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I am on my twentieth week of prednisone and today I discovered I have stretch marks.  I am sick of the increased appetite, and my stomach isn't really even bothering me anymore; it's just the hemorrhoids that get to me.  I'm sick of moonface and feeling bloated.  My body image was bad already, but I'm wondering how other people deal with this.  Is there a special diet for someone on colitis so that they could lose weight and keep their ibd in check?  Will I always have to be overweight to have a healthy stomach?

 Reply posted for hey2308.

I have had Colitis since I was 15 and diagnosed at 16.  I turn 29 in October and have tried a variety of different treatment drugs to get my colitis into remission.  First through reading many of these posts, I have notice that all some people are on is steriods.  Steriods is only the solution to controlling a flare, not to maintain remission.  As long as I take my medication like I'm suppose to and try not to get stressed heavily, my ulcerative colitis remains in remission.  I do not have to stay on a special diet, I can eat whatever I feel like eating.  And yes, the steriod regiment when I do get a flare does put on the pounds and make my face get fat but I have not had to be on them for over 2 years now and I feel like I am pretty lucky.  For drugs I take Asacol 400 mg tablets-  4 tablets 3 times a day and Rowasa enema, 1/2 bottle in the AM and half in the PM.  My colitis was the worst when I was pregnaunt with my two children as I had to go off of the oral medication that I was taking at the time.  With my youngest, my sed rate was up to 62.  During my second pregancy I started on Asacol and have had very good luck ever since.  Being a single mom of two keeps me pretty busy and sometimes I don't remember to take my meds and then I start to get symptoms again.  But for the most part my colitis is in remission and will be for a long time I believe.  I live a normal life with the ocassional side affect of nausa and fatique and some cramping but for the most part I feel that it is under controll.  I hope my post will in some way help someone else who has ulcerative colitisin leading a normal life as well.

 Reply posted for hey2308.

My colitis was never so bad that I had to be on prednisone but I want to pass on a great book called: "The New Eating Right for a Bad Gut" by James Discala, Ph.D It has helped me alot. you will learn what your trigger foods are. I know now what to stay away from. It is a pain to have to change your whole eating plan, but if it helps with flares, you will find out that it is worth it. Good luck.

 Reply posted for hey2308.

Hi,  I have been on pred. 3xs.  80mg after having C-DIF, horrible/worst year of my life interms of health, then 60mgs 2xs.  I will say it sure helps with the flare ups but the side effects are crazy.  In addition to all you described, moon face, swelling,  I was compulsive.  OMG was I.  Always have wondered if others experienced that too.  I was alphabetizing my CDs, repotting plants, organizing all the bottles under my sink by shape and size and lastly , I had post-it notes hanging off my table listing all the issues I needed to address!! A-1,A-2 B-1, B-2..... like I said crazy.

Interms of diet, I have learned volumes about the dos and don'ts of eating.  I think we are all different, but here is what worked for me.  Dos= do eat baked chicken, baked potato, pasta, no-fat yogurts, non=fat milk and cereal like rice crispys or corn flakes, canned peaches and pears..  you get the picture, gentle foods.  Low fat, low fiber.  Dont's=no caffeine, no soda -too gassy, no greasy foods, no foods with fiber (salads, apples,oranges) no cheeses=unless fatfree, no veggies that can cause gas, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, corn (shells) no nuts.  Again you get the picture.

I became soo tuned into my diet that I could always tell what "did it to me".  There are a few good cook books out there for IBD.

I hope you feel better real soon.

Debbie

 Reply posted for hey2308.

It seems like everyone always has a different suggestion because it's so person-particular, colitis is. I think (and hope) I may have come across something that is more universal in its benefits... I suggest researching the "Inflammation Factor" which is a calculation based on research of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory foods... if you don't already know, systemic inflammation is directly linked to all kinds of maladies, diseases, mental disorders, aches and pains, and even the aging process. I'm getting bored repeating myself about it and I feel like I sound like a promotion now, lol, which is why I'm not going to tell you the name of the book that I read and found most useful, but merely suggest that you learn about everything that you eat, and if you can't eat things that are good for you, try to drink them (with the help of a juicer)... bowel rest can do wonders if you have the dedication, and... if so or if not, strive to put yourself in as anti-inflammatory of a state as you possibly may, utilizing food as medicine as a diabetic would. Toxins are related to disease. Big things to avoid, and this goes for *everyone*... high fructose corn syrup. Sugar. Potatoes. These things and foods like these (not that I would call high fructose corn syrup a food) spike your blood sugar quickly and without gradient, and set you up for a debilitating crash which leads to more cravings, not to mention the unbalance of your equilibrium directly relates to a rise in systemic inflammation. And sugar robs the bones of calcium by setting off the chemical balance and seeing as we're already built to struggle with osteoporosis, avoidance of depletion is a wonderful idea.

I know these are the things that we love but denial can only harm us so long as we let it. Inform yourself.

Good luck. Hope I was of some use. Take care and be strong.

Much love,

=Carla 

 Reply posted for hey2308.

Hi there.  I am one of those anti-prednisone UC suffers.  I was on it all last summer with all the side effects mentioned.  I had a flare this past May and was on it for 2 months.  As I tapered, my symptons came back.  i was so mean and nasty to my kids and husband I begged my GI to try something else... I felt I was going to loose my family if it kept going the same way.  My self image also didn't help.  If it worked, that would be a different story.  I didn't really get the weight gain, I have always had a pretty slim build, but what I ate mostly when I was hungry was saltine crackers.  They were all I wanted ( I never went to bed without a sleeve on my nighttable!)   Obvoiusly, eating non-fatning foods would help with the weight gain issue, eating smaller meals more often.   I am still in a flare now and am not on prednisone, but am having trouble finding food to eat that will be easy on my colon and enough to fill me up.   The tea is a good idea too.    I probably was no help, I just wanted to comment.  I guess trying other drugs is always an option.  I read so many peoples stories on this site, it got me thinking that prednisone wasn't my only answer, just the cheapest, but it didn't even work for me once I weaned down to 10mg or so.  My problem is that the other drugs aren't working for me either so it looks like I'm going to try Remicaid again.  Best wishes to you and everyone else fighting this aweful disease!

 Reply posted for hey2308.

I to have the weight gain and moon face from the prednisone I have been on it since mid march and am hoping to taper off of it soon.
I try to drink plenty of water and there is tea called Yerba Mate you can find it at your local whole foods store I drink that everyday and that seems to help surpress my feeling of hunger also limit your salt intake. Predisone makes you retain water. When you get off of it you will start to feel better. I know its tough I went on a vacation not to long ago and looked at the pictures and couldnt beleive how puffy my face was.
I have to remind myself at least I can poop and I am not hanging out in the b-room all day.
Having the puffy face and weight gain for a little while is ok by me compared to where I was 3 months ago it is tough though I know.