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UC flare and giardia infection

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/29/2019 2:38 PM (GMT -5)
Hey Guys, just want to see if someone has similar experience. Usually my UC flare gets under control using prednisone 4 week course (40 mg and taper by 10 mg every week) but this time even after 4 weeks I see no improvement. Doctor did a stool test and found giardia infection (oh boy). Now I am on Metronidazole which is antibiotics/antifungal, this is my 5th day and I see may be 5% improvement. Total course is for 10 days, I am bit nervous as I never had infection and flare at the same time. My infection probably got worse as I was on high dose of prednisone and since immune system was down the giardia parasites just grew in full fledge. I am still on prednisone (25 mg for 5th week and tapering 5 mg every week so 4 more weeks to go). Did anyone had same experience and got better taking antifungal med plus prednisone? (I am also starting daily mesalamine rectal enemas that will go on for about a month)
Posted 3/30/2019 12:17 AM (GMT -5)
I've never had Giardia, but I have had C-diff. I was on Vancomycin and prednisone at the same time. It was exactly what I needed, and I was able to taper off prednisone on an accelerated schedule once the C-diff was gone.
Posted 3/30/2019 6:05 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks for sharing your experience. For you when did symptoms disappeared? Few days after finishing your antibiotics ? I am on my 5 the day and noticing improvements but still bleeding. I have 2 more days to go for my antibiotics and still on Prednisone.
Posted 3/30/2019 9:40 AM (GMT -5)
In my case, I think the infection triggered a flare, although it is so hard to differentiate infection symptoms from U.C. symptoms. I noticed some improvement after about a week on Vanco, but I plateaued at that point and didn't feel better until the prednisone (which I stared once it was clear that the ABX wouldn't be enough on its own) started to kick in, which was about 3 or 4 days. Then my symptoms disappeared rapidly and I was able to taper from 40 mg pred to 0 in less than 2 months with no return of symptoms. I probably could have tapered faster, but staying in remission was more important so I took a cautious approach to tapering. That was about a year ago, and I have enjoyed an excellent remission since. I have also reduced my intake of carbohydrates significantly which seems to be helping a lot, but that is a different issue.
Posted 3/30/2019 12:40 PM (GMT -5)
Great to hear that you are in remission. I wish you stay like this forever. Today is my 6th day on antibiotics and I am feeling really good. So looks like I am having similar experience as you. Still on Prednisone and I am sure all remaining symptoms will go away in about two weeks. On diet, I am vegeterian and my consumption of carbs is usually high. Now I am thinking I will reduce grains intake to only once a day and be on healthy fats, veggies and fruits for remaining meals. I will see how that goes. Reading Dr kleins book and it seems vegan diet has helped many people. So will give it a try because I never consumed meat in my life and I don't think it will every suit my digestive system. My entire family for generations has been vegeterian and no one in my family had ever had gut related issues back in India. For me I started having trouble after I moved to USA, may be something with weather, water or food is not suiting my system.
Posted 3/30/2019 2:06 PM (GMT -5)
Something about the "western" diet and/or lifestyle that seems to promote U.C. and Crohn's. Of course the incidence is really high among certain subgroups of Jewish people, so there is a genetic component too obviously. The thinking is that it's not carbs that are bad per se, it is sugar and refined grains. If you get carbs in healthy foods in their natural state it seems less of a problem, but the research is not that extensive, and U.C. can be very unpredictable and difficult to study.
Best of luck with your treatment plan. Sounds like it is going well.
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