I was diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis this past week following a sigmoidoscopy followed up by pathology findings. Today I started an 8-week regimen of Budesonide (generic for Entocort), 3MG once daily in the am. Have also altered my diet per many of the suggestions on this forum and in other places. Looking forward to more discussion on this issue and will report on my own progress.

I am new to the group, too, and am seeking advice/information on Ulcerative Colitis. I am a 62 year old female, diagnosed with UC 2 years ago. I had been on oral mesalamine, which worked for 3 months until I developed acute pancreatitis (drug induced). Prior to that, I had been prescribed Canasa (suppositories), Uceris rectal foam, hydrocortisone (oral and rectal). GI doc is pushing ENTYVIO and I am terrified of possible side effects. I am still in relatively good health, never smoked, do not drink, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. I am waiting for an appointment with integrative medicine doctors to try acupuncture and herbal treatments like aloe vera and Boswellia? Has anyone been on Entyvio or tried more natural things for Colitis and have they helped? The biologics and their side effects scare the hell out of me! The fact that I developed pancreatitis from 4.8 G of mesalamine daily was frightening and GI doc said that was a rare side effect. This is a horrible debilitating disease and I just want my life back. I have had bloody diarrhea daily for almost 2 years, other than for the 3 months I was in remission on the mesalamine. I can barely maintain 110 pounds and rarely leave the house. Has anyone had good or bad results with their UC treatment? I also take a probiotic (VSL#3) that the GI doc recommended and I just started to take turmeric, as that is a natural anti-inflammatory. I am frustrated and confused. I understand that this is an autoimmune disorder and cases are increasing rapidly in developed countries. I have no family history of any type of Colitis and I have never smoked, which are both sometimes factors. Thank you so much for any insight or suggestions!

I'm puzzled by one aspect of the current medication my GI doc has prescribed for Lymphocytic Colitis. I'm on budesonide 3mg daily for 8 weeks. Yet, the studies and online discussions I've seen regarding budesonide treatment for LC seem to indicate the normal prescription is 9mg daily for the same time period. I'm planning to raise this question on my next visit, but just curious if anyone has been prescribed a dosage this small for this condition.

How long does Budesonide take to before normal BM?

My husband took budesonide for seven weeks before feeling any relief; he is still taking this drug now going 15 weeks his Dr. will begin weaning him off the medication soon. Who knows what happens after that. It’s been very hard.

Now in my 4th week of Budesonide, but still only 3mg once per day. My main problem was constant D and frequent urgent trips to the barthroom (6-9 times daily), with some fatigue. I've never had any pain, dissension, weight loss, etc. The D comes in cycles, which originally made me think my problem might be a parasite of some sort, but my GI specialist doesn't think so.. More likely the "cycles" are probably related to something I'm eating.

Its hard to say whether the result thus far is the medication or the fact that I've altered my diet considerably. I'm also using Metamucil daily, which I believe is helpful. Presently I'm also waiting for results from Enterolab in hopes of taking a shortcut to identifying food sensitivities or allergies. Once I finish the remaining 4 weeks, if there's no significant change, I'm going to have a conversation with the doctor on why I'm on 3mg/day rather than the 9mg/day which seems to be standard. For now, I'm willing to do it his way.

If I walk too much I get diarrhea run to bathroom this goes on for hours sometimes days. I have been on Apriso for a few years. Just seems I can't win. Stay around the house even if I mop or run vacuum this happens. I have spinal stenosis that has been painful I have received therapy and shots in the spine. I wonder if the nerves in spine being crushed that causes this problem? It's only been happening for about a 6th month period. Ah well if anyone else has this I would like to know how your quality of life is. Thank you.

Hi! First of all, I am so sorry your son has UC. Yes it is a chronic condition, but there are several ways to treat it and some people do very well with first line treatment. I am assuming the doctor has prescribed mesalamine (some brand names are Lialda, Canasa, Asacol). These can be taken orally, rectally or both. If the UC is ulcerative proctitis, they usually start you with the mesalamine suppositories. Some people stay at that level and do well on these drugs for years! I started with proctitis but the UC continued to move up the lower intestine and became pancolitis. The oral mesalamine and suppositories worked well for me the first few months and I believe they would have continued to work well, but I developed drug induced pancreatitis and had to discontinue immediately. That's when things became worse quickly and it was a struggle and a learning curve to see what else would work.

I am hoping your son does well with the mesalamine! Next line would be steroids and they usually start you with budesonide, which is safer than prednisone, but either one is short term, just to calm things down; they are both available rectally too. I am currently on the biologic infusion, Entyvio, and that seems to be working well; however, I had started a plant based diet a week before starting the infusions and I am thrilled to report that things have been "normal" for almost 3 months! There has been NO bleeding, no diarrhea and bathroom visits have decreased from 12-15 daily to 2-3! I have also been maintaining weight (I had been losing a half pound a day!) Despite the science behind the biologic, my doctor strongly supports the plant based diet, and there is a lot of clinical evidence that it does indeed make a difference. If he starts out slowly, just eliminating dairy, and then meat... it may be less painful. I personally don't miss meat at all, but I do miss cheese and ice cream, but this new way of eating is a small price to pay after what I have been through. When my doctor told me a few months ago that the UC was fulminant, and recommended a colorectal surgeon, I was terrified.

So I would recommend that he try the mesalamine (I am assuming that's what he'll be taking). I hope and pray this will work for him and the UC will stay at this level!!! I am also taking the probiotic, VSL#3 (also recommended by my GI doc) twice a day. So, that, a plant based diet, and exercise are what I would advise, based on my experience. It is a horrible disease, but there is hope and there are many things out there that do work. Everyone is a little different in how they respond to different treatments. His doctor can monitor with labs (blood and stool) to check the inflammation markers and scope to check the mucosal lining, I wish you the very best of luck and hope I have answered some of your questions. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions. It's amazing how much you learn when you have a condition like this, and you get to the point where you're not even embarrassed talking about poop. LOL
Good luck
Donna

Gastroenterologist diagnosed me with lymphocytic colitis. This was after my 3rd colonoscopy and special test to detect blood which did show up microscopically. I had gall bladder surgery 4 years ago and have had persistent diarrhea since surgery. Also have had dramatic loss of weight from 130 to 98 plus extreme weakness. Would appreciate any sharing of treatment or medication that helps deal with this problem.

Have you tried OTC Imodium. My husbands diarrhea subsided and hasn’t returned after three pills. Doc said if it works keep it up.