my kid - stomach pains; allergies...

He's 17, on 8 asacol a day, Align, a couple of Metamucil capsules....He went up to 9 Asacol last spring in a flare, but in summer we put it back down to the eight he'd been on for the past few years.
He says his poops are fine, once or twice a day, formed, but he's been having stomach pain all week.
He's had congestion, so I've added Zyrtec.... (he has seasonal allergies.) A few evenings this week I've also given him Benedryl..... but we skipped it last night because he'd been so groggy in mornings.
So.... he has a lot of stomach pain this morning, will try to make it to school for part of the day.

I think there's an allergy component because this happens spring and fall to some extent... post-nasal drip making him queasy, I'm thinking.
Last spring at someone's suggestion we bought Nauzeam... but it's SO sweet he can't stand to take it.
I'm not sure whether to pursue the allergy line of thought or if somehow it's some gut inflammation that he's perceiving as "stomach", even though there are no poop symptoms.

Anyone have a similar experience?

Is he taking his Asacol with food? If not, be sure he does. I swear that for me, Asacol caused me to get acid reflux and gastritis - and yes I was taking them on an empty stomach (bad me). Now I have permanent stomach issues which includes stomach pains and nausea. If I don't take my Prilosec, it feels like I'm dying because the pain is horrendous. Does his stomach hurt before or after he eats?

hi all -
Benedryl, Quincy. Some day we'll get Bentyl in this house, but haven't yet.

He doesn't feel that this is UC-related.... we'll see; like Quincy, I'm not so sure.

The pains seem to be less when he takes Benedryl, which is why I am not dismissing allergies as possible cause. He was out of school 3 days ago with this, so I started Bendryl that night, and he made it the next two days. I omitted Benedryl last night and he didn't make to school this morning. This would seem "cause and effect" but... not sure yet.

Thanks, Q, for jarring my mind re Allegra, Sudafed, etc.

And, Red, for having him eat with morning meds.... he goes through spells of not doing so, although so far this school year he has been.

Yes, Killcolitis, I know the feeling, though I've stopped cringing at every sneeze for him (I just do that for myself, lol.) He seems to get through minor viruses without flaring, for which I am so thankful.

Thanks, all!