I've been keeping things under control and feeling pretty good. Not perfect, but good with the occasional slight decline for a day or so. I haven't been regularly strict with my diet with the odd slip of eating wheat, carb and sweet foods and some alcohol. So not surprising I haven't been perfect, but I haven't reacted too badly to my dietary transgressions. I was sent to a professor by my dermatologist for a second opinion on my skin. As Imuran has not been successful in the last year we will now try another drug, whose name I've forgotten. I'm lowering the Imuran for two weeks after which I will begin the new drug. Fingers crossed once again.

Up and way down

Soon after my last post things went downhill fast for the last two weeks of May. I experienced the worst diarrhea I've had since first doing the HPI treatment. I was really concerned that all was lost and my good bacteria was all gone. It took a concerted effort, cutting out all carbohydrates, eating only meat and eggs, for about three days before I got it to calm down. A few days after doing that I was feeling really good for a good week, and relieved that my bowels could be well again. But now I've had a few days of diarrhea, with finally today being half way to better. Though I haven't cut out all carbs this time, just minimising the amount. This is a really up and down journey.

Wow! Thanks for all the interest guys. It's great to hear all your views and ideas.

I've taken your suggestion and set up a discussion group. Click on the following and click on 'Join this group'.

http://groups.google.com/group/hpit

Here's an update on how I'm going. There's been a bit of up and down since my last post. I was going great and continued to do so during the middle two weeks of February while I was away travelling. Though while away I did not stick to my usual diet, allowing some wheat, beer and sweets from time to time. Once I returned I started experiencing gas and some bowel loosening. It took a good month before I got things to settle down again. More recently I've gone through a couple of cycles of not being strict with my diet in social situations, followed by my bowels worsening, to then bringing things back under control again through diet. I've found the most effective way to bring things back under control has been to almost totally eliminate any carbohydrate foods and eating moderately. So mostly meat and eggs. Also taking some probiotics seems to help. I have also noticed I have lost about 5kgs recently (not good for a skinny guy), so will keep an eye on that.

A few weeks ago my dermatologist referred me to another specialist as my skin has not responded to the treatment of Imuran. I decided that in the interim to stop all drugs as I wanted to get a baseline as to what I was like without them. I was on 100mg of Imuran and two capsules of Salofalk per day. I figure if I start getting much worse I'll go back on them. I may be more sensitive, but I am so far able to keep things under control. So for now I want to continue a little more.

In response to all your comments. I agree that the HPI treatment has not been a cure for me. But as one of you pointed out, it's the difference between multiple uncomfortable visits to the bathroom and one or two comfortable visits. To me that has easily been worth it. The best being that the first thing I do in the morning now is NOT rush to the toilet. Able to take train trips without discomfort. I feel so, so much better for it. Yes, I'd rather a cure, but this is quite ok, I can live life comfortably. So what if I can't eat everything, probably not good for me anyways!

All the best :-)

Going good

I've continued to be very well since my last post. Only had diarrhea once after a bit of naughty food over Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Up to a week ago I was feeling the best ever. So when we had our work Christmas party last week I let loose a bit and enjoyed a few beers and a glass of wine. And with all the other social activities I've also not been quite as strict about avoiding carb foods, plus the occasional wine and beer. Sure enough things deteriorated through the week experiencing wind, softening of the bowel and some slight urgency. All in all though it is only slightly worse and not that bad. So overall I am extremely happy with how I feel. As far as I'm now concerned, colitis is no longer a problem! Just got to watch what I eat and drink. It's a good incentive to try and be really strict for awhile and see just how well I can get. Fingers crossed my skin could also eventually improve. My skin is now the only health problem that really bothers me.

Wishing you all a very happy and safe holiday season.

Just a quick update. I've been pretty good, but for the last two weeks I haven't been as well as the previous weeks. Probably about 80% as well. Not bad, just not as good. Still sensitive to carbohydrate rich foods. I just have to watch what I eat. I've been fighting fit though, doing some big 100km cycles on the weekends. I hope you are all well. I thought I'd include a recent mugshot for you. :-)

Disaster... followed by bliss

Hi all. I've been delaying updating you as there has been quite a bit of change and I just wanted to see where it was going to go.

Over a month ago I was about to do a post that all was as per usual when I started to feel unwell. Starting August 4 I had diarrhea which got worse over the next few days. The following week I had one day off work. Towards the end of the week I started to feel better and the stool frequency reduced to about 2-3 times a day, but all my motions were diarrhea. This continued for a total of two weeks and had me pretty worried that all was lost and that I was back to my pre-treatment symptoms.

Of possible note at this time was that on August 7 I started taking 25mg per day of Imuran as prescribed by my dermatologist. This is in an effort to help the blistering of my skin. This is apparently a very low dose, so I am not sure what if any impact it may be having on my current condition as it is a drug also used for ulcerative colitis.

At the end of the second week of diarrhea I decided to try eliminating all high carb foods, cutting out fruit and grains, and didn't eat too much, which I'm very good at. I have found this diet helpful at times in the past. By Friday 18th my stools stabilised, and now for three and a half weeks running I have had the best stools of recent years. They are well formed, frequency is 1-2 a day and I experience no or minimal urgency.

The following weekend I went away on a ski trip and allowed my strict low carb diet to slide. I noticed a fair bit of stomach rumbling, smelly gas, some urgency and some of my bowels did soften. I've had similar problems since on a couple of occasions when I've been tempted by a birthday cake at work, or have eaten out with friends. But overall I'm continuing to do really well. There has been some bad colds making the rounds and I did catch one that stayed with me for over a week and cost me three days off work. Though it had no effect on my colitis it may show that my immune system may be a little weak.

The low carb diet is in line with my apparent metabolic type which is more of a protein type than carb type. This is discussed on both www.metabolictyping.com and www.mercola.com. I've also been taking a probiotic. I suspect it sometimes gives me gas so I don't take it all the time. I'm not sure how much it might be helping.

Wishing you all the best of luck in your efforts to improve your health. Fingers crossed I can continue my current fine form. I'll give you an update next month.

Cheers :-)