Flare-up after 16 years...could high dose of new medicine be the cause?

I'm throwing this out to the board because I'm at all loss to understand why, after 16 years of remission (though a brief spell of profound bleeding in 2004-5 interrupted it) I'm having the worst UC/proctitis of my life.

I started a massive dose of Inderal/Propanolol (an older beta blocker) in order to experimentally treat another condition of mine that has nothing to do with my blood pressure. At first the only side effect was spaciness. When that went away, I'd up the dose. I'm now at a dose that only someone with a migraine would take at the onset of the headache - but I'm taking it every day.

Since I plateaued at that dose about 1 month ago, I started having some gastro issues I chalked up to eating too much gluten (I'm slightly intolerant but not celiac). I cut out gluten yet the symptoms worstened - urgency, bleeding, proctitis, pain. I went from 1 bowel movement a day to nearly 15 in two weeks. My appetite, a cause of concern because the beta blocker caused me to put on weight (it decreases your metabolism by 25%) has gone away on its own. Not exactly how I wanted it!

I've got an appointment with my GI - I'm treated as a new patient by my doctor because it has been so long since my last visit (5 years) - in mid-NOVEMBER.

So a scope and medicine=not in my near future.

So, here are my questions:

1. Has anyone any experience with blood-pressure lowering medicine worsening their symptoms?
2. Does anyone have any non-prescription (supplements, healing foods) advice based on their own experience for reducing urgency/bleeding?
3. From a food perspective, what has worked for you when you are in flare-up? I've noticed EVERYTHING sets me off. I'm down to almost a liquid diet and even that is painful.

Thanks so much!

Thanks Sherry - I think so too - I just put in a note to my prescribing doc and we'll see what she says. I'm thinking this drug needs to be in my past, and quickly.

I'll try the fiber (I like inulin, which I have access to because I work in a food lab) once things start improving a little.

Again, thanks!

Thanks for your thoughts, Sue!

I'm putting my money on the meds, which do indeed cut off blood supply to the colon (and in doing further research, I learned that people experience this on doses about 12x lower than what I am currently taking, and that it is a rare but known side effect). I'm going to taper off my dose - if it is still around in two weeks, I'll know it was a proper flare.

Thanks all for helping me think this through.

Wow, 16 yes of remission! And I am giving you advice after only eight months of remission?

I like your supplements and that you are careful how you eat (gluten). The new meds probably tipped you over into the flare. I sometimes tip towards a flare but so far I have caught myself. What saves me after acting stupid is powdered psyllium seed mixed with applesauce and a strong probiotics like VSL3. Twice a day sometimes with kefir and blueberries. So far works every time.

Of course may not work for you but at least try psyllium husks like Metamucil to add as a supplement. And avoid that BP med.