My Homemade Concoction to Avoid Ulcerative Colitis Flares

Those of us suffering from ulcerative colitis do come up with some "homemade" ideas to try and stay comfortable with what can be a very aggravating illness. Typically one will be diagnosed; then they will be put on a medication to get the illness under control and ultimately either have a maintenance medication or nothing.

In my case, I don't have to take something unless I have a flare-up yet these can come on at anytime and part of what keeps them at bay are concoctions or routines that I come up with. I'm sure some are valid but I would be the first to say occasionally there may be a little "placebo" involved.

I like to use heat on my stomach as an external relaxant. Furthermore, I go to a swimming pool where I alternate between the cold pool water and the bubbling 104-degree heat of the whirlpool. This probably serves to relax me but frankly, I don't care why it works as long as it works.

I avoid eating bran; it seems to be more like roughage - almost like eating glass. I also avoid lettuce, which is too gassy. Water is the best fluid, since even juices irritate my stomach at times.

My secret for well-being is first to down a tablespoon of Mylanta or any liquid antacid that is available. In this I mix one 5-milligram Valium. Then I add a small bite of pear and banana but no juice.

I eat no other breakfast and at lunch repeat the same routine after I eat. My lunch will typically consist of broth or chicken noodle soup with some crackers. Occasionally I will eat a mild white meat turkey breast sandwich. First, of course, I take my concoction.

In the evening I will typically have baked chicken and boiled potatoes with very little margarine. Pudding or Jell-O is a favorite dessert. The concoction always is the preamble to the "meal."

Another weapon I have added recently is a mild narcotic to help with discomfort if I eat the wrong thing, but I have to be careful not to go to sleep too soon or I may have esophageal reflux. Additional "treats" are typically very bland like butter cookies and the like.

So the big question is what do you do if you choose to "cheat," or, as we like to say, "splurge"? You will suffer and usually suffer big time. Pizza, burgers, fries, steaks, virtually anything you can think of that is good is going to cause problems.

There is a glimmer of hope. In my case, I take my special concoction; then I drink lots of water to kill the appetite and then I eat a small meal of the "evil type food." Sometimes that strategy works and sometimes it doesn't.

I will say that over the years I have found that doing something typically is better than doing nothing. I will also say that over the years there is a lot of food I wish I could have eaten.