Qs about blood, weight loss and vitamins?

 

Any kind of bleeding should be brought up to the GI because bleeding is not acceptable mainly because long term blood loss can lead to anemia. Not to mention discomfort. And yes, if you are seeing blood then you are flaring.

I have a really hard time keeping weight on even while in remission. I eat many small meals thru out the day to maintain my weight but no matter what I eat, I can't seem to gain any. Many of us on here lose weight especially while we are flaring. It could be the light diet we eat to just not having an appetite. I'm 5'6" and one time I sunk as low as 107lbs and I looked like a skeleton but I have worked (and ate) really hard where now I fluctuate between 120-125lbs. I definately feel better at this weight!

My doc never mentioned any supplements nor did I ask really. Everything I learned to take I learned from many on here. I take a multivitamin designed for Ibd'ers (Forvia) and it has been the best thing for me because I have tried various vitamins in the past and never got the desired results that I have with this one.

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Weight loss is common and is usually caused by a combination of factors: loss of appetite, inability to properly digest and absorb what is eaten, increased gut motility (diarrhea) moves contents through so fast, absorption is inhibited. Reducing bleeding and inflammation through a combination of meds and natural supplements will help heal the digestive tract and allow for better nutrient absorption. You may also want to consider enteral nutrition, predigested shakes designed specifically for IBDers. Check out Absorb Plus: http://www.holistichealthshoppe.com/#6

Most gastos don't talk to you about vitamin supplementation to combat nutritional deficiencies; neither do they usually mention any kind of natural healing approaches like omega-3 supplementation to reduce inflammation. You have to get out there and do your own research on dietary and alternative healing methods. There are alot of great books available. A few I'd recommend are Optimal Digestion, The New Eating Right for a Bad Gut, Listen to Your Gut, The IBD Remission Diet and Breaking the Vicious Cycle.

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Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis spring 1999

GI has me on 500mg of Calcium + Vit D (you need the Vit D to absorb the calcium) 2xday since the Asacol. Other than that, what I have learned here and what my other doc's tell me to take, i.e. multi vit, + additonal folic acid.

Yes, blood only is a flare....I'm right there with ya!

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Beth, 32