Does over exertion set off cramps for anyone else with colitis?

Hi there , we appreciate you reaching out to us. I hope that others are able to chime in on this with their own personal experiences, because I know that your son isn't alone in this. It can be hard not to do too much on those good days because they don't always come around often, and that can often lead to our body rebelling a little bit. Has he been able to bring this up with his doctor? If not, we highly encourage it so that they can discuss a potential strategy together. Thinking of you both! Best, Ashley (IBD Team Member)

Hello ,
I’m so very sorry 2 hear of the difficult time that your son is experiencing with colitis. Hopefully you & your son can develop strategies to deal with this problem. Your son is blessed to have someone like you to help him walk this journey.
My personal experience with Crohn’s disease for nearly 50 years has taught me many things. There have been many, many days when I have been so ill because of Crohn’s symptoms. Then, there have been times when for no apparent reason my body feels “good”. When that happens, I try to do as many things as I possibly can, because I know, that when I stop feeling “good”, I’m going to suffer for it. I OVERDO, I over tax my body. Either there will be an increase of Crohn’s symptoms or something out of the blue will occur& put me out of commission for a number of days. Men tend to seek satisfaction & appreciation for WHAT we DO & not for WHO we are. The result, unfortunately, is/can be damaging to a body who’s immune system is already greatly compromised & strained in dealing with UC/Crohn’s. It’s vital that, as much as is possible, he should relay the health information to his doctor. I try to encourage anyone dealing with UC/Crohn’s to have their medical records, a current list of medication, and any questions he may have written down & taken to the doctor visit. Also, it’s important to maintain a journal of symptoms, positive or negative, of the disease. This will demonstrate that your son is responsible for his medical care & hopefully this will work to promote & foster respect between doctor & patient. Another reason for keeping a journal is to record how your son has responded to any medications that the doctor has prescribe since the last visit. Any bad side-effects should be reported to the doctor or his nursing staff. Sometimes this kind of record could help the doctor to have a proper perspective about your son’s illness & any treatments already tried. Don’t be afraid to speak up & at the same time keep a tone of respect toward the doctor.
In your short text, I gather that your son is having a difficult time with his symptoms. I’ve had Crohn’s disease for nearly 50 years, most of my life. I have run the gamut of feelings, dealing with doctors, coping with all of the various testing, being in and out of hospitals, trying to work to take care of my family & their needs & wants, striving to achieve career goals, etc. Throughout all of the problems connected with surgeries, recuperating, working, by God’s grace has sustain me & given me strength to endure & enjoy life. UC/Crohn’s/IBD doesn’t have to destroy your life, career path, family life, or anything connected with our existence. One can live a full, happy, satisfying life, as I have. Have things always gone well & according to plans? No, not always! With a good well-established support system, a good/hopeful attitude, and a system of belief in God’s goodness, & a good relationship with the doctor as well as a method of relating to and combating depression, & maintainig good mental hygiene your son can enjoy life to its fullest.
If there is anything that I can do to be of service to you, your son, or family, please feel free to contact me. God bless you and take care of yourselves.

Thank you for all the advice, we’ve now got an IBD nurse and been in touch with his GP, feeling much better with omeprazole and small walks not intense exercise and I think just recognising when he needs to rest, is a valuable lesson we’ve learned! Thank you all very much, it’s very difficult seeing people suffer and it seems to feel forever!

Yes, for me it definitely does. I have days when I am unable to do anything and then on the days when I am well I over exert. And of course if I push too much, my symptoms start to act up. It's hard to find the balance but even when feeling well it is important to remember not to do too much.

As far as exercise, I also make sure to do things that are low impact. Yoga is great for me these days. Definitely hard core workouts like Crossfit for example aggravate my symptoms, it's just too much stress on my body.

I hope this helps some and I hope your son feels better soon. Thanks for reaching out.

Elizabeth (team member)