How To Strengthen Yourself After A Colitis Relapse - By: Michael Tasker

Now that your colitis relapse is reducing and the symptoms of diarrhoea and passing blood, abdominal pain and tiredness have subsided, you can forget about your troubles as you are back in remission and life has returned to normal. Or has it? Those that think life is back to the usual daily routine where they can completely forget about their health will only quicken the day when the colitis symptoms reappear.

When you have been diagnosed with colitis, whilst a normal life can be lived, the sufferer has to be aware of not only the possibility for the disease to enter a relapse phase but also of equal importance to understand how to care for themselves when they are nearing the end of an attack and are entering a period of remission. There are three points to be aware of and take action after suffering a relapse to ensure that as full a recovery is possible and to reduce the possibility of a quick reoccurrence of the relapse.

Medication: Are you taking it? It is of course very easy to fall out of the habit or just forget to take it for a few days. You should ask yourself why your doctor has prescribed it for you. Its use is to reduce and keep at bay the inflammation in your colon. The most common in use, mesalazine is usually taken each day, often several times a day. If you feel you can reduce the dosage by substituting something else (even the use of diet) then great, but don't assume that since the last relapse has died down, you can safely ignore colitis.

And if you were given a course of steroids to take, even though you will be feeling much better since the colitis symptoms died down, make sure you finish the prescribed course. Stopping abruptly the taking of steroids can be dangerous. If there is any doubt, make sure you consult your doctor.

Diet: Are you getting sufficient nutrients to build yourself to make up for what was lost during the last attack? It can take months to replenish the body depending on the ferocity of the attack. It is not wise to immediately reintroduce your normal diet. Foods should be gradually added to your daily intake and of course monitored to ensure that none are creating unwanted symptoms.

Supplements: After the worst of the symptoms are over, it is most likely that body weight will have been lost and to face a general feeling of being run down and to tire easily. It is often beneficial at this point of recovery to take some vitamins especially iron supplements to counter the loss of blood. It is not unusual for the colitis sufferer to look somewhat anemic which is also the result of both mental and physical tiredness endured over a long period. Again, consult your doctor as what would be most suitable for you.

These are just three aspects of colitis management that you need to be aware of when emerging from a relapse and entering a period of good health. Taking a little time to consider these could be very worthwhile as compared with the alternative that can happen. And by finding out the knowledge of those sufferers who have endured relapses and found health again will assist you greatly in ensuring you are doing the right things to get your health back and reduce the chances of a relapse happening again.

About the Author

Michael Tasker has survived the worst of colitis since 1994 including ileostomies and a j pouch and can now provide the real life knowledge that your doctor or a leaflet struggles to. Source the real everyday practical answers to defend yourself against colitis symptoms and regain control of your life. It's not more info you want. It's priceless knowledge. From someone who has experienced it all. http://www.thecolitisexperience.com

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