Do all diseases and illnesses start in the gut? If so, it makes sense to keep your digestive tract healthy.
1. Avoid anything fried. Guts just hate the oil that most foods are fried in.
2. Avoid chemicals. Eat organic - no pesticides, no growth hormones, nothing that isn't natural.
3. Eat yogurt. One container per day.
4. Drink a shot of apple cider vinegar every day (do this slowly - it's awful, but it works). If you can't stomach this (no pun intended), try aloe vera juice. Tastes a whole lot less awful. I recommend you try the apple cider vinegar, though. Seems to kill off any bad bacteria living in the intestines.
5. Change your 8 glasses of water per day to at least 16 ounces of seltzer water every day. For some reason, seltzer water flushes out your system better than regular water. It also neutralizes acid, which I think is big in controlling Behcet's symptoms.
6. Try Solormon's Seal joint oil (available at health food stores or natural pharmacies on line) as a topical treatment for sore joints, fingers, ankles, knees --- anything that hurts.
7. Try brewing a glass of marshmallow root in a glass of cool water. It will take awhile for the 1 tbsp. of root to settle to the bottom of the glass. When it does, strain and sip slowly over the course of a few hours the liquid remaining. This is a natural anti-inflammatory and will not aggravate your stomach as NSAIDS do.
Keep your gut happy and see if you feel better.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Sunday, June 30, 2013
New Climate
I am moving to Louisiana, from Wisconsin, and will report about whether or not weather makes a difference in my Behcet's Disease. It does seem that winter and cold affects me greatly, so Wisconsin is not the place to be, although interestingly enough, this is a disease that commonly strikes middle easterners and Japanese in increased numbers.
It makes sense that a disease that attacks the vascular system would be that much worse in cold climates. Here's hoping. Louisiana promises to be a much milder climate temperature wise than Wisconsin.
It makes sense that a disease that attacks the vascular system would be that much worse in cold climates. Here's hoping. Louisiana promises to be a much milder climate temperature wise than Wisconsin.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Time for a Change
After too much digestive tract trouble with Colchicine, my rheumatologist and I have decided to eliminate meds completely, and just treat the symptoms (mouth ulcers) when they appear.
I thought I would be in a whole different nightmare, but it turns out, I'm doing just fine. I have a steroid paste to use when the ulcers come (surprisingly - they haven't, at least not in any number that would cause concern). My rheumatologist thinks that I have a pretty mild case of Behcet's. I am hoping that I'll outgrow it -- like I outgrew PMS. That's probably silly, but stranger things have happened to my body.
At any rate, I stress the importance of working closely with your rheumatologist to stay in the best of health. Don't ever believe that because you have X, you should be taking X. You should be listening to your body and paying attention to symptoms, triggers and your overall health. Had I done so earlier, I probably wouldn't have had to have an appendectomy last summer.
To manage Behcet's disease, work closely with your physician. Pay strict attention to your dietary triggers. Get exercise. My Behcet's symptoms are closely related to my overall health. When I catch a cold or get the flu, Behcet's symptoms flare. Stay in good health and don't get discouraged if you have an episode of not feeling well because you're having a Behcet's flare. There are plenty of remedies to help get past the symptom phase. If your rheumatologist is against steroid paste, I think its time to shop for a new rheumatologist. Or talk with your dentist.
Regardless, my health has been holding stable since stopping the medication in January. I feel great. I will be monitored a bit closer; have to see the rheumatologist once every six months now, instead of once a year; but not taking meds makes me happy. I'm down to one pill a day for hypertension. Not bad for someone my age.
I thought I would be in a whole different nightmare, but it turns out, I'm doing just fine. I have a steroid paste to use when the ulcers come (surprisingly - they haven't, at least not in any number that would cause concern). My rheumatologist thinks that I have a pretty mild case of Behcet's. I am hoping that I'll outgrow it -- like I outgrew PMS. That's probably silly, but stranger things have happened to my body.
At any rate, I stress the importance of working closely with your rheumatologist to stay in the best of health. Don't ever believe that because you have X, you should be taking X. You should be listening to your body and paying attention to symptoms, triggers and your overall health. Had I done so earlier, I probably wouldn't have had to have an appendectomy last summer.
To manage Behcet's disease, work closely with your physician. Pay strict attention to your dietary triggers. Get exercise. My Behcet's symptoms are closely related to my overall health. When I catch a cold or get the flu, Behcet's symptoms flare. Stay in good health and don't get discouraged if you have an episode of not feeling well because you're having a Behcet's flare. There are plenty of remedies to help get past the symptom phase. If your rheumatologist is against steroid paste, I think its time to shop for a new rheumatologist. Or talk with your dentist.
Regardless, my health has been holding stable since stopping the medication in January. I feel great. I will be monitored a bit closer; have to see the rheumatologist once every six months now, instead of once a year; but not taking meds makes me happy. I'm down to one pill a day for hypertension. Not bad for someone my age.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Vision Complications
My eyesight is very bad right now, have had three prescriptions for glasses in 12 months, and my vision continues to decline.
On Wednesday, I am having my first cataract removal surgery, and I am strongly hopeful that this will be the beginning of better vision for me.
It seems that people with Behcet's Disease have some magnification of vision problems, no matter how serious the disease is or how easily symptoms are controlled.
See a good opthamologist regularly, and don't hesitate to call him frequently for any change in visual acuity. Although I dread more surgery, getting rid of my glasses is going to be a wonderful thing for me. I have been annoyed for the past year with having to wear glasses all the time, and to me, the best thing in the world will be to change these frames into sun glasses and never have to be bothered with eyeglasses again. Here's hoping.
On Wednesday, I am having my first cataract removal surgery, and I am strongly hopeful that this will be the beginning of better vision for me.
It seems that people with Behcet's Disease have some magnification of vision problems, no matter how serious the disease is or how easily symptoms are controlled.
See a good opthamologist regularly, and don't hesitate to call him frequently for any change in visual acuity. Although I dread more surgery, getting rid of my glasses is going to be a wonderful thing for me. I have been annoyed for the past year with having to wear glasses all the time, and to me, the best thing in the world will be to change these frames into sun glasses and never have to be bothered with eyeglasses again. Here's hoping.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Stopping Colchicine
In 2012, I suffered constant digestive tract issues, which I largely wrote off as diet related. Unfortunately, my poor little old appendix couldn't take it, and in July, I had an appendectomy, which was not a great way to spend the summer.
Lo and behold, I continued to have digestive tract issues after the appendectomy. I contacted my rheumatologist, who advised me to go off colchicine for 2 weeks, then reintroduce it, one pill a day, every other day. The 2 weeks I didn't take colchicine, I was symptom free (digestive tract issues and Behcet's symptoms). As soon as I restarted the colchicine, my digestive tract rebelled. I called the rheumatologist again to tell him I was going off colchicine, and I have. It's been two months, I'll see the doctor in another month and then we can decide what's next.
Meanwhile, if you are suffering from digestive tract issues from taking colchicine, stop it. Putting your body through that kind of distress is worse than enduring mild symptoms of Behcet's Disease.
Your doctor can prescribe a steroid paste for any mouth ulcers that occur, and I certainly intend to see what other options I have for treatment. Lucky for me, I have a very mild case of Behcet's, and I thought I would see many negative effects from not taking colchicine, but they have not materialized. In fact, I feel better than ever most of the time.
Diet is important in Behcet's. I can look at a food now, after five years, and know immediately whether it will cause me distress or not. Keep experimenting with your diet; no processed foods, no food chemicals or additives and no dyes.
It's not as boring as one would think.
Lo and behold, I continued to have digestive tract issues after the appendectomy. I contacted my rheumatologist, who advised me to go off colchicine for 2 weeks, then reintroduce it, one pill a day, every other day. The 2 weeks I didn't take colchicine, I was symptom free (digestive tract issues and Behcet's symptoms). As soon as I restarted the colchicine, my digestive tract rebelled. I called the rheumatologist again to tell him I was going off colchicine, and I have. It's been two months, I'll see the doctor in another month and then we can decide what's next.
Meanwhile, if you are suffering from digestive tract issues from taking colchicine, stop it. Putting your body through that kind of distress is worse than enduring mild symptoms of Behcet's Disease.
Your doctor can prescribe a steroid paste for any mouth ulcers that occur, and I certainly intend to see what other options I have for treatment. Lucky for me, I have a very mild case of Behcet's, and I thought I would see many negative effects from not taking colchicine, but they have not materialized. In fact, I feel better than ever most of the time.
Diet is important in Behcet's. I can look at a food now, after five years, and know immediately whether it will cause me distress or not. Keep experimenting with your diet; no processed foods, no food chemicals or additives and no dyes.
It's not as boring as one would think.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Avoid Melatonin
I apologize, I neglect this site all the time. But here is a tip. Melatonin is going to interact with colchicine, so if you take colchicine as part of your treatment for Behcet's Disease, avoid taking Melatonin. It took me six months to figure this out, all the while suffering with chronic digestive tract issues. I stopped taking Melatonin when I went on vacation, and immediately, all my symptoms abated. I would rather spend a few nights tossing and turning, trying to fall asleep than to spend so much time with stomach cramps and diarrhea.
I made the big mistake of not talking to my doctor before adding a new substance to my medication routine. He probably could have advised me; or maybe not. Regardless, Melatonin made me quite sick, so I will avoid it in the future.
Just a tidbit of information, too.......my eyesight really got very bad in six months. My opthamologist couldn't believe it, so he tested me for diabetes, which I'm happy to report I do not have. Point is, I waited six months before telling my doctor that my vision was blurry, kept chalking it up to silly things, like my eyes are "tired". Don't do this. If you notice any change in your vision, get in and see your eye doctor immediately. We still don't know why my vision went so bad so quickly, but it was corrected with new glasses and I'm back to 20/20 vision. Sometimes I am SUCH a DOOFAS when it comes to my health.
I made the big mistake of not talking to my doctor before adding a new substance to my medication routine. He probably could have advised me; or maybe not. Regardless, Melatonin made me quite sick, so I will avoid it in the future.
Just a tidbit of information, too.......my eyesight really got very bad in six months. My opthamologist couldn't believe it, so he tested me for diabetes, which I'm happy to report I do not have. Point is, I waited six months before telling my doctor that my vision was blurry, kept chalking it up to silly things, like my eyes are "tired". Don't do this. If you notice any change in your vision, get in and see your eye doctor immediately. We still don't know why my vision went so bad so quickly, but it was corrected with new glasses and I'm back to 20/20 vision. Sometimes I am SUCH a DOOFAS when it comes to my health.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Probiotics
I take one probiotic tablet everyday. It helps. The colchicine stills wreaks havoc with me periodically, but the probiotic tablet does work. They aren't cheap, but they are effective. I highly recommend this remedy.
I've been surprisingly without mouth ulcers since I started the probiotics a few months ago. I still have bouts of intestinal distress from the Colchicine, but the lack of mouth ulcers is wonderful.
My doctor and I decided to switch to Naproxen for pain relief when I do have mouth ulcers; Tramadol, although very effective for pain relief, makes me dizzy and I just don't have time for that. Sometimes I think that maybe a narcotic pain reliever would help with some of the intestinal crap (no pun intended) that I go through. But narcotics would be my last choice for dealing with pain. Naproxen is surprisingly effective and comes without the brain fog narcotic pain relief brings.
People with Behcet's disease really need to study their diet and eliminate all foods that trigger symptoms. For me, it's been trial and error, but I seem to have found some balance. No processed food. Organic food at least 90% of the time. I seem to have found some long lasting relief from recurrent mouth ulcers with the probiotics.
Last year, I suffered enormous fatigue and had months of recurrent low-grade fevers that just sapped my strength. I don't know why those symptoms ultimately abated, but they did. The fatigue had gotten so bad, I was going to ask for Adderal. Glad I didn't have to, because it seems that when a Behcet's patient tries something new, there is always some sort of response from our body; sometimes good, most times not so good.
I have a very mild case of Behcet's Disease. I truly empathize with people who have a full-blown case of this truly nasty disease. I remember how I felt in the two years my internist failed to make a correct diagnosis. I remember how I suffered on a daily basis and how nothing and no one could help me. I remember wanting to die.
I'm in a good place now with this disease.....but that could change, although remaining positive and optimistic is so important, and relatively impossible when you become just a collection of symptoms.
I think the most important thing a Behcet's patient can do for themselves is find an excellent doctor who listens and is willing to work with you on your treatment. I'm truly blessed to have done that.
I've been surprisingly without mouth ulcers since I started the probiotics a few months ago. I still have bouts of intestinal distress from the Colchicine, but the lack of mouth ulcers is wonderful.
My doctor and I decided to switch to Naproxen for pain relief when I do have mouth ulcers; Tramadol, although very effective for pain relief, makes me dizzy and I just don't have time for that. Sometimes I think that maybe a narcotic pain reliever would help with some of the intestinal crap (no pun intended) that I go through. But narcotics would be my last choice for dealing with pain. Naproxen is surprisingly effective and comes without the brain fog narcotic pain relief brings.
People with Behcet's disease really need to study their diet and eliminate all foods that trigger symptoms. For me, it's been trial and error, but I seem to have found some balance. No processed food. Organic food at least 90% of the time. I seem to have found some long lasting relief from recurrent mouth ulcers with the probiotics.
Last year, I suffered enormous fatigue and had months of recurrent low-grade fevers that just sapped my strength. I don't know why those symptoms ultimately abated, but they did. The fatigue had gotten so bad, I was going to ask for Adderal. Glad I didn't have to, because it seems that when a Behcet's patient tries something new, there is always some sort of response from our body; sometimes good, most times not so good.
I have a very mild case of Behcet's Disease. I truly empathize with people who have a full-blown case of this truly nasty disease. I remember how I felt in the two years my internist failed to make a correct diagnosis. I remember how I suffered on a daily basis and how nothing and no one could help me. I remember wanting to die.
I'm in a good place now with this disease.....but that could change, although remaining positive and optimistic is so important, and relatively impossible when you become just a collection of symptoms.
I think the most important thing a Behcet's patient can do for themselves is find an excellent doctor who listens and is willing to work with you on your treatment. I'm truly blessed to have done that.
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