!!WARNING!! Castor oil is a laxative. I take no responsibility for what happens if you take it. I believe UC is an umbrella name for many different diseases causing ulcers at the same place and what works for me does not necessary work for you. !!END OF WARNING!!

During the last few years I have been in an almost remission state, with sometimes smaller flares. The stool samples have been showing just a slight inflammation and endoscopy looked ok, but still the poop was not normal. I had a chronic diarrhea that ranged from watery to a thicker porridge. Most of the days I had one bowel movement, sometimes two. Then for reasons unrelated to UC I ended up using a medicine that containes a small amount of castor oil. The bowel movements went up to 2-3 times a day, but the poop became firmer. I decided to test out if it is because of the castor oil or because of the active substances in that medicine.

Now I have for a bit more than a month been testing castor oil (without using that other medicine). I take something between 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon a day of castor oil. The poop is firmer and with shape. I have been experiencing some kind of cycle: several days of "good" poop and then suddenly one day diarrhea, then back again to "good". Those sudden diarrhea days seems to have mostly disappeared by slightly lowering the dose of castor oil. Depending on the amount of castor oil I have between 1-3 bowel moments a day. Before, it was very difficult to prevent a bowel movement if no toilet could be used, now I do not experience the same urgent need.

My theory: the body is causing diarrhea to flush out something (maybe bad bacteria or something else). Castor oil is helping the body to flush it out. This is why even thou castor oil is a laxative, it seems to help me getting firmer poop.

Have you tried castor oil, and if so what was your experience?

quincy said...
Castor oil was used as a bowel prep for tests, and I did it once, being a most disgusting experience. Why would you want to use it as a perceived treatment for UC, bleh.

You're flaring...are you on any meds?

q

I manage mostly without medication by avoiding certain foods. I have Pentasa suppositories and Entocort I take a shorter time when I feel like it is needed. This I do if I begin to feel a slight pain on my left side, which always is the first to get bad. I also have some Prednisolon I can take a few days if everything goes really down hill.

I can imagine it being disgusting to castor oil prep before endoscopy. Those small doses I take are not the that terrible and I see a clear benefit as since I begun with them I feel healthier.

Post Edited (engblom) : 4/10/2023 1:33:15 AM (GMT-8)

quincy said...
Curious when your last c-scope was. My concern for you would be continual simmering inflammation that many times has no symptoms.

q

My last endoscope checkup was in February.