What is the coffee impact on the UC course?

Everyone reacts a little differently to coffee. I can drink coffee anytime I want, in pretty unlimited quantities, thought I try not to drink too much. I don't drink coffee when i am in the middle of a flare, but will resume as soon as possible (usually when I stop seeing blood). I have been a coffee addict for well over 10 years.

Keep in mind that coffee stimulates the bowel. When i drink coffee in the morning it speeds up he process a bit (which can be used to your advantage). When I was first dx'd my first doc said no caffeine. I went over a year with no coffee, pop, chocolate, nothing with caffiene. Then i had enough. I went back to my normal highly caffienated self. And nothing happened.

There are others who cannot tolerate coffee. I would suggest trying it a little. Especially if you don't know if you like coffee. What makes you want to start drinking coffee?

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Kelly, 29

Left sided UC diagnosed 1/98 age 19, Pan colitis diagnosed 1/07
Currently on 4x3 Asacol, Rowasa every other night, down to 20 mg pred.
75mg Imuran starting 8/23/07---fingers crossed!
Prontonix once daily for acid reflux, zofran twice daily for nausea

From what I've read, caffeine in general is a bad idea for anyone with UC as it's a stimulant that can irritate an already sensitive gut. Coffee, in particular, is known to be irritating to the colon. As kb5 says, alot of folks use it as a stimulant to make them have a bowel movement. It's on the "do not eat" list of several IBD books I have. Of course, there are always individual exceptions to the rule, but since you're not already a coffee lover, I don't see any benefit in drinking it now.

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Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis spring 1999

I drink coffee, every morning. Does it bother me? Well, as of this moment, I'm not flaring and it doesn't make any difference for me. Do I go more often? No, I don't drink but a cup or two and at the most maybe three a day. I must also mention that I drink lots of water and that's about it. I don't drink juices, milk, soday, etc. I am not saying I never drink those things, I just don't on a daily basis and will sometimes but my normal day is the coffee and water.