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How do you Manage Flares with Ischemic Colitis?
My husband, 74 yrs old, was diagnosed with Ischemic Colitis 2 months ago. He had a pretty severe episode of non-stop abdominal cramps with urges to go to the bathroom and with every bowel movement he was passing blood clots.
We checked in to Emergency Department. He had a colonoscopy with further pathology. The dr finally said that he thinks it's Ischemic Colitis. The Dr. ordered an MRI to check the Blood flow in the abdominal area. The results were normal. The Dr. said its good news, most likely the blood flow was interrupted in the small vessels and that that is better then if large vessels are constricted. No meds were suggested and basically no diet restrictions.
After this episode, my husband recovered and for 2 months he felt well.
Unfortunately this morning he had another flare.
Can someone, who has a similar condition, can share how you manage the flares and what usually triggers the flares. Are you on any medication.
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Yes and yes ... check my other posts on colitis diets and balsalazide disodium RX. Mostly avoid caffeine, fatty foods, and carbonated drinks. Cut way back on beef and pork, rather eat lean turkey and chicken. No chocolate. Eat good grains, avoiding more highly processed foods.
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1 Reaction@spivak - I’m sorry for what your husband has developed.
Question: was all the work up done in the ER?
There is a gap of information in my mind- he is diagnosed with ischemic colitis, but all tests did not show direct evidence of impaired blood flow, just an assumption.
To my knowledge, the best way to determine abdominal blood flow is through Doppler ultrasound. Any positive result then could be confirmed with a CT angiogram.
Does he have a gastroenterologist managing his problem?
@spivak - thought you might like to read some of the other discussion about Ischemic Colitis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ischemic-colitis-2b7d41/
Ischemic colitis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ischemic-colitis-2c114f/
Diet after bleeding from Ischemic colitis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ischemic-colitis-1/
I would be interested in knowing the answers to Inge's questions as well.
Hi name is lauren my mum just been taking in hospital she collapsed and had sickness and diarrhea we couldn't get her up i witnessed her collapsed so did my 3 year old who's extremely close to her I also had my 11 month old there it was terrible I couldn't get her up and ambulance wasn't there for hours, I wanted to freak out and breakdown but my kids were there so I couldn't me and mum have been best friends all our life's and she also helps when can with my 11 month and 3 year old I also care for her because she has kidney disease and other health issues she's my best friend I dont know what I would cope or do if I lose her .
We waited in hospital for hours with a 3 year old and baby and people were judging us on bringing them but I had nobody else to take them my dad was with me and she was diagnosed with ischemic colitis this is the second time she had it ( is this normal l?
But this time its worst they wanted to remove her bowel but there gonna try other things her blood pressure so low and she's going into a high dependency unit soon I am so anxious and panicking sorry for long post just needed to connect too others going through same thing
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3 ReactionsHi Lauren,
That must have been a terrible experience for you and your small children. I am so sorry the ambulance took so long to get to your house to help you. I also hope your Mother is feeling better and the doctors can save her bowel.
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2 ReactionsI had an eschemic colitis attack at 45 (I’m 62 now) which my doctors told me was rare for a younger person. Spent four days in the hospital. I was taken off all NSAIDS and muscle relaxers. I was having cervical spinal surgery a few weeks latter, so was in a lot of pain.
I would definitely let your specialist know when you have a flare, they may want to check him again. I’ve been lucky so far.
Will be thinking of you two.
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2 ReactionsHi, these posts were mostly a number of years ago, so not sure about the usefulness of replying here. I'm new here so not yet clued up on how the message boards work, I trust you will excuse me if I've got it wrong. I had a emergency total colectomy with an internal ileorectal anastomosis on 4 September 2026. I'd had two flare ups of what I now know were ischemic coliltis in the months prior, but it was missed and a gastroscopy and colonoscopy were clear except for ulcers on the gastroscopy (by the time of the colonoscopy of course the flare up was over so it wasn't picked up), but that third one was dire and the blood flow to my colon was completely compromised and my colon was dying with the inner walls sloughing off by the time the surgeon got in there. Nevertheless I was admitted via the emergency room as a psych patient. I do have mental health issues which are recorded at that hospital and I am well aware of how digestive issues can relate to mental health and I guess coming in less than 2 months after a completely clear colonoscopy also obscured things (well this is what I think when I'm in a kind mood!) but as a result I waited 6 extra hours to be referred to the consultant surgeon when he came on at 8am. But what someone else said about having the right surgeon was also my experience. What a fantastic chap. He also tried everything he could to avoid a stoma and was successful (the surgeon I'd seen for my colonoscopy said she would never have tried that and gone straight for a stoma if it had been her). Anyway, I'm 8.5 weeks post and doing really well by all accounts, already coping with my toilet habits etc, so I can certainly say it is possible for life to return to 'normal' after a total colectomy. I am hoping to connect with others to chat about recovery though. I know I'm doing really really well and my surgeon kept saying how amazed she was, and I feel very grateful, but tbh this came out of nowhere for me and I'm reeling a little without much post op access to medical folks. (oh yes, and I'm a 50+ female)
@ashy2025 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Glad to hear that by whatever happenstance at the hospital, you ended up with a surgeon you liked and surgical results that are looking positive.
Are there any issues you are experiencing right now that you'd like other members to help you with? Or are you looking for recovery timelines others have experienced?
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1 ReactionI recently was diagnosed with Ischemic Colitis and I am following a low fiber diet. I will have a follow up colonoscopy mid November. I was inpatient for 8 days while they monitored me to see if I needed surgery. Although the Dr said it was the worse case they had ever seen, because I was alert and seemed healthy on the outside, they sent me home. My lab work has improved but I am experiencing tremors in my hands and legs. I am being sent to PT and to see a neurologist. The Dr said I still have at least three weeks before I should expect to start feeling better. She also mentioned that the tremors could be a fight of flight response to what my body went through during my time in ICU. Has anyone else experienced tremors after a severe episode of ischemic colitis?