Been feeling weird lately

Had some dental issues a few weeks ago and was prescribed Amoxicillin. Decided to hold off taking it for a while due to my UC. Got a little better but then started getting worse so I caved in and took it. I was surprised that even though my UC got very slightly worse, that was it. I was impressed that it did not devastate me and something felt different inside me. Can't even really describe what it was. Anyway, within a day or two of finishing the Amoxicillin I had a strong feeling come over me to not to take my Canasa one night. I had been taking it regularly for months. Same thing the next night and the next. This has been 3-4 days now. My UC kept getting better.

Somewhere around this same time I also began using a steroid ointment on my anal area which I had been prescribed several months ago for Interigo, which had in part attacked my anal area and some other close by areas. My Interigo has been cleared up for a while and had quit using the steroid ointment until I recently began to use it like once a week to keep the Interigo from returning. I noticed on the day that I used the steroid ointment on my anal area my UC would be better on those days so recently I started doing it every day and my UC has gotten better and better. Yesterday I had one solid BM upon waking up and the next one wasn't for 25 hours later and it was probably my best BM in close to four years. I have had solid stools and no blood or mucus for a very long time now. My main problem has been frequency 3-5 times per day.

I'm really not sure what to make of it all but something inside me feels different. Maybe it is just the feeling of normalcy or possibly the beginnings of the R word. Right now my plan is to continue as is. I don't know if this is just all coincidence or the Amoxicillin or the steroid ointment or both or what. I'm actually a little perplexed about it all but not complaining. I do know that when I was on the steroid ointment for my Interigo several months ago that was the best my UC had done in a very long time and then my UC started getting mildly worse after discontinuing the ointment. I really didn't even realize it until all this stuff recently happened - the Amoxicillin and restarting of the ointment. I'm also still very much convinced that the Grape Seed Extract is responsible for a major improvement in my condition. Also during this time frame I had to switch from Lialda to Pentasa, which also seems to help. Maybe I have wound up stumbling over the best combination that works for me. Fingers and toes crossed.

I am a believer in listening to your body. I quit VSL#3 that way a year ago and nothing bad happened. If something is working then it's working. FWIW I've taken Amox. a couple times over my UC years and nothing bad happened and at times UC symptoms even got better due to normal antibiotics, but never again will cipro enter my body unless it is life/death.

Gary, I'm curious about the steroid cream, as I've used it in the same area for a different reason. You're usually pretty thoughtful; how do you think a steroid cream could effect your UC? Also, I thought you felt pretty strongly that the grape seed extract was leading you down the road to the R word that we shall not speak . . . I've missed a week of posts, but are you thinking now that you wouldn't have reached where you are just on the grape seed extract alone (and whatever else you were doing three weeks ago)?

Artvark: You're right. Even though I still credit the Grape Seed Extract for a major improvement in my condition, I don't think it was going to lead me all the way to the promised land. Before it though I was going about 5 - 12 times per day. 5 BM's would have been one of my best days but since the Grape Seed Extract a 5 BM day is now one of my worst days. I think over the last few months doctors would probably say that I was fighting stubborn Proctitus along with having IBS issues. I'm still not much of a believer in the IBS diagnosis. I think they just pulled that out of a hat. It's possible that the steroid ointment may have some effect on Proctitus, but that is just a wild guess. It's the only logical guess I can come up with, otherwise I have absolutely no clue. Another thing I have done recently is when I was on the antibiotics instead of taking my VSL capsule once in the morning and once at night I was taking one at lunch and one at dinner along with one of my Presript Assist probiotic, due to taking the Amoxicillin one in the morning and one at night. Might have to give some thought into resuming that. I had that 25 hour period yesterday but have gone three times today. I had some possiblly dated leftover cheddar cheesy potatoes tonight and maybe I didn't take enough DAO to counteract it. Cheddar cheese used to give me major problems before I discovered DAO. We'll see how tomorrow goes. I think I am done with BM's until the morning.

Wow! That's great Gary! Long may it continue!!! I guess it's hard to pin point what was the magic addition since you've changed a few things (the oral meds, the ointment and the antibiotics). Keep us posted!

You're certainly right about that. In fact, I think your post defines my feelings of "been feeling weird lately".

Good news for you. You seem to have found a good combination. Stick with it!!

I was on Pentasa last year, and they switched me to Mezavant (same as Lialda) as it is an easy once a day dose. Since then, I have gradually got worse.

I will certainly ask to go back on Pentasa at my next GI appointment. I think Pentasa covers a wider area of the GI tract and has a different release mechanism. I think this suited me better. One of my problems is poor nutrient absorbtion and weight loss (lack of weight gain). I think I cannot absorb the Mezavant properly..

I am so happy for you gary. Congrats.

I have always taken a keen interest in your treatments because your symptoms seem very similar to mine. I currently go 3 - 6 times a day. 6 being my worst days, 2 being absolutely perfect days, 3 - 4 being normal, and 5 being on the badder days.

I tried GSE without success. Amoxicilin also didnt help much (i took it for a week).

Thanks Gary, I will split the dose and see..

Regards