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Flares every August/September?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/12/2012 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
I'm having a flare right now. mad This makes the third August/September in a row that I've had a flare. That seems weird and too coincidental. Though of course it could just be coincidence.

I'm wondering if it might have something to do with my fall allergies, since it seems to coincide with those coming in, and UC is sometimes classified as an autoimmune disease. Of course, I also have spring allergies, and I don't seem to have flares then.

It's just odd.
Posted 9/12/2012 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
Possible.

Are you on meds at this time?

Do you normally have a busy summer or do they happen after you've been on holidays, etc?

Do a time-line of events in your life and what starts in the late summer and fall...

q
Posted 9/12/2012 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
Same thing happens to me every year, but at the end of December. It seems to maybe be stress-related for me, but i have heard of it happening to people during peak allergy times.
Posted 9/12/2012 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
I've tried to think of something else that happens in Aug/Sept every year, and there's not a darn thing. I don't have kids, so no school issues. I've had some stress the past two late Julys, but I've had acute stress at other parts of the year, too, without a flare.

I'm taking generic Colazal now, combined with enemas at night. I'm adding suppositories in the morning (had gone off those after the last flare).
Posted 9/12/2012 9:17 AM (GMT 0)
What part of the world do you live in?
Posted 9/12/2012 9:20 AM (GMT 0)
Same exact thing with me. Three years in a Ron, almost to the day.
Starts every August....

I was thinking allergies or stress?
Posted 9/12/2012 9:21 AM (GMT 0)
That's three year in a " row". :) not Ron.....
Posted 9/12/2012 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
I would flare every April without fail. I could always count on being sick at Easter.
Posted 9/12/2012 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hand up- me too!!!
I flared in january which here in australia is the equivalent of august!!!
Whats the deal huh?
Posted 9/12/2012 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
You should read my posts to gavin on the thread about "does Remicade make you worse", or something like that. Here is the link:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2511083

Post Edited (garylouisville) : 9/12/2012 7:10:21 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/12/2012 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting....im going to look in to this...

its just very strange..i'm glad someone brought this up...started me thinking.

Diagnosed July 2006

Flare August 2010

Flare August 2012

hmmmmmm......

I really just figured it was the added stress of kids going back to school, etc...

 

Posted 9/12/2012 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Come to think of it, things used to frequently get bad for me in September. The only season-related thing I could think if is that at the *end* of summer if you spend less time outside, the lack of vitamin D can play a big role... (I've heard of a lot of flares ending at the beginning of summer), but people are still pretty active outdoors in August since it is still so sunny... so I'm stumped.
Posted 9/12/2012 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
My GI tells me that early Spring and early Fall are peak times for flares because of all the airborn allergens.
Posted 9/12/2012 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, I can't beleive how many of us have this?

So happy it was brought up!!

Worth checking in to...

Posted 9/12/2012 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, quite a few of us!

It's interesting, because my spring allergies are worse than my fall allergies in terms of symptoms -- congestion, sneezing, generally feeling terrible, etc. Though I can definitely tell when the fall allergies start. It's complicated by the fact that I have some year-round allergies, too (dust, cats). I'm a very allergenic person! Allergies and GI issues run in my family.

Hineycase, it's interesting that your GI told you that allergies have an effect. My GI doesn't seem to think there's a connection, though he always says "Never say never." Though my family history suggests otherwise. I'm going to bring it up to my allergy doctor at my next appointment. We had discussed allergy shots, but he doesn't think they'll help me because I have cats despite my allergy, and they work better with people who have intermittent exposure. But maybe treating my other allergies could help.... Something to talk to him about!
Posted 9/12/2012 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, when I first got diagnosed so many years ago, every fall was peak time for me to flare.  Then I had a very long remission. After that, symptoms seemed to reappear every spring instead of fall.   My brother used to have UC (he had the j-pouch over ten years ago) and he used to say the same thing - every fall it seemed to get worse. The doctors used to just say at the change of seasons but I'm sure now they may have it more related to allergies. I think back 10 years ago I remember a GI saying something about seasonal depression or mood changes going from summer to colder weather or something maybe affecting your UC.

I don't have any sort of outdoor allergies, only indoor allergies, so change of seasons shouldn't really affect me. Other than keeping windows closed when winter comes and maybe having more dust around due to the furnace being on.

Posted 9/12/2012 3:57 PM (GMT 0)

MmeMulot said...
We had discussed allergy shots, but he doesn't think they'll help me because I have cats despite my allergy, and they work better with people who have intermittent exposure.

I have never heard this before from any of the allergists I've seen. I'm on shots for my cat allergies (I have a cat as well). I believe they're helping and will find out for sure in November when I get re-tested. Along with my allergy meds (allegra, singulair, omnaris), I have almost no symptoms now. If I don't take my meds, I am severely allergic to my cat.
Posted 9/13/2012 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Within the troublesome allergy seasons (spring, fall) air conditions can vary from yr-to-yr due to changed atmospheric conditions. For example, the northeastern U.S. had a mild winter 2011-2012, which led to early pollenation of trees. At the end of last February, I had a colossal respiratory allergy attack-- which normally would not hit me 'til late April or early May when trees generally bloom where I live. However, in July 2010 we had 3 weeks of 100-degree weather with no rain-- so the air filled with pollen & I got the ferocious type of respiratory attack that would usually come in early spring, or early fall. This variation in amount of allergens present at a given time is a good reason to take maintenance med for UC-- because it reduces the likelihood of flares triggered by airborn conditions. / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 9/13/2012 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
I flare that time of year. Hot summer seems to be one of the catalysts. Last year I stayed inside with A/C on and billed tons of overtime.

This year I had a new home built and was outside constantly landscaping moving etc. It was the hottest colorado summer on record. There were many other contributors along the way the most obvious would be the 5 days of amoxicillan that kicked the flare into gear.

Next year I will run/ride/sprint early and just avoid the heat.
Posted 9/13/2012 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
For me it's the winter, December/January that sometimes gets to me..
Posted 9/17/2012 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
My Dr. Intestine tells me he also see's a pattern in the Fall EVERY YEAR for his UC/Crohns patients.
And he's a young guy but sharp as hell.
I believe it has to do with allergies, changes in temperature, changes in diets/activity. Stressors of school.
I'm starting to believe lots of things I never thought I'd believe....
Posted 9/17/2012 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
seasonal flare activity for me too- my GI told me years ago that there is a definite seasonal component to UC. In fact, my first serious flare occurred in September, way back in 2006 or 2007... I forget which year, they all tend to blur together! Since I've never managed to pull out of that initial flare entirely, that is.
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