Newbie to this forum - looking for advice

Hi All,

I've just got home after a 6 day stay in hospital due to stomach pain and loosing a lot of blood mucus and pus in stool. I had a similar bout last year which Dr thought was just a nasty bug but now that I've ended up in hospital they suspect ulcerative colitis. I've got to say Ive never been so scared in my life they thought it might have been diverticulitis but ruled that out after a ct scan. I had all the blood tests, inflammation markers and white blood cells are up and haemoglobin has dropped. They've put me on augmentin and metronidazole but I really don't think I am agreeing with the Augmentin. I'm losing more mucus and blood but Dr was adamant I need to be on both antibiotics to get rid of infection in bowel and to prevent perforation although they did admit that augmentin could cause problems. What I don't understand is my stool sample showed no infection so Any advice much appreciated? I didn't eat for three days but hat didn't help slow anything down so I've been on half a banana and some vegetable broth, I just can't face food at the moment. Any advice please?

They've booked me in for colonoscopy in 1 weeks time. They said they couldn't do it now because of the bleeding so their hoping the antibiotics will settle it down, they don't feel like their working though

I would definitely find yourself a good GI doctor, especially if you get a UC diagnosis. I had an amazing one for 16 years and bent over backwards for me. You'll definitely want one that will take the time with you and not rush you treatments. I've had hospital docs give antibiotics just to be on the safe side even if tests have come back clean. Be careful of dehydration and low iron levels if you start feeling really fatigued.

I never had Augmentin, it was always either Cipro or Flagyl. I never got any worse while on them but every body will respond differently. What bowel prep are they having you do for your colonoscopy?

I can't give you actual medical advice, but I will say this: I ABSOLUTELY HATE the way some hospitals and ERs give antibiotics despite no evidence of infection. Happened to me. Happened to you. Happened to another poster who just posted in the last day. Happened to my brother with UC when he went to the ER and then went again and was hospitalized. The more antibiotics they gave him, the worse he got.

If you have UC and no infection, YES, antibiotics can make it worse. Augmentin, in particular, made me much worse and is a known risk factor for increased UC activity. Flagyl may help temporarily, may do nothing, may make you worse. And it may lead to other side effects.

So I would call your GI and ask whether to continue it. Mention no infection was found and that it seems to be making you worse.

what was your temp in the hosp and what is it currently ?

not definitive by any means, but if you were fighting an infection, your temp should be running a bit higher -

Seen my GP and she told me to stop taking the Augmentin and said tests showed that I didn't have an infection. She's now concerned I might get c diff after being on the antibiotics and has advised taking a probiotic. She explained that they suspect ulcerative colitis but won't give me any medication for it because they want me to have a colonoscopy while I have symptoms to give an accurate diagnosis. Not sure how I feel about that, I want an accurate diagnosis but I feel dreadful now and without anything to take to make me feel better I am not looking forward to going through a colonoscopy