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Alcohol or caffeine cause flare ups?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/25/2016 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I'm new to the forum, diagnosed in February with severe pancolitis which resulted in a 2 week hospital stay. My doc was able to get me into remission with prednisone, and I was very thankful to not have surgery (as they had discussed). We tapered down the prednisone and I've been symptom-free on Lialda since getting out of the hospital, but I started having blood last week. Fortunately I already had a follow-up colonoscopy scheduled this week, which ended up showing some mild rectal inflammation and a sigmoid ulcer. I was really disappointed to have a flare up so soon.

When my wife and I started thinking about it, we realized that I had gone from a bachelor party, to rehearsal dinner, to best man in the wedding, to a family vacation = almost a week and a half of daily drinking (way more than usual for me). I've had different bouts of intense caffeine intake this spring as well – needed for long days of work productivity – but I'm really conscious of it and try to limit caffeine when I can. Has anyone had any experience with either caffeine or alcohol causing a flare-up?? If so, coffee > tea or vice versa? Liquor > beer?

Thanks!
Posted 6/26/2016 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
It's possible, but given that you're still new to uc i'd say it's more likely that your maintenance medications aren't sufficient and therefore you flared up. Your gastroenterologist might not get your maintenance dose right, therefore you flared after a few months. Hind-sight is often perceived as perfect 20-20 vision, if only I hadn't X then I wouldn't have flared. Often, it's much more complex than that.

I drink alcohol and caffeine without it bothering my uc. Some do have issues with either and avoid them.
Posted 6/26/2016 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Before getting to remission coffee was impossible for me (or anything with caffeine) because it would trigger immediate BM's with urgency, no fun. So as much as I loved caffeinated coffee and tea they were off my list until getting better. But so many other foods also caused problems back then too. Red wine was a problem then and still can't drink it today. Beer, problem too. Vodka, not a problem but mixers were/are.

Today, in remission, I can drink caffeinated coffee and tea in the AM and white wine in the PM, sometimes vodka and soda.

Blood, for me, doesn't come from liquids, but maybe yours does. My gut hates roughage, crackers, chips etc and bleeds from that type of food.

I hope your RX meds allow you to drink and eat whatever you did in the past. That would make you a lucky person and we'll never see another post from you if that happens. :-) Until that day, welcome to the forum.
Posted 6/26/2016 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
I kinda doubt the caffeine had anything to do with it, but the uncharacteristic drinking binge might have done, particularly if your eating and sleeping habits had changed during that time as well. I only say might, so don't beat yourself up over it.

Up the Lialda if you can, and consider rectal meds to treat the rectal inflammation. Try to knock the inflammation on the head while it's still mild.
Posted 6/26/2016 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
You will find out that nothing is really the same for anybody. Personally for me caffeine messes me up if i drink it for more than a couple days straight. I have cut it out of my diet almost completely unless I really need it.
Posted 6/26/2016 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
i really doubt inflammation was ever gone. you had symptom remission only. the scope just saw what was left.

the return of symptoms may have been related to alcohol, many find it causes symptoms. you might lay off.

getting rid of remaining inflammation may take time, more pred, or stronger med.

good luck
Posted 6/26/2016 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
For me it would be the alcohol. I can only drink it sparingly while in remission.
Posted 6/26/2016 6:49 AM (GMT 0)
Same as Alice here. Coffee has no impact on my UC and nor does wine in moderation. Both can have laxative effects so if you're already having diarrhea it can seem that they trigger things.
Posted 6/26/2016 11:36 AM (GMT 0)
I don't drink coffee and wine or beer only occasionally and haven't seen any effects.

Given where your inflammation is rectal meds would fix you up pretty quickly. They sound scary and icky, but really aren't once you get used to them as long as you follow 2 tips I found here -- warm the bottle to body temperature before using it (put it under you arm or tuck it in the waist of your pants for 10 minutes or so prior to use) and gently squeeze out all of the air in the bottle before insertion. Ask your doctor for mesalamine enemas
Posted 6/26/2016 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all your replies! I'm sure it is more complicated than just one specific binge. The hard thing is coming to accept that I'm not the exception and flare ups are inevitable.

I forgot to mention that my doc wrote a script for the mesalamine enemas, just waiting until Monday when the pharmacy gets them in. Until then I have some leftover Canasa suppositories I'm using to at least do something. CCinPA thanks for the tips! I'll definitely do those Monday.
Posted 6/26/2016 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
I tolerate alcohol fine but coffee is a big no no. As soon as I start coffee on a regular basis my symptoms start returning. Happened twice first time went into a flare a mild one. Second time started to notice changes so I stopped. Symptoms went away.
Posted 6/26/2016 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
Spitster, I registered on this forum just to answer your question. Coffee and wine send me running to the bathroom. I was diagnosed with UC earlier this year. I am keeping a food diary and slowly compiling a list of safe foods, some of which other UC sufferers cannot eat. I hope you find safe foods and remission on your journey. That's my goal.
Posted 6/27/2016 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
I do okay with alcohol, but coffee kills me. I don't have issues with tea, so not sure if it's the higher amount of caffeine or the acidity. I break up with coffee and then test the waters again before going into full blown coffeeholism - maybe it's the case of the dose making the poison. Hahaha.
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