Cipro for UTI, 3 wks later flaring

I am traveling for 6 weeks, away from my HMO doctors. I contracted a UTI and the emergency room doctor perscribed Cipro. I think 3 weeks later I am starting a flare with mild bleeding and mucus. At first I thought the bleeding was a hemmie, but a few days later am seeing mucus. Do you think I can kick this on my own by upping my asacol and going on a low residue diet? I have been in remission for 4 years. I take 3-800 HD asacol daily for my UC.

Nana1947 said...
Do you think I can kick this on my own by upping my asacol and going on a low residue diet?

There's no way to know without trying, just watch your symptoms and if you continue regressing then it is time for prednisone. You take 3-800mgs of Ascol HD (2,400mgs a day) which is a maintenance dosage. You can take up to 4,800mgs a day of Asacol HD. As others have said, rectal meslamines (rowasa enema or canasa suppository) are real good at treating uc as well, so you might want to call your GI's office to get a prescription for it, and take it daily until things are under control. Canasa is good for rectum only uc (proctitis). Enemas go further and are better for those with more extensive disease. Ask of the sulfate-free rowasa (sfRowasa) if you have a sulfate allergy.

If all else fails, prednisone. Don't let your flareup get to bad before using it.

Are you able to get other prescriptions or get any refilled? If not I would suggest doing 6 Asacols per day and make sure you can get on some very potent probiotics containing at least 50 billion CFU's or more and watch your diet closely. You should have planned ahead and done this while taking the Cipro. You should never take antibiotics of any kind without increasing your UC meds or other treatment plan concurrently.

VSL#3 has the most studies regarding UC. Sometimes it is covered by insurance but usually not. It can be expensive but it depends on how you look at it. In terms of price per number of CFU's it is actually one of the cheaper probiotics available but that's not always comforting when it's rung up on the cash register. There are several different options but the ones with the most CFU's are not usually purchased in Walgreens or wherever. Saccharomyces boulardii is a good one to take while on antibiotics. Most all UC'rs show improvement while taking good quality probiotics and it is really almost mandatory to take them while on antibiotics. Be aware of this time next time a doc prescribes an antiboitic. They are famous for messing up your UC condition.