Can Soda (not the caffine) cause UC problems?

quincy said...
They aren't triggers for UC flares....

When I said "triggers" I meant they can cause an increase in painful symptoms and gas for folks with IBD, not that they cause UC.

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Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis spring 1999

Possibly misdiagnosed

 

Maintenance dose sulfasalazine

Probiotics, l-glutamine and fish oil caps

we always argue over semantics. Can soda "cause" a UC flare? Who knows-- not medical science, not anyone on this board. It is individual. If you, for example, have a population of colonic flora that, for whatever reason, will be disrupted by the acidity and sugar content of soda, to the point where *the mucous barrier is disrupted*-- you will flare.

This may vary with time, this WILL vary with individual. Maybe you're severely underslept, and stressed... could cola 'put you over the edge?' Possibly. So it can 'cause' your flare, even though there are myriad other contributors-- not the least of which is genetics.

Part of the insane difficulty of living with UC is that there are no true fixed triggers. Everything is dependent on multitudes of variables, many of which we don't even realize are part of the situation.

The best advice is to put the odds in your favor, without making your life too miserable with restraints that may or may not be helping. In general, sugar, artificial sweeteners and carbonation are bad for anyone's gut, and therefore *really* bad for UCers.

Oh do I miss my Cokes... no better beverage on earth IMO! ;)

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Dx:

Left-sided UC, Jun 2005. Flex-sig only... clear for first 20cms, then inflamed through next 30cms.

Therapies:

Pharmaceutical: Pentasa 3G/day, hydrocort 1x every 7 days
Probiotics: Acidophilus Pearls, Primadophilus Bifidus
Naturals: Caprylic Acid, Methylated B-12, Vit ACDE, Zinc (w/copper), Selenium, Turmeric, Bromelain, Luteolin
Killer Foods: Soda, Fried Food (especially french fries!), Beer, Red Wine, Pepperoncinis

That's the tricky part sometimes trying to figure out some foods and how long it takes to give you a reaction if it doesn't particularly agree with you. On occasion he will have a coke or pepsi and it doesn't seem to bother him but for the most part I have convinced him "why add more gas" to the situation and it certainly makes sense to him.

The artificial sweeteners I am getting him to taper off also. His favorite food was seafood pasta served Fra Diavlo - spicy - he hasn't had that in over a year. Not sure if that was a big contributor or predecessor as he loved spicy foods before all this happened.

Well as hard as it is to embrace we either "live to eat" or "eat to live" and once you get to be this age and all your life you did what you wanted I guess it's time to pay the price and get more disciplined now. Easier said than done as there is a lot of years of really bad habits to try to undo all at once so it is challenging to say the least.

As of Monday of this past week - this has been one of his better weeks. He has been able to get out more and the pain and discomfort has been minimal. AFter dinner time he needs to rest up the remainder of the night but at least he has been able to get out and do some things.

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60 yr old male~Colitis 1st diagnosed Jan '05-cleared up within a few wks. Flared again in May '06 ... left sided UC now, fully involved and trying to get in remission. Acute inflammation-pancolitis-tenesmus rectal pain-granulation is showing some healing started. Osteopena of spine from prednisone DX 8/07  July 07 good days & bad days 75mg Imuran 40  mg prednisone (tapering 8/07) 12 Asacol, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Jelly 2%,multi vitamin, iron 3X day, DanActive, chewable calcium, Prilosec 20mg, enalapril 10mg, glipizide 5 mg, zocor 20 mg, baby aspirin, (Fentanyl pain patch 50mg 72 hrs  Morphine Sulf 15 mg twice daily)Colocourt enemas at night. Fosamax and mthly B12 shots folic acid 1mg