Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Can Soda (not the caffine) cause UC problems?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
bluechipguy
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2006
Posts : 96
Posted 9/12/2007 7:39 AM (GMT -7)

Has anyone found soda or diet soda to help fuel a flare?  I had a good 4 day stretch; the first one in like 4 months, and the only thing different was that I had no soda for 3-4 days.  I had 2 yesterday, and boom..rough morning?  It isn't the caffine because I drink coffee everyday.

 

Anyone had similar experience?  It sounds like a long-shot and just a coincidence, but I thought I would ask.

 

Thanks

Bluechipguy

profile picture
dakotagirl
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2006
Posts : 3402
Posted 9/12/2007 8:25 AM (GMT -7)
When flaring I try to stear clear of soda - the carbination causes gas and pain!! The extra sugar doesn't do my guts any good either. I'm super sensitive to "fake" sugars, so diet soda is totally out!
profile picture
potty girl
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2006
Posts : 835
Posted 9/12/2007 9:47 AM (GMT -7)
I think its the carbination for me also and the sugar as dakotagirl said I havent drank a soda in about 2 years.my stomach hurts terribly if I drink soda.
profile picture
princesa
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 2204
Posted 9/12/2007 10:50 AM (GMT -7)
Carbonation, sugar and artificial sweeteners can all be triggers for UC.
profile picture
birdiem
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 326
Posted 9/12/2007 11:33 AM (GMT -7)
my GI doctor just advised me to stay clear of all (even diet) soda
profile picture
quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 32548
Posted 9/12/2007 4:20 PM (GMT -7)
They aren't triggers for UC flares....artificial sweeteners and some of the chemicals and sugars don't agree with everyone. The carbonation in itself is gas..so, why add it to your intake if it causes more discomfort?

It's not a cause of UC...people who don't have UC will still have symptoms from soda...we're no different. Add an inflamed gut,your symptoms will be exacerbated comfort-wise.

If you must drink them, do so on occasion and stir out the bubbles...and drink the regular rather than the diet form.

quincy
profile picture
bratcat
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2007
Posts : 74
Posted 9/12/2007 5:58 PM (GMT -7)
I drink flavored seltzer everyday. Usually 1 or 2 liters at least. I started drinking it during my first flare because I hadn't been drinking enough water so I tried seltzer instead and have been hooked ever since. There are no problems withg the carbination when I drink it.
profile picture
summerstorm
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2006
Posts : 6575
Posted 9/12/2007 8:10 PM (GMT -7)
alot of people, UC or not, have problem with the artifical sweetners, it has something to do with how they bind in your intestines. There's even a name for it, not sure but it's something like artifical sweetener diaherra
profile picture
princesa
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 2204
Posted 9/13/2007 6:21 AM (GMT -7)

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.
profile picture
quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 32548
Posted 9/13/2007 7:32 AM (GMT -7)
I guess we could say trigger for gut symptoms to be more general...flare or not.

profile picture
AKB
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2006
Posts : 992
Posted 9/13/2007 5:09 PM (GMT -7)
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! ;)
profile picture
quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 32548
Posted 9/13/2007 9:42 PM (GMT -7)
Bad........again perception or semantics. It is what you make of it methinks.

If one has symptoms and freaks about consuming foods or drinks that cause symptoms...don't partake. The double-sided suffering isn't worth it. I think the emotional consequences can be much worse than the physical ones.

q
profile picture
Another UC wife
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2007
Posts : 2111
Posted 9/14/2007 6:38 AM (GMT -7)
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.
profile picture
kb5
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2007
Posts : 1015
Posted 9/14/2007 7:34 AM (GMT -7)
I've never had a problem with soda, flaring or not. I don't drink as much of it as I used to (calories, and i can't stand diet soda) but when flaring I do tend to drink a lot of sprite/7up/ginger ale.

The bubbles never have bothered me. I think becuase of my acid reflux the gas tends to come out of the top and not the bottom. It does mean that I can hold my own in any burping contest given enough pop.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply




HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
FacebookFacebook TwitterTwitter PinterestPinterest LinkedInLinkedIn
© 1997-2021 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.