What should I ask the doctor?

What questions should I ask my gastroenterologist? More important, I think, is to actually take a little notepad in with you into the doctor's office and have it at the ready when the two of you are having a discussion. A simple thing I know, but chances are it is a costly visit for you and we all want to know the best way to get a handle on UC. I know I would probably forget a few questions and kick myself afterwards for it without taking some prepared questions in with me.

I have some questions prepared for my doctor's visit next week. I'll need to know what meds he will Rx, they will be new this time since Balsalazide Disodium is not helping us (the doc and I) reach our goal of remission.

Not something I was dying to put in the search box on my browser for, but I've heard people had success with a fecal transplant so I will ask about that. I also need to know if some of the bleeding is due to hemmorrhoids and if so, what I can do about that. Also, LDN. LDN is Low Dose Naltrexone, and something I've read that is in general effective, quickly. Sometimes I am severely constipated. I can swing from one extreme to the other, but I thought most with UC just stayed at one extreme. I need to ask about that as well, even though both doctors have told me modifying my diet won't help get UC into remission.

I think the doctor has a certain plan laid out for me if things keep getting worse. But this is my second doctor and things are not progressing as they both were hoping. I've poured thousands of dollars in to this already. So I will be prepared this time with a notepad and questions, ready for action as it were.

Donation for Ulcerative Colitis Research

I was thinking that as impressive and helpful as the current medicine available for UC sufferers may be, the research into UC is not complete. This is evident in people like me who find remission elusive, and are trying to get a handle on their symptoms getting worse instead of better. More research needs more money, and although because of my rising medical bills I can only donate so much, every little bit counts!

 I recommend making a donation to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. CCFA is approved by the Better Business Bureau, BBB. And of course, the donation is tax deductible! Since science and technology is advancing at such a rapid pace, let's hope researchers will continue to make progress in medicine, and maybe find the exact causes and a cure for ulcerative colitis.

 After all, if scientists can clone sheep and grow hair on bald mice using stem cells, almost anything should be possible!

What makes ulcerative colitis worse?

Good question! Anything that can be done to decrease these awful symptoms is worth trying. These 2 lists are for me in particular.

Top 5 Worse Foods for UC
Alcohol
Caffeine
Red meat
Soda
Popcorn

Top 5 Best Foods for UC
Avacado
Yogurt
Raisins
Bananas
Carrots


Others have reported that foods high in fiber or with seeds, like beans or strawberries, can make symptoms worse during a flare. I myself haven't experienced this, but everyone responds differently!

No Wayyyyyyy

So I got another giant medical bill this month. Over $4,000. I called up their office, I simply could not believe it could cost that much. And I have insurance!

I asked why it cost so much. I told them that four grand would be a huge financial burden for me. We went back and forth. More than 5 minutes in to the conversation, the receptionist mentions that if I pay in full this month, the bill would be half off. WHAT. lol. A special only this month, she says. Why on earth did she not tell me this earlier in the conversation?

Why is getting such a discount even possible? It just highlights how flawed the whole medical insurance / billing system is. People that don't call to wonder why they have such a huge bill wouldn't get this magical discount. If I started crying because of the four gees burden and had to end the convo early, I wouldn't have even heard about the discount! Amazing.

Boswellia Side Effects

I only took Boswellia for a few days but I could tell it made me way too nauseous and even gave me some chest pains / tightness. And my symptoms got worse, if anything. I had read 2/3s of people that take Boswellia were helped by it, but not me.

The side effects were such that I would really stress caution if you try to take Boswellia. Back to trying Rx medicine it is for me! The pills from a tree in India made me more nauseous than even the balsalazide. :(

Others have reported side effects such as sore throat and a skin rash. Boswellia helps with remission in many people, but take at your own risk! I wouldn't take it more than a month or 2 even if it was helping because of all the side effects that could come with it.

Naturally!

No Rx medications are getting UC into remission. I have just started to take Aloe Vera Gels and Boswellia. Apparently the Gels can become habit forming. I will be careful to not become dependent on them. I bought the brand that didn't have that warning on the label, but I will make sure I am aware of this anyways.

I have higher hopes for the Boswellia. It is extract from a kind of tree found in the countryside in India. It can help with UC, and could even help with arthritis, so if it is effective for a double whammy then I am all set!

I figured I should give some natural remedies a try, even though probiotics haven't helped me in the past. All the different Rx drugs I've spent thousands on haven't helped either that much, so I have nothing to lose!

Fail.

So the Cortifoam didn't help either. I am a bit disappointed that my doctor prescribed it actually. I read up on it, it is mostly hydrocortisone, which I had taken in a cheap form with a previous doctor. They just mixed it right up at the pharmacy for about $25. Cortifoam cost over $200!

Make sure to ask for cheap hydrocortisone mixed up at the pharmacy instead, if your doc wants to prescribe Cortifoam! Many pharmacies don't make their own stuff, but some do next to hospitals. And it didn't even need a prescription. But it is a steroid, so take care.

The doctor had my medical history. I should have checked before I bought the pricey Cortifoam, of course. But I think part of the job of the doctor is to not prescribe basically the same medicine that was shown to not work in my previous medical history.