1st Time Real Flare - I

Hi All,

I was diagnosed in 2012 at age 30 with Ulcerative Colitis via colonoscopy biopsy. At that time, I got little more than a pamphlet from the doctor, and really thought nothing of it, not grasps the magnitude of it. I was put on Asacol 2400mg a day, which i continued for 9 years. For the first 4 years, I didn't change diet, and was pretty reckless, but never had symptoms. Even when I was diagnosed, it was only soreness on my left side, not Diarrhea that prompted me to doctors. In 2016, I had a two night run of drinking. I was also in the process of eating way more vegetables than usual (my wife and I did a farm share). I ended up having a mild flare. I called doc, they gave me an enema. Flare subsided in a day or two. They also told me to cut down on the veggies and fiber, which I did for years. EventuallyI added back many veggies, but peppers, raw leafy greens bothered me. I also was very bothered by hoppy beer (IPA's), and by very grainy bread with high fiber.

This gets me to now. Recently I tried switching to Silver Fern Probiotic. I first tried in April, but I got super gassy / awful sulfur smell, so after a week I stopped. The gassiness lasted a few more weeks after. Then a few weeks ago I tried again, just taking like a 1/5 of one capsule each day.
Two weeks ago, I challenged my gut with a Shrimp and Asian Veggie dish, with some veggies + Shrimp that aren't normal in my routine, then I had two bloody mary's the next day. I had one last 1/3 of a Silver Fern Probiotic capsule. Result. Major flare.

Started as the rise sulfur gas and bloating. all weekend. After a few days, got back to a Culturelle Probiotic I had taken with no trouble for years. On Thursday I took a SIBO test. Thursday night gassy watery Diarrhea started. It continued all weekend. By Sunday (10/3), I went to urgent care, who sent me to ER. (again, I have never had symptoms like that). They gave me CT scan, blood panel, urine. Sent me home to do stool. samples. Only thing that showed up was CT showing "Colitis affecting the ascending, transverse, and proximal descending colon with mild to moderate wall thickening".
The GI told me to up my asacol to 4800mg.
The next day, the PA at the GI office, prescribed 9mg Budesonide. (started on 10/5)
AFter I started Budesonide, the gut pain and cramping became worse. The Diarrhea continued building up from 5x to 8-10x a day. Always completely watery.
I have had one stool with blood in it, though I assume more. However, I've never had blood in my stool, and wouldn't really know how to recognize it in such watery diarrhea. I noticed in when collecting stool sample.

On diet; I quickly stopped dairy, and gluten, and very limited fiber. I also got information here about sulfur. So I paid attention to what's on the anti sulfur food list. I continued with Culturelle and Vitamin D for supplements, and have had a turmeric ginger tea once or twice, as well as, a Reishi tea (both not caffeinated) Only white rice, rice base cereal, ripe banana, carrots, asparagus, butternut squash, egg, potato)

After 13 days from onset of Diarrhea, I got to see a PA and then GI. I was prescribed 1 month of 40mg oral prednisone (tapering after first week) and antibiotic Metronidazole. I've never been on prednisone. Reading here has made me nervous.

GI doc was curious that symptoms were so different than anything prior. Antibiotics prescribed incase was an infection that was overlooked in tests. He said I should see results from Prednisone in a few days. Also have a colonoscopy set for next week.

I'm writing cause I am scared. This type of symptom and flare is so different for me.
I stopped other supplements for a moment (fish oil, turmeric, magnesium). I read D was good for flare so I am sticking with it, especially without dairy or excess sunlight in diet/lifestyle.

Any suggestions? Diet? patients on meds? PA said Kite Hill yogurt.
Another thread about sulfur suggested this, so I tried two epsom salt baths. I'll continue that, if for nothing more for their relaxation.

I want to thank you all. While the forums here have left me with lots of questions due to the overwhelming amount of information, they have also been very comforting and incredibly informative.

-R

Thank iPoop,

The PA suggested Kite Hill yogurt for live probiotics but otherwise said the culturelle is pretty irrelevant.

Probiotics such as culterelle are controversial as to their effectiveness. My opinion is if you’re not spending a fortune on them they can’t hurt. I take 3 different ones per day.

As far as food and diets— I never found them to cure my UC or even make it better. But I do feel it’s true some foods can irritate an already inflamed colon. When I was flaring I stuck with low residue bland foods. Eggs were always my go to. Chicken and fish were good too as was rice and oatmeal.

For me limiting sugar is a positive step (although really hard for me to do). For yogurts there are oat and almond milk options but I feel picking one with the least amount of sugar is best. And I also avoid artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup.

Sorry to hear. I'm shocked you were so well controlled for so long on hardly any medication. Hopefully the prednisone has kicked in now. That antibiotic is nasty stuff. It made everything taste metallic to me. I had to swallow it in a spoonful of applesauce or yogurt or something to avoid that.

Flagyl is nasty stuff for me and I now refuse to take it. It makes me extremely nauseous and gives me diarrhea — not to mention that awful metal taste. Not that it isnt a good med — doctors prescribe it because it’s supposed to not cause c.diff as much as other antibiotics can. It’s just not for me. Anyway you might have to wait for that to leave your system for diarrhea to lessen.

I know you’re hesitant about probiotics but remember the flagyl as well as any antibiotics, will kill all the good bacteria in your system as well as bad and it’s REALLY important to repopulate your gut with good bacteria. If you don’t want to try another brand of probiotic, then eats lots of yogurt and sauerkraut and kefir and other prebiotics.

Thanks Flowersgal and Sara.
I've added in a non-dairy yogurt (kite hill & forager brands). I am slowly adding that into a morning smoothie. I am comfortable taking a Culturelle, as that is what I took daily, or every other day over the last 5 years.

I can't wait to stop Flagyl and see how I recover over the next few weeks. My PCP said hold off on adding anti-fungal to the mix. (Got prescribed Diflucan by PA at the GI office)

Thanks Stray Dog. I thought it was Nystatin but was mistaken. When I picked up meds, I got Diflucan (sp.) ? A 7 day course.

When I have a really bad flare I go back to SCD bone broth chicken soup and SCD yogurt. I can not eat dairy but I can eat the SCD yogurt. Scrambled eggs, white toast. Lots of water and sometimes I can keep down an Equate original chocolate meal replacement. (Name brand ones made me sicker)

I would keep track of everything you are eating and how your other symptoms are every day. You might find something that sets you off. (Nature's seasoning for me when I am in an "iffy" place seems to throw me into the deep end of the pond every time.)

Flagyl gave me horrible diarrhea in tablet form. It took a week for it to slow down after I went off the pills. I also had the white tongue. I used Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar on a tooth brush followed up with an alcohol based mouthwash. Burned like fire but after a week it was gone.

Hang in there!

R, yes you summed it up pretty much about gi's & western medicine. I think there are a couple of university hospitals that has an integrative dr that will work with drs. They are versed in diets & supplements. My gi recommends probiotics but he leaves it up to the patient to decide, as I said before not everyone can take them. I asked mine about various diets over the years, his response was try it & see how things go, however, I never gave up my medicine. I saw a nutritionist a couple of times & she was useless. A dietician was much more helpful. I do not follow any diet, I eat whatever agrees with me. Keep in mind we live in a lawsuit society & drs are not going to practice out of their realm of knowledge.

You were very fortunate with your remission. Educating yourself & never underestimating UC will serve you well. Hopefully you will be feeling better soon.