Anti-inflamatory diet?

Hi,

I've had my pouch since 12/10 following about 30 years of UC. I had my colon and rectum removed after I developed dysplasia in rectum following treatment with Remicade (I felt great on Remicade, but I guess that one of the downsides to the drug is it can inhibit the body's own cancer fighting defenses).

Since my surgery, I've had only about 1/2 a year of ideal functioning of my pouch. Based on my last scoping, my surgeon believed my problem was cuffitis and was prepared to strip the mucosal wall in a few places to alleviate that condition. But when he scoped me in the surgical room, he saw that inflammation was widespread in pouch and therefore as we discussed in advance, he elected not to do the cuff surgery.

I take sulfazine, and when symptoms get too bad, I've used antibiotics, cortifoam, and steroid suppositories. My biggest issue is nighttime incontinence and resultant impact on my sleep.

I've been told the next treatment option is biologics, but I'm not a fan of all the side effects and I'd much rather find a natural cure.

I've got three questions: 1) Has anyone had any positive results with a gluten-free diet?

2) Has anyone had positive results with an anti-inflamitory diet, and 3) what is it?

Thanks!

1/2/1610:31 PM

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Scott FMember

Jay, this isn't what you asked, but 30 years of UC is many, many times more likely to lead to dysplasia than Remicade. You probably owe Remicade an apology.

1/2/1611:04 PM

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deweyjMember

I typed a long winded answer late last night but then as the site was uploading it, I got impatient and switched off before it saved so I will try again, maybe this time being more succinct.

I agree with Scott that dysplasia is more likely from long term battle with UC vs Remicade. Remicade or other biologic use is linked to lymphoma risk. The risk is heightened to the general population by two fold, if I recall correctly it is 4 in 10,000 vs 2 in 10,000 for the general pop. but as you can see still a small statistical risk. very real if you are one of those 4.

I too resisted going on biologics as I was pleased as punch for 19 years taking only the occasional med to fight pouchitis. but ultimately I relented and my more frequent bouts of pouchitis have largely been quelled by going on biologics.

as to your query about diets, my view is that the response is as varied as meds, but if you have the discipline and wherewithal to pursue them try them and see if they help, some people swear by them. me, I'm too lazy Id rather just take meds.

1/3/162:55 PM

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Jan DollarModerator, RN, retired

I agree with the above. In regard to finding a "natural cure," there just really isn't any such thing. You can possibly control your symptoms with diet (again, this varies person to person), but you can't really cure your chronic pouchitis that way. I've been on this site a very long time and every person who thought they found a natural cure only found a temporary solution. We'd all be doing it if there were consistent results. Perhaps it is because the causes of pouchitis are varied. I don't know...

For me, I just want reasonable function so that my pouch does not rule my life. How I get there matters less.

Jan