Community Forum

Have a question, or want to share your own tips and experiences? Join the discussion in the community forum. You must be registered to participate. Our forums are moderated by Crohn's & Colitis Foundation staff to facilitate a safe environment.

Lialda (meslamine) & Terrible Immune System? Boswellia Herb?


Tue, December 03, 2019 11:28 AM

Hello There! New here...

My boyfriend has ulcerative colitis and has been on Lialda for about 8 years. (I've only known him for two). 

From what I have observed, he is extremely "sickly" (for lack of a better term). To further elaborate, he is constantly sick, if not with one illness than another. He sometimes has diarrhea and has to miss work because of that (he drives a bus, so its impossibe for him to work if he cant hold it in)... but serious colitis flaires are not really a huge problem. I'd say this happens maybe 4-5 times a year, but only last 2-3 days. 

Other than colitis, he is always sick. Two weeks ago he was sick with nausea and vomitting (elevated red blood cells) so the doctor suspected food poisoning (we ate the same food- I am fine). Now he is sick again with a fever and upper respiratory infection.  He also spent months last year with a chronic cough and post nasal drip that he could not get rid of, along with other sicknesses.

I have read that lialda is an immunosuppressant. Do you think this medication could be making his immune system that bad? I have also read that colitis in general causes lowered immune function. Do any of you have this experience of just generally being "sickly"? 

This all is completely shocking to me.. as my brother has Multiple Sclerosis (another auto-immune disease) and has come off of his medication and managed to be completely symptom free through diet and vitamins for years. MS sounds much more serious than UC (just from a ordinary citizen's knowledge) and his quality of life is not compromised this greatly. I know its an completely different illness, but I tend to be of the view that often the medications cause worse symptoms than the illness itself. And doctors in the US are only trained in giving precription meds. 

My boyfriend also has some personal issues that I feel he deals with regularly left over from childhood. He had a very poor and tramatic upbringing. He has a lot of anger issues and lives in a constant state of stress. I think this can also be a major contributor. 

Generally I would just like to know if having such low immune function is a symptom of UC or of Lialda? If not, than I think we are dealing with something else here.

Also, has anyone ever tried the herb Boswellia for their UC? It performs better than some precription drugs in clinical trials for UC.

FPO JenJen514
Joined Dec 3, 2019

Thu, December 12, 2019 10:29 AM

Reply posted for JenJen514.

I've been on an immunosuppressive for about 20 years and yes I catch everything that's going around.  He should discuss with his doc, is there an alternative?  And he should definitely get a flu shot.

FPO lmb100
Joined Dec 12, 2019

Fri, December 06, 2019 8:46 PM

Reply posted for JenJen514.

I have Crohns, have tried Boswelia but with no effect (though I note I was very sick at the time.  If my symptoms were milder then I wonder if it may have been able to have more effect)

regarding being sickly.  I’m generally in good health, apart from the a Crohns. i have never taken Lialda so cant comment specifically on that, but have been on other immune suppressing drugs.  But yes immune suppressing drugs make one more likely to contract illnesses etc. Does he get the flu vaccine? If he drives public buses it may be useful to do so, as I imagine he could be around lots of cold/flu germs.  When I take immune suppressing drugs I also use hand sanitizer quite a lot, especially before I use my hands to eat anything.
Other than that, I also find it helpful to have a lifestyle that promotes health. 
Smoking, alcohol, late nights, coffee and stress would all negatively effect my health 
Plenty of sleep, good nutrition, meditation, relaxing music, and walking (as much as possible, depending on symptoms) all positively effect my health.
when I’m not able to get adequate nutrition by food, or if I’m low weight - I would also supplement with hospital-grade nutritional drinks (like Ensure). I also take vitamins everyday: a multivitamin, Vit A, Vit B complex, Vit C, Vit D, Calcium etc. 
if he is getting colds/flus a lot it may be worth trying Vit C and Zinc

Best wishes x

FPO Yvonne111
Joined Nov 25, 2019

Related Topics

Treatment options decisio...
Author Image Bmineard1
Joined Nov 6, 2020

My son was diagnosed with crohns at 10yrs old, due....

read more

Biologics and scarring
Author Image chelsea95
Joined Sep 26, 2020

Hi there. Wondering if anyone has noticed somethin....

read more

insurance coverage
Author Image jan11
Joined Jan 16, 2022

Can anybody comment on how their medigap plan cove....

read more