My daughter can't hold down anything.. water included

Today is the first time she is being tested for C-diff. The nurse took a stool sample because the docs can't figure out why the diareah and nausea is not betting better.

Yesterday she seemed to be doing pretty good until they gave her whole wheat graham crackers and peanut butter for a late night snack .

She was in the bathroom all night after that.

Earlier you said that she was diagnosed with UC about 2 1/2 years ago. Are you saying that this is the first time she has been tested for C-Diff in all of that time? That doesn't sound right. Either you didn't know she was tested years ago or her doctors are totally incompetent. I don't think it is possible to get a UC diagnosis without first checking to make sure it is not C-Diff. This is someting that is automatically done 99.9% of the time before you get an official diagnosis.

It would be pitiful if this poor girl does have C-Diff and has gone through all of this for such a long time when if they had tested before it would have saved her from years of hell. I don't see how a doctor can diagnose UC without first checking to make sure it is not C-Diff. In her case I hope she does have C-Diff because it is something they can actually treat the root cause and probably cure instead of bandaiding over the symptoms with UC and never really achieving a cure. I've never heard of anyone with UC who was not tested for C-Diff.

Today was the first time I've heard the term. Her nurse said the doc said to get the sample of her stool to check for it because he didn't understand why she was not responding to the meds the way he expected.

He diagnosed her when we moved here. Her last doctor treated her with Canasa for a short time and that seemed to be all she needed for about a year. Then she had a flare up. What I know for sure is that she had a colonoscopy and afterwards he told us her colon was only a little inflamed.

She's had another colonoscopy since then and an endoscopy. When she was admitted to the hospital this time they did a CT scan and he told us that now the left side and the right sight was now inflamed.

How is your daughter today?

The same thing has happened to me far too many times. The only thing that helped was going into the ER and getting IV Prednisone. I would really suggest seeing and endocrinologist. Turns out it was the fact that my adrenals glands were not producing enough cortisol and that's why I was throwing up non-stop. I think they may have to taper her prednisone VERY VERY slowly. I think we're tapering 1mg a month for me. I know that sounds very slow but if that is the reason for why she's throwing up, it'll save her a lot of hospital trips.

I've been in hospital for 1/2 the year. I hope she can avoid that. That being said, my GI put my on Imuran and Humira. I can't say I've noticed a major difference because I have this underlying problem of my adrenal insufficiency but the last time I was in hospital (which was just last week) there was no bleeding or diarrhea so I think it's safe to say that my colitis is under control.

Please, so get her cortisol levels checked out and make it a point to see an endocrinologist. I think I finally got to see one after I was in hospital for the 5th time. Do not wait that long!

There is some mention of c.diff. I did have that once as well. Typically they catch that very early in the ER with a stool sample. My GI told me that sometimes when given IV Prednisone, the symptoms tend to subside but it is still very much there and needs to be treated with antibiotics. As much as it may pain you to take her back to the ER, go back and request a stool sample if one was not done previous. It takes around a week or more if done outside of hospital and by that time, she'll be in worse health. Good luck. I really do hope she feels better soon.

Just remember he can talk surgery all he want. You don't have to ok it. :) Hope she continues to feel better.

when i went to the hospital last year, i had pancolitis and that's inflammation and ulceration of the whole colon. i had doctors in there all the time telling me to get surgery. it was my first flare so there was no way i wasn't trying every med possible. she literally just started the humira not even a week ago! if your doctor thinks it works that fast in everyone, he's an idiot. i was taking 8 meds at once by the time i left the hospital so taking prednisone with another med is definitely recommended.

do you think you could fight with your insurance company about the humira since it is approved for UC? i can't remember but has she tried remicade?

bananagirl-- It was the pharmacist who told me my insurance would not cover it. The next day I called my insurance company and was told my a rep that Humira was one of the drugs that had to preapproved. The doctor's office is working on it now.

Humira can take a little time to work. As most UC meds seem to (or at least for me!).

Is she on IV pred? Do you know the dosage?

Pink1-- I am taking pred. By mouth. My doctor just tapered me down today from 40mg to 30mg.

It sounds like her flare is a little better by what you said about the D better and no blood every single time. I hope she continues to improve. It seems like when the flare gets over it's beginning stages and stops "attacking" that's when you feel better.

I'm not sure either, and I'm new to this board myself. But I do hope you continue to improve..I've definitely been there..diagnosed at 15, but barely have any symptoms now at 28 and no meds unless I'm flaring which happens once every few years when I get really careless with it. Just remember you have your say about what you want and keep a positive attitude.