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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/7/2008 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone.  I'm usually in the lupus or cfs forum, but I unfortunately got a recent diagnosis if UC .  For about the past 5-6 months I had been having a lot of diahrrea and was having many bowel movements everyday, sometimes with blood.  My doctor thought my lupus might be attacking my GI tract so I got referred to a GI doc who set up a colonoscopy.  I won't even go into how sick I got with the prep and then again after the procedure. Anyway, I got the call a few days ago that they biopsy showed UC.  Luckily it's not very severe right now and I was told to take Flagyl for a week.  I have a follow up with the GI doc in July - they wanted me in sooner, but he's on vacation.  I didn't know anything about UC, so I've been doing some reading.  I wanted to ask what the purpose of the Flagyl is and if it has helped much with symptoms.  Thanks
Posted 6/7/2008 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Flagyl is an antibiotic. Generally it does help somewhat with the symptoms (for *most* people). Though it is generally not one of the first drugs they put you on for UC...
Posted 6/7/2008 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the UC board, hippimom. Flagyl is often used when it's suspected we have a clostridium dificil infection causing some of our symptoms. Some docs will start with a round of Flagyl "just in case", then move on to other drugs.

Some things you should ask about when you follow up with the GI: where in the colon is the UC located? It can be anything from proctitis, affecting the rectal area only, to pancolitis, involving the entire colon and rectum. Knowing what areas are involved will help you with making treatment choices. Generally we start out on one of the 5-ASA oral drugs, usually Asacol. It's important for you to know that this is also available as an enema or a suppository, and these are helpful in treating the rectal and sigmoid areas, where oral meds don't always reach. So ask your GI about including rectal meds in your starting regimen.

Sorry to hear you have the double-whammy of UC and lupus, but I guess we all know we're at increased risk for other autoimmune diseases. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but I think most of us would be just a little weaker than we've had to become.
Posted 6/7/2008 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
My doc always puts me on Flagyl to combat C. diff, a particularly stubborn type of intestinal infection. Usually a two-week course, followed by another two-week course a few months later ;).
Posted 6/7/2008 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for the information. All of this will help me know what questions to ask when I see the doc next month.
Posted 6/7/2008 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Flagyl is often prescribed to treat inflammation of the colon, as my GI explained to me when he prescribed it after two stool sample tests came back negative for c. diff.  Unfortunately, I had a severe reaction to flagyl and it made my symptoms much, much worse, to the point I was hospitalized.

Coincidentally, it was also prescribed for my dog when I found blood in his stool.  Same explanation.

Posted 6/7/2008 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry that you have this hanging over your head now too. But now you know what you're dealing with, you can start onto the road to feeling better. If you should have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Also, be sure to check the resource section here or visit www.ccfa.org
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