antacids

I've been near the end of a flare now for a few weeks. Couldn't quite make the jump to remission. I was feeling so good I ended up eating "junk food and candy" which caused me a bit of heartburn and indigestion. I took a couple of antacid tablets for this and I've noticed that I'm closer to remission than ever now. Taking the antacid tablets seems to have make my stools more solid. I'm wondering is this a total fluke /conincidence or has anyone else noticed a similar reaction. I guess I'm wondering whether my flare is affected by acid and can that explain the action of the antacids. Though I thought antacid tablets only "got" to the stomach.

 I guess it would depend on which antacid you're taking.  If it's calcium...it's known to calm the receptors in the gut (would have to check out exactly how)...and a calmer gut could mean more water is being absorbed from the stool, hence a more formed one.

Quincy,

There are simple over the counter indigestion tablets. I'm wondering now whether I have too much / too little stomach acid. I read in a few books that too much / too little stomach acid produces the same symptoms. I didn't understand the logic of this but the fact is quoted by a few authors. So at one point I was taking HCL enzyme cos I was thinking I had too little stomach acid and then I thought Uh-oh...is this the opposite of what I should be doing. Its very confusing!

Also one more thing quincy....do you know much about the thryoid and IBD. My GI said the thyroid gland can contribute to IBD. He looked at mine via endoscope and said it was fine. I'm curious to know the relationship between the thyroid and IBD. Not much on web, and whats there is super-technical.

Thanks again,

D

---

3200 mg Asacol + 500mg suppositories as needed

Interesting..I don't think you can see the thyroid via an endoscope unless there is thickening or some kind of obstruction. You could see if there are enlargements/cysts by an ultrasound or x-ray with a radioactive contrast dye. I've had both done.

I would think the connection or thyroid with UC would be autoimmune and/or hormonal.
Type in to search ... thyroid ulcerative colitis..there is quite a bit of stuff to read.

quincy

---

jst a guess but (based on personal experience) doctors tend to assume there is a thyroid problem if you lose weught (as many UCers do) si ut cykd ve that...

---

katie
22
diagnosed with cecal volvulus, 2006; two colon resections in the same year
diagnosed with colitis 2007
malrotated colon
no cecal valve, removed during surgery

VSL #3
Amitriptyline to slow gastric emptying
Forvia

My dad suffered from UC on and off for several years.  Then we he was in his late 40's he had hyperthyroidism and they "killed" off most of his thyroid nad was put on some medication (not sure what..Synthroid maybe, something like that comes to mind.)  His UC symptoms never really appeared anymore after this.  Probably a coincidence, but....???  He's now 65.

---

Dx Left-sided UC Dec. 2006
Currently:
Azathioprine (Imuran) 125mg/day
Prednisone 15mg/day (trying to taper-started at 60 6/1)
Lialda 4/day