Ulcerative Colitis: Take a Deep Breath and Take Control

Using breathing techniques when you are dealing with an ulcerative colitis flare up definitely helps things out. I am sure that my family has thought I was crazy on quite a few occasions when the pain was so bad that I had to focus all of my energy on my breathing.

Let me explain what ulcerative colitis is, just in case you have never heard of it before. Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disease that causes stomach cramps that I can easily compare to contractions. In addition to stomach cramps, it also causes frequent bouts of diarrhea. Unlike regular diarrhea, diarrhea caused by ulcerative colitis is often bloody and totally uncontrollable.

Now, back to the breathing techniques. Because of extreme cramping, most often in the stomach and legs, ulcerative colitis sufferers will try to find any technique that helps the pain to subside even the smallest amount.

If you are reading this and have never tried breathing techniques to help your ulcerative colitis, I suggest that once you finish reading this, you go buy a book on breathing techniques, such as Lamaze, that women in labor use. The breathing techniques for women in labor were designed to help you center yourself and cope with extreme pain.

Now, to the techniques themselves. This is the one that you can use when you are in the bathroom and the pain is really bad. First, lift your arms over your head. You can put your hands on top of your head if you want to. Now, take in a long deep breath through your nose. Count to six while you are inhaling. Now, hold your breath for three seconds. Lastly, release the breath slowly through your mouth while you make a humming sound. Count to twelve while you are exhaling.

You can continue to do this while you are in pain in the bathroom. Make sure that you measure your breaths so that you do not hyperventilate.

Another option that you have when you are cramping is to use short, panting breaths. This can only be done for a short amount of time before you start to hyperventilate. You simply pant, much like a dog, until the pain becomes more bearable.

When you are doing these breathing techniques, you can add some aromatherapy. To do this, simply keep some lavender, vanilla or mint scented items in your bathroom. Take them out and place them where you can smell them when you inhale.

It is important when you are doing these techniques that you remember to keep your muscles relaxed. All too often, when a person is in pain, she will tense up her muscle. In the case of cramping, tensing your muscles will make the pain worse.