Stomach ache, D, cramps etc after getting a cold?

Hello all,

It's been several months since I last posted, have been mostly managing alright but this past week has been hell. My general history is having colitis limited to the rectum and just beyond for the past two years, with adverse reactions to mesalamine drugs such as Lialda, Rowasa and Canasa, and the only relief comes from Prednisone or whenever the flare decides it wants to stop. I've taken VSL#3, psyllium seed powders, and many of the various alternative treatments to differing success. I am currently taking 25mg of Prednisone as the only medication.

I got a cold about a week ago, which I am almost over but still sort of fighting off, and started getting awful stomach aches, like the upper left area as the center but radiating all around and to the back, and a lot of D. It seems like the D is comprised of more yellow stuff, like bile perhaps, and is foul smelling. I can only eat small amounts of food without getting awful cramps, and at night its a guaranteed period of tough stomach aches. Taking melatonin has been the only way to fall asleep, and by morning I usually have a BM and feel a bit better for most of the day.

I can't get into the GI until next week, and am wondering if this is just a side effect of having the cold, or if anyone else has other thoughts. I have a pretty decent appetite, I'd really like to eat a full meal but know that it will cause awful cramps. I can keep down like one banana or one cup of applesauce before feeling the cramps. Ideas?

Sure...the extra increase of your body working harder to fight off the cold can definitely set off a flare. But, you might already have been starting a flare and not noticed (mild rectal inflammation).

Hopeyou feel better soon....and make a list of all the questions you need answers for when you see the doc.

Hope you get oral/rectal meds. The steroid ones might be a consideration from the doc.

q

Haven't explored 6MP or the like, my GI thought my condition wasn't bad enough to warrant it.

Right now I'm so hungry I feel like I could eat Thanksgiving dinner all over again, but I'm afraid any amount of food is going to send my stomach into an ache. I know I need to eat, it's just really frustrating. Not sure what I can do to get some food down or if this is related to my UC or some other condition that has developed.

As a general rule, my stool is usually pretty pale, and I've been wondering if there is anything else I should be asking my doc about as far as tests. I've mentioned it to him before but he doesn't seem to think its an issue.

Post Edited (neekap) : 12/6/2010 10:53:32 AM (GMT-7)

The prednisone has been used to cool off the flares only, not for long term use. I hadn't used it in months, but I was starting to flare the past few weeks and it was going to been a while before the doc could see me, so I did my own pred taper according to the usual specs.

Still sort of averse to 6MP, though not sure why, just seems intense to me...

This does makes sense, but I've never experienced this kind of stomach area aches before. Its like really bad bloating feeling in the upper area towards the left side that starts in the evening. I can go most of the day without too much trouble, and I take the prednisone in the morning around 7:30 so I may try splitting the dose and try taking some closer to the evening. Just havent had this symptom as part of my usual UC flares...

Any ideas on what to do as far as night time stomach aches?

It really sounds like there are intestinal bugs going around. I've been having symptoms that are beyond what I normally had in the past, including slight to moderate fever mostly acting up toward night as well and in upper part of my GI feels crampy at times and much loser bm's. It is hard to tell what is UC and what is a bug though.