Flaring...not happy

Hello everyone

Well, I am flaring again as of 3 days ago, I was eating foods I know I shouldnt have had. And I took one 600 mg potassium chloride yesterday (pill bottle has May irritate stomach on it) for helping with the watery poops. Pooped so much yesterday evening (prob 25x, very little output each time) but no blood in it (yet). Felt a bit fever, 36.9 c. this morning. Feeling tired.

My meds are asacol 400 mg pill, 1 pill 4xday. I am thinking maybe I should up that. And used entocort enema last night, will prob use again new few days, this flare feels might be longer.

I also take prednisone 2.5 mg/day and plaquenil 233 mg/day for 6 days (take 1 day off so liver has a rest) for my rheumatoid arthritis (diagnosed July 2021). I was taking methotrexate (supposed to try for 5mg/week) for it as well but the nausea, brain fog and general tiredness side effects are awful. It takes about 3 to 4 days to recover then at that point its time to take it again. I read somewhere RA maybe because of UC too? Or maybe from the 2 covid vaccines I had in 2021(1st one end of march and 2nd end of april) then RA kicked in July 2021. I dont know. Anyway I am rolling with all this as it happens...

I am feeling so crummy at the moment. Now I will have to change up food for a bit til this settles down... I am venting, so grateful this UC community is here.

Katkat
diagnosed UC in late 2004

No blood is a good thing. Also good that you’re being proactive with enemas and food. While I don’t personally believe diet will stop a flare I do believe that some foods irritate an already irritated gut. Keep us informed

I think eating "safe" foods can contribute to healing a flare. When you irritate an inflamed gut, you are making it more difficult for it to heal. When you are not irritating it, it has more opportunity to heal. This is just my theory.

This is the same theory I have about avoiding strenuous physical activity. Strenuous activity creates inflammation - normally a good thing in a healthy body. In a body that is already dealing with inflammation, you are just hindering healing. You have to "tinker" to find the right level for yourself.

Hi...you need to be on the rectal med nightly. As well, increase the oral, but make sure you have enough re your rx and can get refills. Can you use the mesalamine enemas?

Re metamucil...it's not a laxative. It will help bulk stools and even out peristalsis. I suggest taking it with meals, and initially a low dosage. I also suggest the capsules because they're easier to regulate. Start with one and increase. You can get a generic brand.

Keep us updated how you're doing.

q

Have you tested for c-diff? (Or other infections)

Don't take metamucil at the same time as your asacol pills as it can stop them from being absorbed.

Presence/absence of blood doesn't necessarily mean much, during my last flare I had no blood nor diarrhea yet severe inflammation (my main symptoms were pain and urgency).

Hi Everyone

I have been taking 1 metamucil gummy once a day since my last post, starting slow, and it seems to have mostly settled down the urgency and the watery d.

I am staying on a low acidic diet with BRAT in mind. I havent tested for cdiff or norovirus, will talk to my doc about those. I have had cdiff in the past so am familiar with how that is, it doesnt seem like it.

Hoping I gain a bit of weight one of these days. I've been 105 to 110 lbs, cant seem to get beyond that. I thinking the meds not helping on that front, ie prednisone and plaquenil and of the UC and the inability to absorb foods properly.

I am taking 3 Vit d3 per day @400 iu and 1 pill b12 @1000mcg 😃

Hello again

I am in a flare, watery d, some blood now and then, belly button hurts once in a while, feel so tired. Feel dizzy, lightheaded sometimes, some of my meds do have "may cause dizziness", the asacol for sure.

Havent really tried protein as much.

about vit D, would it help to take the pill with k2 and 1000 iu vit d3 in it? I havent tried that one.

My meds are:
1. asacol 400 mg pill, 4/d (pill may cause dizziness)
2. methotrexate 2.5 mg pill, 1/week (supposed to work up to 5 pills/week, staying at 2.5mg, having hard time with nausea and brain fog, pill may cause drowsiness or dizziness)
3. prednisone 2.5 mg/d
4. alendronate 10 mg pill, 1/day,
(tried to take it last week again, but stopped due to "may irritate stomach" which it has)
5. ferrous fumurate 300 mg, (supposed to take 1 capsule every other day, havent taken any since last month, pill may irritate stomach)
6. folic acid, 5 mg, 1/week, 2 days post methotrexate
7. entocort enema, as needed
8. hydroxychloroquine sulfate, 233 mg/d for 6 days, 1 day off (I measured 233 mg based on weight, doc prescribed 2 pills/day for 6 days, pill may irritate stomach, may cause drowsiness or dizziness)

Its a battle, I can't seem to get the right timing of the meds. Its so frustrating 😔

Iron pills can make a flare worse, I agree with the above that an iron infusion might be both more effective and better for your bowel.

Got my bloodwork results.

iron at 5.0, normal range is 10.6 to 33.00
transferrence saturation is 0.08, normal range is 0.13 to 0.50

total cholesterol at 5.40, normal range is 5.20

C reactive protein at 26.4, normal range is <5

25-hydroxy vitamin d at 65, normal range is over 75

So I guess I have some diet to ramp up and vitamin supplements. So many vitamin supplements to choose from?

No wonder I have been dragging myself around just getting through each day with very little energy, the added occasional dizziness and brain fog. Its a battle. 😒

I am taking it slow on upping the rheumy recommended methorexate towards 5 pills of 2.5mg pill per week, so I can try to wean off the prednisone. And I am still around 105 lbs.

Thats my current update 🙂