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Bronchitis, supplements and a flare up....confused!!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/19/2014 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
So i thought i had finally beaten this horrible disease.

i had enjoyed 11 months in remission, literally no pain, no urgency and 1-2 movements per day.
during this time i had started university and had gone back in to playing football and weight training on a regular basis.

i supplement with protein (isolate so no lactose) and creatine (i am now of the understanding that i should avoid creatine as this could of contributed to my flare). As well as taking multivitamins and having a clean diet id like to think i am fairly fit and healthy.

frustratingly two weeks - three weeks ago my stomach started to get a little funny, at the same time i started coming down with what i thought was a cold. looking to my present state i am bed ridden with bloody stools and i have been diagnosed with bronchitis.

my specialist had a look up there and said my colon was slightly inflamed again but it was best to wait for my bronchitis to heal before further assessing the situation.

My question is, am i right in thinking that a viral infection can lead to a flare up, and if so once its cured should i start in remission once more??

- 21 yo male - azathioprine 100mg - asacol full dose
Posted 2/19/2014 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
A viral infection can absolutely lead to a flare up. No doubt about it! Would I bet that that is what is responsible for your flare? Absolutely NOT (I wouldn't bet one way or the other). Are you taking any antibiotics (usually you do for actual Bronchitis)? They can also lead you into a flare. Were you ingesting your weight training stuff during your last flare? If you stopped, got into remission, and then felt good enough to start ingesting your weight training stuff again, and then started flaring again, there could be a clue there. I see you don't have many posts but if I had a dollar for every "weight trainer" on this forum who ingested things in connection with that lifestyle and then came down with UC, I would be very rich. If my scenario is correct, I would find a way to do weight training without ingesting anything in relation to it.
Posted 2/19/2014 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for the reply!

i have had UC for over 6 years now and have been weight training through the majority of that time. The only supplement i have stopped taking because of it is the aforementioned creatine, otherwise protein of good quality does nothing to the stomach to cause a relapse.

After speaking to my GP i was offered antibiotics but am sceptical about taking them because i am worried about exacerbating the current situation im in.

I think after all of my previous flares i can now pin it down to either viral or bacterial infections and diet (which i have had nailed down for the last year).

i suppose the lingering question is how do i stay away from such infections whilst on an immune suppressing medication?
Posted 2/19/2014 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately, I don't think you can. That's the nature of immune supressing medication. Do you take any probiotics? Huge healthy dosages of those could help keep bad bugs in check and help your UC at the same time.
Posted 2/19/2014 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
You should ask for rectal meds as well to deal with your obvious flare.

You should also be on probiotics regardless, but especially should you decide to take the antibiotics.

q
Posted 2/20/2014 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
You might be able to beat the bronchitis without antibiotics since it is not necessarily an infection but inflammation. I was reading an article (can't recall where right now) saying that most cases if bronchitis resolve with out antibiotic treatment. A quick search brought me to this page from the NIH http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001087.htm
I was healing from a flare and got quite sick, which made my UC worse. Definitely jump on the rectal meds ASAP!
Posted 2/20/2014 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Just as a note i am taking symprove as a probiotic. To be honest ive been ill the whole two weeks i have been taking it so not sure of any notable differences.

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive alternative so i can continue to supplement with probiotics.
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