Actress Mumtaz Opens up About Struggle With IBS, Colitis: What Is It?

The veteran actress was hospitalised last week after suffering from Diarrhoea due to an IBD flare up, she said.

Veteran Actress Mumtaz has been discharged from Breach Candy Hospital after being admitted last week with severe diarrhoea.

Post her weeklong stint in the hospital, Mumtaz opened up about her struggle with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Colitis in a recent interview with ETimes.

According to the actress, she was admitted after suffering a bout of diarrhoea, and it took her 7 days to recover.

“I suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Colitis both. It was a sudden attack of diarrhea which did not stop despite the best of medication. Hence, hospitalisation was required. In the hospital too, it took me seven days to normalise.”

Mumtaz

What is Colitis?

Gastrointestinal disorders like IBS and Colitis are not always understood or diagnosed accurately because of how varied the symptoms can be.

According to WebMD, Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammation of the colon.

The inflammation may be caused by an infection, or because of an underlying autoimmune illness.

Colitis can last for years, with symptoms going dormant and flaring up from time to time.

According to the UK National Health Services (NHS), typical symptoms of colitis are,

• Stomach aches

• Frequent need to poop

• Recurring diarrhoea and gastritis

Signs of colitis flare ups may also include,

• Blood in stool

• Shortness of breath

• Fast or irregular heartbeat

• Fever

• Joint pain

• Eye pain (while looking at bright lights or screens)

• Fatigue

• Loss of apatite

Although there is no cure for the illness, symptoms can be managed with treatment along with dietary and lifestyle changes.

Foods That Help Tame Colitis

According to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, there isn't a one-size-fit all diet for Colitis.

It is generally advised that people who have been diagnosed with colitis and other Irritable Bowel Disorders (IBDs) steer clear of spicy, and sugary foods that can worsen the symptoms.

They also recommend avoiding,

• Foods with insoluble fibres like fruits with their skin and seeds, and raw green vegetables that are difficult to digest.

• Alcohol

• Caffeine

• Foods high in fat

• Lactose (especially if you are lactose intolerant)

Soft, bland food doesn’t bother you are highly recommended. Other food groups that can help sooth the gut, especially during a flare up are,

• Low fibre fruits like banana, cantaloupe and cooked fruits.

• Starchy foods like potato, oatmeal, and rice