One of the most frustrating aspects of ulcerative colitis is the variation of the disease from one person to another. I was reminded of this individuality of UC a few days ago when a friend of mine, who also has UC, saw me eating a pasta dish and asked in surprise, "that doesn't give you problems?!" Not only has this dish never affected me, it has become a regular sure-bet food for me and a dish I have ~3 times a week. I later saw him eating a leafy salad and was astonished that he does not experience problems with salads (the last salad I ate resulted in a hospital visit).
People who know me well might wonder why this frustrates me; I never really liked salad. The inconsistency of UC results in mis-diagnosis, difficult treatment decisions (what works for one might not for another), and different types of diet restrictions. In today's world of modern medicine we expect that once a diagnosis is made the best treatment is known and, in the case of digestive diseases, the diet restriction are known. This is not the case with UC (although some common trends are evident) as each individual must closely monitor their condition, diet and medication and speak openly about each of these with there doctor to relate them to any health problems. The good news is that you can identify, and know, the specifics of your disease. No salads for me!!!
People who know me well might wonder why this frustrates me; I never really liked salad. The inconsistency of UC results in mis-diagnosis, difficult treatment decisions (what works for one might not for another), and different types of diet restrictions. In today's world of modern medicine we expect that once a diagnosis is made the best treatment is known and, in the case of digestive diseases, the diet restriction are known. This is not the case with UC (although some common trends are evident) as each individual must closely monitor their condition, diet and medication and speak openly about each of these with there doctor to relate them to any health problems. The good news is that you can identify, and know, the specifics of your disease. No salads for me!!!
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