How to stop the blood?????

[sidney88]

I've had pretty regular (mostly bright red, a little dark...occasional black) bleeding for the last 1-1.5 years and REALLY! want to make it stop since I'm starting to notice some discomfort as well. I do have an appointment with my doc later this week, but I'm interested in any advice on food/supplements/practices which can help the blood to stop.

I was a smoker, and I've quit that but I've read conflicting information on if that hurts colitis. I also do drink 4-5 times a week (mostly beer, some liquor), but I've been cutting back on that as well. I'm trying to follow advice I've been reading in the books about food to avoid (red meat, nuts, seeds, insoluble fiber), but what else can I do?

Thanks for any ideas!

Please see my story here for more info: http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=5204

 

[Creepy Lurker]

Bleeding is usually a sign of an active flare. The only way to treat the bleeding is to treat the disease.

I recently started bleeding again, but a week of Metronidazole stopped it pretty quick, and I'm fine(ish) now.

 

[CD68]

The precautions for Pentasa say:

PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, asthma, allergies (especially to aspirin-like medications or to sulfasalazine). This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol, especially when combined with this medicine, may increase your risk for stomach bleeding.

Rowasa has the same warning.

The National Institute of Health has a long wordy explanation of what alcohol can do the GI track here.

A lot of times people who drink a lot are self-medicating because they have underlying depression or anxiety...and I'm amazed at how anyone can have Crohn's and not be depressed. At any rate, antidepressants are much better than alcohol...insurance pays for it (or $4 at Walmart for one month supply, how much does that beer cost per month? ;-) , no hangover, it's compatible with Pentasa, you can legally drive under the influence of an antidepressant, alcohol contributes to the diarrhea and is harder on your liver than the other drugs.

A heavy drinker is defined by docs as being someone who has on average two or more ounces per day.

Also to take into consideration is that as Crohn's patients it's not recommended to take NSAIDs for pain relief. That leaves us with Tylenol. But tylenol is a big, big no no while drinking because of damage it does to the liver.

I won't lie. I really really miss my margarita on the beach and my beer after mowing the lawn, but it just ain't worth it.