Welcome! I am new to the site too but have already found it to be very helpful and everyone very supportive.

Thank you for the welcome, I am glad I found this site it is definitely going to help me to be able to vent to those of us who can understand. My wife and son are my rocks but some things only you guys can understand. Thanks again and have a great day.

Sorry to hear about your flare up & now Celiac disease. I've tried going glutten free to see if there is a change in my condition so I have made Henry's by new grocery store & BFF, hahhahahah. Love the glutten free chocolate brownie cookies (already baked) and the granola bars don't sound good but they are good... even my boys eat them. Stay strong!

Welcome to the site! I am new also. There is a lot of support here and we all need each other to vent to. No matter how understanding and compassionate our support systems at home are, if they do not have our disease or a similar one, there are just some things they can't understand. Sorry to hear about the Celiac disease. I have to say, in some respects, I wish I had that. It would mean that I could cut out gluten and feel better. If only UC were that 'simple'. Though I am sure that dealing with Celiac disease is not all the simple either. Especially in conjunction with UC. So sorry, but glad you found this site!

Hi AdventureEvryDay! Welcome! So glad you found your way to DS and hope you will enjoy being a part as much as I have. There's lots of really nice people here and tons of great info..enjoy!

Also new to posting -- and just found this sanity-saving forum ~2 months ago. Welcome.

I am currently on prednisone too and the insomnia is killing me! I've gotten the same advice from multiple sources - including my GI and a pulmonary/sleep specialist that coincidentally spoke at my workplace yesterday: benedryl. Tylenol PM is basically tylenol + benedryl. I found the key is taking it about 8-8:30, and actually laying down to sleep 9-9:30. Any later and I feel fuzzy headed/hung over @ until 9+ the next morning. Another tip I got today is that there's a product Simply Sleep - which is just the benedryl active ingredient - so will check that out.

Here's a list from the specialist - and National Sleep Foundation (www.sleepfoundation.org)
- stick to a schedule
- establish a relaxing wind down bedtime routine
- create cool, comfortable sleep enironment - free of distractions (no tv in the bedroom!)
- avoid caffeine, chocolate, tobacco in the evenings
- Alcohol before bed can rob you of deep sleep & wake you up

Welcome! I'm new here too (four days now, I think). I too have found this very helpful and supportive. As others have said, no one can truly understand what we deal with unless you have the issue yourself. I'm thankful I have a forum to turn to where people understand. It's sanity saving, let me tell you. :)

Hello, and welcome. I have been on this site for a few years now, and it has been such a god send.

Welcome to the Club! I too have found this group to be very supportive as they walk in my very same shoes! You will love the warmness of everyone and don't feel embarrassed to post anything... we are all dealing with the same yucky stuff :o) As for the sleep issues, I too was told by my GI to try Benadryl and it works wonders! I still get up a few times during the night but it makes it much easier to fall back asleep! Good luck

Welcome to the group!!! I hope you find all the support and advice you need. You are right, only people with this disease can really understand fully what you are going through.
Good Luck!!! Hope you feel better soon!!!

I don't do any meds... Doing well just watching diet and avoiding foods that cause flares & bleeding...
Dairy is my enemy so I don't eat most dairy - I can handle some that have enzymes - And for me cutting back on sugary items wiped out my bleeding... (I was really big on juices at one time drinking them more than water... They are way too high in sugar as well as candy, treats, goodies, jellies.... I limit sweet things to seldom and have no bleeding! Hope something helps you!!! Take care!

I HATE prednisone! Moon face is about to be in full swing, and the insomnia has been ongoing for about a month now....I feel your pain.

I cant wait for the zits on my forehead and the moon face also, hopefully I will gain a bit-o-weight could use it. I get all hyper and turn into a speed walker to, ah the joys of modern medicine.