My brother who’s 54 has had colitis for the past 20 yrs and is on medication for this ( not sure which kind-sorry) He hasn’t had many flare ups but is going through one now but has an appointment for a colonoscopy next week, consultant thinks there could be some tears. He’s not eating much and finds it difficult to digest food and has blood in his stools. I keep saying he should look at his diet but he says no no no, nothing to do with my diet.
so I’m wondering if you lovely people could help me understand this condition a bit more so that I can support him in becoming more healthy. He has a busy stressful job too which doesn’t help.
many Thanks.
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Bright-eyes
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I think depending on the results of the colonoscopy he will likely be forced into a diet. They may need to give him a bowel break if things are torn and surgery is required. Sometimes a temp stoma would be needed. He could have a long journey ahead especially noting the blood. You are a wonderful brother for looking to support him. I have a few different diseases and am finally coming to acceptance that food is not on my entertainment list. It is mandatory to eat well to survive. I slipped yesterday and had a donut. Man do I miss them. I’ve been up with digestive pain since 1am.
FYI-difficult to digest could be a paralyzed stomach. This will not show on colonoscopies. He would need a pill camera to swallow to see stomach and small bowel. Or delayed gastric emptying study to diagnose paresis of the stomach. Wish Drs had done those exams sooner as I spent two years on meds that made it much worse!
Thankyou for replying. I’m my brother sister and do worry about him as his condition is getting progressively worse. I hope after the colonoscopy next week he gets some good advice re: diet.
It's good that he is having a scope this will determine what needs to be done. Even on medication people can have flare ups this is common. Diets are an individual thing, what may work for one may not work for someone else. I have crohns & I went through so many different diets & not a one of them helped. If anything it just stressed me out more. I learned what foods I could eat & went from there. I know you are well meaning, but keep in mind what I just said about diets.
The thing with diets, as said above, is down to the individual. I avoid peanuts, one or two in the odd biscuit no problems, but anymore causes a lot of pain as my system just struggles to digest them. Your get to know what causes problems, so avoid them.
Avoid too much food at once, no big meals. eat a bit at a time spread it out, to avoid overloading your system.
I am currently on a low fibre diet, easier to pass through the small intestine. If he is having problems digesting food, something light things like eggs should help. My normal first solid food after a partial blockage.
I beleive there is a lot of resistance to the idea that diet can have an important effect on symptoms. Understandably. But it is important to have low residue diet while in a flare. If symptoms are bad, think baby - low fat, steamed, bland, nothing hard or sharp like skins, pips, peel, seeds or stems, nothing hard to digest. Rice, chicken, steamed fish, steamed mashed squash, pureed apple. This will give the gut a bit of a break and could reduce pain.
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