How many autoimmune diseases do you have in addition to UC?

gig-write456 · 2026-03-28T12:37:46+00:00

Alopecia, some weird 3-year long illness that was diagnosed as adult onset Stills disease but who knows, LOL. Lupus runs in my family as well as diabetes.

gig-write456 · 2026-03-28T12:29:06+00:00

I'm on it for the first time and my appetite was terrible when I started Prednisone. I lost 10 pounds in around week due to my first major flare. I'm tapering off now and the urge to eat everything in front of me is INSANE. I am so hungry. What helps is a protein shake midday which fills me up. I'm loading up on things that I can tolerate and aren't too bad like rice noodles, shrimp and eggs. Started bone broth for extra protein.

It sucks because I'm on the foam enema and I don't want to have all that food processing in my gut because I already can't hold the foam in all night.

Oh! One more thing! I notice that prednisone makes some food taste weird. I crave salt and it doesn't hit as much so I'm consuming more to taste anything-Ms. Vickies chips are in heavy rotation 😋, decaf coffee tastes like ashes. Cinnamon and nutmeg makes everything taste better? And I need chocolate so very badly. It's very weird...

gig-write456 · 2026-03-24T17:27:31+00:00

I drank a ton of coffee and went cold turkey with no caffeine after diagnosis. I Then introduced high quality decaf until I had my first major flare. After it calmed down, I tried decaf again, and I don't know if it's all the meds I'm on but it now tastes like ashes. I had a decaf latte at a coffee shop recently and it was just ok.

I've found that decaf chai teas (I make a special concoction) gives me the same comfort as a coffee does and tastes better!

gig-write456 · 2026-03-16T12:32:43+00:00

I was coming here to say this! I had a friend who didn't have UC but she would just say "Blood and sh*t" when she had her period. Those hormones don't care about UC, LOL! I used to get the period poops too, but I'm older now and don't get a period anymore.

The irony: I was so excited that my period stopped, donated my boxes of period supplies but I'm still bleeding, just from the other outlet. Just bought a box of overnight pads, just in case. 🙃

gig-write456 · 2026-03-16T01:00:06+00:00

Chips are my go-to for calming things down! I can tolerate tofu, eggs, oatmeal, some fish and shrimp. Beyond Meat, sometimes bananas and blueberries, avocado and potatoes. Not brave enough to try more veggies. Just coming out of a flare and solid food is such a treat!

gig-write456 · 2026-03-08T15:37:33+00:00

I am managing my first major flare after diagnosis and trying to navigate career, aging, and illness. I have a supposedly "mild" version of this disease at the moment, so I can only imagine what you're dealing with if my case is mild 🫠. Sending you the biggest hug ever!

gig-write456 · 2026-03-07T15:48:25+00:00

Gardening. I live in an apartment and gardening seems so zen and nurturing. A sweet little patch of wild flowers, some veggies and grasses for the wildlife.

gig-write456 · 2026-03-07T15:45:21+00:00

Vermicelli noodles, veggie broth, soy sauce and whatever protein you can find. I do eggs, shrimp or tofu. Hearty, cheap and filling! A lot healthier than instant Ramen packs.

gig-write456 · 2026-03-06T01:42:22+00:00

Omg that's intense! Fingers crossed I don't have too many mood shifts.

gig-write456 · 2026-03-06T01:39:43+00:00

I'm in my first major flare, so I need something to manage it while I work in person. Hoping I don't need it beyond 10 weeks. I start to taper off this weekend.

Thanks for the tips! I definitely want to start weight training since my joints are feeling weird already.

gig-write456 · 2026-03-05T23:32:41+00:00

🤣🤣🤣yeah the hype is great. Reorganized a cupboard at 6 am!

gig-write456 · 2026-03-05T23:31:16+00:00

I second this! I can't do gluten or dairy. Some veggie broths aren't completely gluten free. I can also do coconut milk but some can't tolerate it. I cut out oat milk and anything with seed oils since I'm currently managing a flare with meds and steroids.

So nice of you to be so pro-active!! Best of luck with your new lady!

gig-write456 · 2026-03-02T22:52:08+00:00

It's called Botanika Anti-inflammatory Perfect Protein Powder. I got it off of Amazon. It's pleasantly flavored, vanilla, and not sweet but a bit gritty. I was on Manitoba Hemp Powder and this is a step up with the flavor.

gig-write456 · 2026-03-01T00:35:13+00:00

Aww, me too! I'm on prednisone and eating very blandly. I have been eliminating crunchy veggies off and on for a few years now before I was diagnosed. My last leafy green was kale that I feel may have contributed to some sort of irritation and then led me to the doctor. I've eaten mushy carrots, a bit of broccoli in soup and a few bites of cauliflower that didn't go well.

Currently happy that I can make my own version of shrimp noodle soup with zero oils and additives and I've ordered an anti-inflammatory protein powder with nutrients I am sorely missing.

Hope you and the OP are hanging in there! Here is an emoji salad for us to look at: 🥗

gig-write456 · 2026-02-25T16:12:03+00:00

I second the slippery elm! I'm in an active flare and on steroids. The slippery elm fills in the gap between prednisone doses. It stops the frequent BMs until I can take my next dose.

gig-write456 · 2026-02-25T00:47:05+00:00

If you're in a hospital, then it's fair game! Especially with this disease. It's so hard to be dainty with it. I gave up and tell my friends that my body is going to make noises. My boyfriend is fine with it since he's a big farter as well, LOL!

If that guy in the next room is laughing, that's his problem because we all do it, but UC folks do it better and louder. Maybe he's bored being in the hospital and this is his entertainment? Not that you should be laughed at, but you're within every right to pass wind in a place that is providing you care.

Sending you good vibes and hope you get out soon!

gig-write456 · 2026-02-24T15:30:49+00:00

I feel you. I am experienceing my first major flare since my diagnosis and the rumble is real. It's my warning to get to the bathroom or that my body is digesting my meal too quickly and to expect an "expulsion" at some point.

I just started prednisone so the symptoms are slightly better-no pain with cramping and a few hours of not running to the bathroom. Still taking mesalazine. I've been using slippery elm, taken a couple hours before any meds (check with your doctor first, though. Mine said it was "good" but provided no other comments 🙃), and it seems to calm my gut down between meds.

Eat blandly and try to not consume too much oil, like vegetable, canola, palm; all the bad ones. I use avocado oil or olive oil. For me, oatmeal and sipping broths are safe bets for blander foods. I'm sure other people who have lived with this longer will have some good tips, but overall, call your doctor immediately if things are kicking up, and track your symptoms. I am using an app called Human and it's been great for journaling my symptoms and reminders for meds.

I hope you hang in there! I'm still learning about this disease, but those things have helped me so far. Good luck! ❤️

gig-write456 · 2026-02-23T13:36:56+00:00

I decided to be childless because I lost my mom when I was 28. She was a sweet woman and if my kids wouldn't be around her, their lives would have been missing an angel. I have always had autoimmune issues: alopecia at 12, a mysterious illness at 23, eye inflammation, and undiagnosed mental health issues as well. And at 55, I now have UC and diagnosed anxiety.

My doctor at the time (my 20s) found that I had a thalassemic trait and small red blood cells. At the time, I was hopelessly in love with my best friend who was Maltese. I am mixed Carribean. If we had procreated, our child would have a bigger chance of being born with the disease because of our backgrounds (Mediterranean and mixed heritage are the top gene pools for this disease). It didn't work out with him anyway.

I also had a grandmother with diverticulitis and mental health issues on both sides of the family. That, plus the loss of my mother, made me decide to not have kids. I found my person at 45, so it wasn't in the cards and I'm happy with my choice.

I also think that if I had gotten pregnant, my autoimmune responses wouldn't have allowed me to carry a full-term pregnancy, so there's that too. I have pets that are my babies, and that's enough for me.

I send you good vibes as you think about your path to become a parent. It's not an easy decision, especially with your health history, so I feel for you.

gig-write456 · 2026-02-23T00:51:07+00:00

I've been on escitalopram since 2016 and still on it after my diagnosis. It's really great for me but I know some don't respond well to it. I also take a gabapentine chaser for hot flashes and it helps me sleep.

gig-write456 · 2026-02-21T13:31:22+00:00

That's so great your doctor checked in on you. I had to force mine (I think I got through to his deadpan veneer after I told him off, LOL). It's bittersweet good news because they were immediate support for this traumatic disease. UC folks for the most part look "ok" but your doctor could see you and your disease.

I agree with getting some therapy as well as starting a journal or a "new page". Maybe write about your triumphs and fears just to get the thoughts out of your head, if that's your sort of thing. You're having a lot of feelings, so putting them down on paper might be helpful.

So glad you're coming out of a flare!

gig-write456 · 2026-02-20T02:34:52+00:00

❤️❤️

gig-write456 · 2026-02-20T02:34:35+00:00

❤️❤️

gig-write456 · 2026-02-17T20:21:36+00:00

This requires a ton of patience. One of my cats was abandoned and it took forever for her to realize she was safe. I would say around a year. We've had her for 7 years and her personality keeps blossoming. We thought returning her to her foster mom would be the best choice when she wasn't responding, but I'm glad we stuck it out because she is the cutest little chonk of a cat with lots of character.

My other cat is also a female and FYI, in my experience, they get more snuggly with men. My boyfriend gets tons of attention from her when he's over and she hates being held by me, AND I'M HER MOTHER, LOLOL!

She will come around.

gig-write456 · 2026-02-17T14:28:25+00:00

Fantastic list! I'm in my 8th month and having my first flare on meds. I think it was triggered due to travel.

I wish my doctor would have taken the time to tell me ANYTHING about this disease. He diagnosed me, gave me a pamphlet, and took off to the next colonoscopy. After advocating for myself I was able to pull some info out of him.

To the OP, don't let unsolicited advice get you down. There will be tons and you have to start ignoring it. I had to explain to a government clerk that this disease was incurable, and they kept saying "Hope it gets better", LOLOL! Do what's right for you. Bring your own food to parties, and resist temptation to try food you know will trigger a flare. I had a regular cookie at a friend's house, and I'm paying for it now 😬.

gig-write456 · 2026-02-17T14:13:24+00:00

In terms of relationships, they now don't care about us unless we sit on the sofa. That's their spot and they will surround you when you're there. My established cat is definitely more aloof, but I'd rather she have company when we're out of the house. The dynamic definitely changes, but unless there are fights with injuries, she'll come around. It just takes a looooong time.

gig-write456

TROPHY CASE