1. Avoid Foods That Cause Flareups
One of the easiest ways to manage ulcerative colitis is to manage your diet. Ulcerative colitis is a condition in which sores, or ulcers, appear on your colon and the lining of your rectum. The food you eat will not make the inflammatory bowel disease go away, but eating right can help calm the symptoms you experience. Foods that are high in fat and contain a lot of acids (citrus fruits and tomato-based sauces are prime examples) can irritate the ulcers in your digestive tract. Alcohol, caffeine and carbonation can also cause you more pain, so it's best to limit or stay away from beverages of this kind completely. Fiber is another ingredient that can cause problems in some people with ulcerative colitis. You may have to experiment with the amount of fiber you can eat without feeling ill effects. If you find you can't eat raw fruits and vegetables, cook them first to make them more digestible.
2. Undergo Drug Therapy
Your doctor will most likely put you on a variety of drugs to manage your bowel disease. Anti-inflammatory medications, including sulfasalazine and corticosteroids, will be used to calm the inflammation, and may give you some relief from pain. Your doctor may prescribe Immunosuppressant drugs as well, to try to get your body into a state of remission. Many people with ulcerative colitis do reach some sort of remission, though there is a high rate of relapse. Other therapies may include the wearing of a nicotine patch--scientists aren't sure why this helps people with ulcerative colitis, but there is evidence that some people show improvement.
3. Consider Hospitalization
Hospitalization may become a reality for you if your body does not respond to medications and changes in diet. Common reasons for hospitalization include the need for rehydration and intravenous nourishment if you have lost too much fluid and nutrients during your bouts of diarrhea. The potential need for surgery to remove the affected area of your colon and to create an ileostomy is another reason you might be hospitalized.
4. Join a Support Group
Manage the stress that stems from having ulcerative colitis--stress that is, in itself, another cause of flareups--by joining a support group for patients who are affected by inflammatory bowel disease and their families. Your local hospital will have a schedule of meeting times for the support group that is appropriate for you.
