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Heavy rains making my symptoms more severe

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/30/2019 10:50 AM (GMT -5)
Hi , I am 19 , currently in a mild flare , but the onset of monsoon has come in my region and due to heavy rainfall my symptoms are getting worse. From no bleeding to bleeding thrice a week , from no pain to mild pain ,increased urgency,decreased digestion, constipated stool, very high amount of gas production that too sometimes with a rotten odour , i.e, when some food doesnot suit my colon. Wheneven I pas gas , I have immidiately rush towards the washroom because it also forces a very little amount of stool to be excreted.
I told my GI he increased my mesalamine does to 4800 mg/ day , azoran to 125 gm/day , folvite and multivitamin.
Can someone tell me something which can help me during the rains ? Some diet suggestions or some medicine to control the amount of gas and the involuntary passing of stool with gas? This gas problem is not letting me do my work and go outside , rest symptoms I can manage.
Please help ! 😫😭😵 And Thanks in advance!
Posted 7/30/2019 1:55 PM (GMT -5)
it is hard to say how to help address symptoms getting worse due to rainy season. there is no theoretical reason for this. possibly something about inflammation and humidity or barametric pressure, but I have no thoughts.

assuming that the onset of rain and the uptick in symptoms is a coincidence, maybe some general advice on controlling symptoms.

the gas (and the resulting problem of stool following gas) might be addressed with very light use of multi symptom Imodium. Discontinue immediately if constipated for more than 1 day.

Blood is trickier. You need to determine if it is from inflammation or from hemorrhoids. If ti is from inflammation, you can wait for increased mesalamine to work, or you can try adding some rectal mesalamine (or a rectal steroid).

good luck
Posted 7/30/2019 5:38 PM (GMT -5)
Have you considered that the monsoon season affects your mood/ stress levels at all? Lots of people get worse flares if they are stressed so if you think this could be contributing to your symptoms, perhaps working on ways to lower your stress would be a good way to start. Also if it’s raining and I’m stuck inside, I tend to eat more junk food so perhaps this is something to be mindful of too. Good luck!
Posted 7/30/2019 10:27 PM (GMT -5)
It's easy to think it's the weather, but it's probably just a progression of your symptoms. I think your doctor was right to increase the doses of your medication. I'd see how that works out and stay at the increased dose for as long as needed. Don't rush to lower. There's only one truth with UC and it is that you WILL flare up repeatedly. That's how it goes with chronic illness. I hate to be negative but that's the meaning of the word chronic.
Posted 7/31/2019 9:14 AM (GMT -5)
I'd agree with notsosicklygirl. I think you are blaming the weather but it is totally unrelated. Remember that correlation does not always equal causation.

Paint me highly skeptical on the rains = flares. The only plausible path toward that is lower vitamin D from lack of sunshine, or environmental exposures (inside all of the time and more exposed to molds, etc etc). More of a grab-at-straws kinda thing.
Posted 7/31/2019 11:08 AM (GMT -5)
I strongly suggest you add rectal meds to the regimen if you have access to them. Being in a weather situation such as what you're having will create great distress (I can well imagine), which can exacerbate your already flare state. Just don't undertreat.

Let us know how you are doing.

Stay safe,
q
Posted 7/31/2019 3:07 PM (GMT -5)
I've done a lot of holistic medical treatments. In Chinese medicine, IBD is caused by dampness. I have been given lots of herbs for this over the years, even before I developed IBD. "Spleen deficiency with dampness" I have been told is my problem many times. According to them, if you have this damp condition going on, then living in a damp climate will just make you worse.

It does sort of explain why I thrive in cool, dry climates. I spent a lot of time in New Mexico this spring and I felt amazing.

Maybe you should seek out a holistic medical person that has good training in traditional medicine, like TCM or ayurveda. They could help you figure ou the dampness part.
Posted 7/31/2019 10:48 PM (GMT -5)
Thankyou everyone for the suggestion , my GI has also added mesalamine suppostiries
That I will start using from today's night .
And my GI told that in monsoon the abilty of digestion decreases and affects the people more who has digestive issues.
Therefore , he said that the increased med dose will help me keep my disease in control and I will be in a better condition after 15 days , as monsoon will end!😁
Posted 8/1/2019 1:15 AM (GMT -5)
Is it possible that the monsoon season affects the quality of the water you drink, or wash in?

For example, heavy rainfall washing more bacteria into the water supply and overwhelming water treatment's ability to provide water as clean as in the dry season?
Posted 8/12/2019 9:12 PM (GMT -5)
I only occasionally notice now but the first several years that I had UC I would get headaches and feel awful when the rain would roll in. When I had the skin tests done to detect allergies she asked me if rainy weather made me sick. I was very surprised she asked that and said yes it did. She said I reacted quite strongly to molds and that some types of mold come in on the thunder clouds. I never knew that.
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