Ok, it has been nearly a year since I have been on this site. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 3 years ago. I went quickly back in to remission after treating it with Predisone and Canasa, and the next 8 months were pretty normal. Then during a 3 week long december vacation to Hawaii, it came back with avengence. I called my doctor and had him send a prescript
ion to a pharmacy close to where I was staying for the same two products that had worked before. No change. Got back home and no change. I progressively got worse, until my second colonoscopy in April. I did the normal system flush prep and post colonoscopy, I got better. I had a great month and a half, then started to get sick again. I tried a natural path. I was put on Lialda. Nothing was helping any more. I was loosing weight. I was having 20-35 BMs a day. My parents were scared, by boyfriend was scared, my best friend sent me to the best natural path she knew of for my christmas present. I just got worse. Everythign came out looking pretty much like it went in. Then, my joints started to seize. It started in my ankles, moving to my knees and hips. My joints were in so much pain I could barely get out of bed to get to the bathroom. I went to the ER. Nothing was helping and I was down 20lbs from normal (normally only 130lbs at 5'8", so I really didn't have that much to loose). I was looking hallow. I visited multiple doctors and even a gastrointestinal surgen to talk about
possibilities. I was ready to go to surgery! I was so desperate to have any semblence of a life back. I was on the computer doing research daily. I tried everything from the spinach and sunflower seeds diet to the specific carbohydrate diet, to no corn, soy, wheat, gluten, sugar, or dairy diet. NOTHING worked, nothign stuck to my sides. In desperation, I begged my dr to treat for parasites and bacteria. He was increadibly hesitant saying that there was no evidence showing that either were the problem. I begged and promised to take responsibility for his imperical treatments. He prescribed flagel and prazaquantal. I started treatment immediately and within the week, i was making significant improvements. By the end of the week I was working out at the gym for the first time in more than a year! My success was short lived though and symtoms started to come back within the month. I was certin that I was close to finding the answer! So working with my doc, we started each of the same drugs again seperately this time and it much stronger doses. We started with the parasite meds... prazaquantal... no change. Then we doubled the strength of the antibiotics flagel. I was tasting metal in my mouth, but it was working and fast! My doc suggested that towards the later part of the cycle I start eating Nancy's yogurt (as they are some of the most beneficial probiotics). It was working fantastically! I progressively got better for the next two months. Then a bout of food posioning brought back the urgency and the blood. I immediately started on the antibiotics and probiotics again, this time supplementing with Udo's choice super 8 probiotic. I was better within days! I have not had even the slightest problem since! My diet is back to what it was before I was sick. I eat carbs and desserts and raw veggies, all without problems. My life is back. BMs are only once a day, sometimes twice if I have a big workout! My weight is back to normal. I can go hiking and horseback riding again. Life is back.
I am sharing this with the hope that it might help someone else. I know how desperate I was when I was sick. None of the drugs that were suppose to help, made even the slightest difference. I knew I didn't want a hugely invasive surgery and a definately didn't want biologicals! The meds were killing me financially. And not a doctor out there will consider using antibiotics on UC! But this worked for me. It also seems to explain this problem as bacterial, if antibiotics and probiotics are what work (at least for me), and I refuse to believe that my body just up and decided one day to attack itself for no reason! Before you ask, I had 8 separate stool samples done thoughout my course of doctor and hospital visits. I was told I had no abnormal bacteria or parasite eggs or larva! I am a strong believer in finding the cause, and treating that, not the symptoms! I hope that this helps someone! I have enjoyed a great year with a new appreciation for life and the little things! What do we have without our health! At the very least, discuss the possibilites with your doctor! Just follow with probiotics (and not the kind that you find at walmart or target!) find refridgerated live bacteria, not flash frozen! Good luck!