Help for a new diagnosis

Hello,

I posted here about a year go. Had been dealing with mysterious abdominal issues for a few years that tended to come and go with stress, nothing too severe. Last year things got pretty bad, was having pain, frequency, and a small amount of bleeding. Ended up being diagnosed with a fissure. Was put on some meds for that including canasa. Doctor must have suspected something, he ordered the promethus test and it was positive for ulcerative colitis. By the time I got a colonoscopy I was feeling better and nothing was seen. The doctor told me I have the genetic markers for it and may develop it someday. In the back of my mind I kind of knew I probably already did have it.

Fast forward about a month ago. I got food poisoning. Started having urgency, cramping, frequency, pain, etc that has gone on long since the food poisoning. Have another fissure. Doctor thinks I do probably have mild ulcerative proctitis. Never really have straight diarrhea or bleeding, but things are definitely not normal. Am back on canasa and will follow up with him in a bit.

Anyways, just wondering if anyone has any advice to offer me- foods to avoid, things that have helped you all. I have stopped drinking coffee as it causes all sorts of issues, don't eat fried food anymore.... Just feel pretty alone and worry this will get in the way of my job and life. Looking up info on the internet seems to be worse case scenario. Just need some perspective and advice. People on here were very kind to me last year. I'm actually in the medical field so I have a good medical knowledge base but would like some personal experiences. In my field I usually just see those worst case scenarios. Thanks again.

Have you had a colonoscopy or flexible endoscope done? That's how uc is typically diagnosed. I'm not sure I'd put a lot of faith in a blood test, from Prometheus labs or not. Canasa sounds like the right medication for you. Diets are very individual, it's a lot of trial-and-error. Keep a food diary, what you ate and how bad your bms were the next morning, and look for correlations. It didn't help me any, but for some diet has helped.

Yes, did have a colonoscopy, no inflammation seen at the time but I had been on canasa for a few months already. So I don't know if that's why. It's not very clear cut I guess. Did also have positive test for WBCs in stool. I just want to feel better and conquer this (whatever it is). The canasa does seem to help, i don't have to go all the time and the pain is going away. I have seen other GIs in the past and this is the best one.

if there is genetic predisposition, but no clear diagnosis, then using the canasa for acute colitis and fissure, and then stopping makes sense. only people with actual UP or UC need to use it regular.

having stopped the med after the last fissure was gone, or stayed on it, would in no way ave mattered for getting food poisoning.

Only a biopsy can diagnose UP/UC when visuals do not look too bad.

all this said, since canasa is topical, staying on it as a precaution is likely very safe. but after the fissure is gone, insurance may not cover it unless there is a diagnosis code that supports the prescription.

Have you tried any diets some people find success with ace
Some people don't
There are foodmap and paleo that people like
I know that it's good to avoid things like nuts seeds and popcorn when you are flaring as they can irritate your colon
Also carrageenans ( a natural food additive) were going to cause bleeding ulcers in rodents many UC Patients react badly to it