Ulcerative Colitis

Dear Dr. Asulin Dayan, In February this year my son of 22 was diagnoised with Ulcerative Colitis AND was put onto Rafassal 4gr. daily. He really iimproved AND then the dosage was lowered to 3 AND then to 2- however recently he has been having pain again AND loose stools a few times a day which are sometimes slightly bloody AND he has been put back onto 4 mg AND will be having a Sigmoidoscopy soon. I worry so that there has been a relapse- Does this often occur AND is there anything he can really do to prevent this. I am careful not to give him high fibre foods AND have also changed from cow's milk to Soya. Can he live a normal life with this condition - I am frantic with worry! I would be grateful if you could put my mind at ease if possible- you may reply in Hebrew. Thanks!

שלום קרן, האבחנה נעשתה לאחרונה ואתם עדיין בתקופה של הסתגלות ומובנת לגמרי הדאגה שלך. ככל שיעבור הזמן בנך ילמד לחיות עם הקוליטיס ומירב הסיכויים שיוכל לנהל חיים מלאים ופעילים. כרגע הוא בהתלקחות ולאור העובדה שהגיב לראפאסל בהתפרצות המחלה יש סיכוי שיגיב שוב לתרופה. אם לא יגיב יש תרופות אחרות שיוכלו לעזור. אם ייכנס להפוגה עם ראפאסל כדאי להמשיך ב-4 גר' ליום לתקופה ארוכה ולא להפחית מינון לאחר זמן קצר. בברכה, ד"ר אסולין

Once again I have a few questions: Is there any benefit in him taking Acidophilus tablets? Is it normal with this condition to have bouts of diarrhoea AND pain OR does that mean that he is having a relapse? What can he eat if his ferritin level is low? Thanks for your advice.