Confused and struggling - how long do flares typically last?

Hey everyone.  Was diagnosed with UC about 3.5 years ago and have been on meds (Colozal 3 3x a day) ever since.  For the past 2 years, symptoms have been very minimal, to the point where my doc told me on a scale of 1 to 10 of the disease I was a 1.  That said, he also has told me that I have irritable bowel as I've been a 2-3 times a day guy for as long as I can remember (I'm 37 now). 

Last summer, I was misdiagnosed with a sinus infection and over the course of 4-5 months, took 6 different antibiotics.  Had some blood in my stool in September so stopped the antibiotics, called the doc, and went in for some tests.  Stool sample test came back positive for c-diff antigen (negative for toxin) and was immediately put on a round of flagyl and then vancomycin.  After several rounds of that therapy, doc did a colonoscopy and told me I had mild inflammation with the colitis, didn't want to do anything else other than try some rectal meds (masalamine) and told me i couldnt' be given prednison because of the c-diff.  While cultures from the colonoscopy came back negative for c-diff, they did another stool sample just to be sure and it came back positive for c-diff antigen again.  From talking with a friend who is doing a residency in infectious disease, i was told it is pointless to treat c-diff antigen with antibiotics and will likely always test positive for this simply because the c-diff is in my system (but at least is in check).

I continue to have mild symptoms - blood/mucous occasionally, diahrea occasionally - which troubles me, and all in all, I've lost approximately 10 pounds since October (I'm not a big person to begin with, weigh around 145 lbs).  I have days where I go 2-3 times and others where i go 5-6 (other day after having 2 beers the night before i had quite a few problems).  I'm still taking the colozal, along wtih 2 probiotics a day and 2 omega 3 fish oil tablets.    I keep telling myself to just ride this out but the fact that I continue to see blood just troubles me.

Last time I talked to my doctor he acted concerned and said if things don't get better, we'll have to go to the next stage of meds which have bad, bad side effects (I believe the anti-immune/immune suppressent type stuff).  I also have a really hard time with this because I really don't think my symptoms are that bad - aside from the weight loss and mental anguish of seeing blood occasionally, I really don't feel that bad.

Not sure what my question is here but looking for some reassurance that what I'm going through is normal for others suffering from UC.  I'm sure there is no set amount a time a flare may last, but is 2-3 months normal?  When I do think back to before, I was given prednisone and it really shocked my system back pretty quick.  I did have a few months on the colozal and everything else before it felt like things were completely turning around.  I'm trying to be patient but pondering seeking another opinion to see if there is something else that can be done to help get me out of the flare that I'm in.

I am certain that the alcohol has been part of the problem. I am not a heavy drinker, but I have had a few beers here and there over the past 3 months (typically after my symptoms have diminished and i've started to feel better). It seems like everytime I drink (just 1 or 2) beer it makes the symptoms come right back, right away. At this point, there is no way I'm touching alcohol until I'm symptom free for quite awhile.

As far as the enemas, is the masalamine enema's that he prescribed the same as the rowasa that you reference? He did give me these and told me to use them twice a week. Admitedly, I viewed it to be a bit of a pain so I was only doing it once a week but will try to do it more frequently now as it probably couldn't hurt. My only real issue is I seem to have a greater urgency to go the next day, just to get it all back out.

I agree with kate, I would definitely head in the direction of enemas, rowasa or steroid before immunosupressents or prednisone. It sounds like your situation is pretty mild and there isn't much need to worry about immunosupressents at this point if you can avoid it. I am on immunosupressents and I don't have terrible side effects, I do worry about the possible longterm effects.

have you thought about changing your diet to see what helps/doesn't? I find that certain foods are bad and some are good. That was best advice to me to get back into remission. Some things I avoid include alcohol, caffeine, insoluble fiber(dried fruits, hard fiber like apple peel, cherries, etc..), and dairy, especially all cheese, all regular milk, and all cream/ice cream too. Also fried/greasy foods are a no-no, and minimal sugar. There are some diets that really help people though may be difficult to implement, but it it stops the flare, worth it, no? Look into SCD, or Gluten Free, or TCM(what I am doing), or low residue diet. I did this one during my last flare, basically just ate bland foods with white rice and sashimi for a few days, more or less. I think the easiest of this list is the low residue one, google it to get some ideas on what you can eat.

RE Alcohol - I've found all alcohol is not good. I attribute my last ER visit due to too much alcohol. I'd stop it completely(though you didn't mention this, so maybe you have). for me, I find wine, beer and cheap liquor to be really bad for me. Expensive/Quality liquor is better. but still not good.

RE # Bowel Movements. I have no idea whats normal. I asked a friend yesterday she said she goes once daily. lucky her! I keep a log of my movements, mostly when I'm not feeling well, looking back I go between 1 to 6 times a day. Avg is maybe 2-3. two days with 10. ouch!