feel gassy (like I have active UC). I’ve tried other medicines and had worse side effects. I don’t understand why maintenance medicine is needed if I haven’t had a flare or symptoms in awhile. She said it’s to prevent the severity of future flares. I’m interested to hear from others about this topic. I ultimately am having trouble understanding why I need to take medicine my whole life for a problem that seems to be in the past. My mom had colitis when she was younger (and having kids) and doesn’t have active UC and doesn’t take medicine.

This site was a lifesaver for me when I was diagnosed in 2013. I changed my diet and lifestyle (less drinking) based on some comments. I adopted some of the recipes posted. And I read all your stories and it comforted me/made me feel part of a community (since talking to people about this not so pretty disease can be hard).


Best, Lauren V

Lialda (worked)
Many others (suppositories and others) that didn’t

written by Lauren V

submitted in the colitis venting area