Any Long Haulers have Ulcerative Colitis from Covid

Posted by kitty2 @kitty2, Mar 1, 2023

Hi..do any of you have Ulcerative Colitis as a result of having Covid and what is working or not working for you as a result of this illness. Any feedback would sure be appreciated. I have been taking Budesonide for months now and i think this drug is making the Colitis worse.
Thanks in advance for your respones.
Sincerely,
Kitty2

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Profile picture for tgulbin @tgulbin

I got COVID 10/22. While recovering, had many intestinal issues. The worse was bloody stools. This went on for a couple of months. I made an appointment with a gastroenterologist. After a colonoscopy and endoscopy, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. I am 52 years old and never had intestinal issues. I was prescribed Lialda (mesalamine). The first week on it, I experienced flu-like symptoms and could barely get out of bed. My doctor assured me that mesalamine is well tolerated so I decided to try again after taking myself off of it for a week. Instead of taking a 3.6g dose, I decided to start with a 2.4g dose to see if I could tolerate it. After a couple of weeks, I increased the dose to 3.6g with no problems. Other things that I have learned along the way are as follows. At first, I could not eat/drink the following; dairy (except the hard cheeses like cheddar, provolone, and parmesan), anything tomato based, certain fruits (apples), and had to stay away from alcohol and sugar (candy, fruit juices, sweets, etc.). I started to get a little bit better but was still not great. I, like everyone, did some research and begin to think my gut biome was messed up (i.e. too many bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria). So, I started to do things that would correct this. I took a probiotic (adding good bacteria) and the things that I think helped the most were a multivitamin(helps the good bacteria flourish) and staying away from sugar (starving the bad bacteria). I also drink a minimum of 2.5L of water a day (flushing your system) and exercise 4 days a week. It has been almost a year and I am still taking the Lialda and multivitamin. I have gradually added back most of things I gave up but still limit my sugar. I am close to 90% back to normal with few intestinal issues these days. I am very thankful but it was a long road. During the journey, I had to adjust my expectations daily and was thankful for the smallest amount of progress. Lastly, when I was in the middle of it, the one thing that I found I could eat without many repercussions was peanut butter and banana on sourdough bread toast. I still have it every morning. Peanut butter is good for gut health. I hope everyone gets mostly back to where they were before this crap.

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Thank you so much for your help. I tried Lialda..I could not tolerate it or any mesalamine products. I also got lesions all over my legs from it. Thanks so much for your reply. Please keep me posted. They know Covid caused these gastrointestinal problems, but they still do not know how to treat this. Please get well..this is a journey. Sincerely, Kitty2

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FYI, I started a sub-thread about a prescription for Zifaxin for abdominal pain. My symptoms are echoed in these discussions. Many thanks for the useful information.

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I’ve had colitis for years but it has been much worse since I have long covid. I now have asthma which developed a couple of months after Covid. I tried Budesonide but my GI doc said this was a short term drug. I’m now on Cholestipol which has helped some. I also take trade name Imodium which requires a prescription but is much more effective than the OTC brand. My diet is very restricted. No dairy, no tomato sauce, no concentrated sweets, carbonated drinks, no grains. I usually eat a regular bagel for lunch and chicken noodle soup for supper. This is nuts. I’m scheduled for a Colonoscopy in December. I kept reporting this symptom when I got texts checking up on vaccine side effects but I have no idea if this is just from COVID .
I was out from work a month last year. I have a very compassionate Internal Medicine doc who has helped me through this. It seems many people don’t believe in this aftermath of COVID.

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Profile picture for aw7711 @aw7711

I’ve had colitis for years but it has been much worse since I have long covid. I now have asthma which developed a couple of months after Covid. I tried Budesonide but my GI doc said this was a short term drug. I’m now on Cholestipol which has helped some. I also take trade name Imodium which requires a prescription but is much more effective than the OTC brand. My diet is very restricted. No dairy, no tomato sauce, no concentrated sweets, carbonated drinks, no grains. I usually eat a regular bagel for lunch and chicken noodle soup for supper. This is nuts. I’m scheduled for a Colonoscopy in December. I kept reporting this symptom when I got texts checking up on vaccine side effects but I have no idea if this is just from COVID .
I was out from work a month last year. I have a very compassionate Internal Medicine doc who has helped me through this. It seems many people don’t believe in this aftermath of COVID.

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Good morning..thanks for your reply. This is so true what you said, many people do not get it. We sound so much alike. My diet is so limited also. I think when they left me on the budesonide 9 mg high dose for 9 months that made my colitis and overall health go downhill from the high dose with the side effects. Covid has taken us to a level that no one can explain. I was in urgent care last night again. I have a cough that is unreal. I probably have Asthma now too. The PA prescribed Albueterol inhaler to loosen things up. What is Cholestipol? Did they put you on biologics at all? They scare me with all the rare side effects. I never know what my day is going to be like on any given day. Kitty 2

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Profile picture for aw7711 @aw7711

I’ve had colitis for years but it has been much worse since I have long covid. I now have asthma which developed a couple of months after Covid. I tried Budesonide but my GI doc said this was a short term drug. I’m now on Cholestipol which has helped some. I also take trade name Imodium which requires a prescription but is much more effective than the OTC brand. My diet is very restricted. No dairy, no tomato sauce, no concentrated sweets, carbonated drinks, no grains. I usually eat a regular bagel for lunch and chicken noodle soup for supper. This is nuts. I’m scheduled for a Colonoscopy in December. I kept reporting this symptom when I got texts checking up on vaccine side effects but I have no idea if this is just from COVID .
I was out from work a month last year. I have a very compassionate Internal Medicine doc who has helped me through this. It seems many people don’t believe in this aftermath of COVID.

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Hi again, I forgot to ask you what state and city you may be in. I am looking for a new doctor that is compassionate and understanding of this disease. I am in minnesota. I had a repeat covid test last night, and it was not detected this time, probably Asthma like you. I also had the the Johnson and Johnson vaccine one day before they pulled it off the market. Thanks for all your help. Us long haulers need to stick together because we get it. Thanks Kitty2

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I’m in Memphis, TN and am just fortunate I found doctors that took me seriously!! My Internal Med doc was checking with me the whole month I had COVID. I had all the Pfizer boosters and am uncertain about getting this new booster. Any thoughts???

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Hi..thanks so much for your reply..I have not had a covid shot since I had the johnson and johnson which I had problems with right away..got me to the ER with the highest blood pressure I can ever remember and really bad back pain. I have not been taking any vaccines of any kind since the initial one. I am so glad for you that you have doctors that understand that this is real. I also have a unruptured brain aneurysm and went to a new neurologist and he made me feel like I was making a big deal out of it. He kept repeating that I had anxiety..he was actually giving me anxiety..I will not be going back to him thats for sure. I made an appointment to go back to the long haul clinic for a follow up...maybe thats what I need as they deal with this all the time. Please stay in touch..do they want you to have the vaccines ? Sincerely, Kitty2 sending virtual prayers and hugs.

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Kitty 2!
I’m so sorry you are having these issues. I used to work in Neurosurgery!! A brain aneurysm of any kind is a huge deal. I’d go see a Neurosurgeon to follow you for that. You are absolutely right about not knowing how it’s going to be on any day!

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Profile picture for aw7711 @aw7711

Kitty 2!
I’m so sorry you are having these issues. I used to work in Neurosurgery!! A brain aneurysm of any kind is a huge deal. I’d go see a Neurosurgeon to follow you for that. You are absolutely right about not knowing how it’s going to be on any day!

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Hi..you cant believe the conversation we had when I was at the appointment..this dude made me feel worse during the appointment ..all he said was that I had anxiety..he was a quack . He just said I needed to have a sleep study. We just have to hang in there, one day at a time.

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Profile picture for tgulbin @tgulbin

I got COVID 10/22. While recovering, had many intestinal issues. The worse was bloody stools. This went on for a couple of months. I made an appointment with a gastroenterologist. After a colonoscopy and endoscopy, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. I am 52 years old and never had intestinal issues. I was prescribed Lialda (mesalamine). The first week on it, I experienced flu-like symptoms and could barely get out of bed. My doctor assured me that mesalamine is well tolerated so I decided to try again after taking myself off of it for a week. Instead of taking a 3.6g dose, I decided to start with a 2.4g dose to see if I could tolerate it. After a couple of weeks, I increased the dose to 3.6g with no problems. Other things that I have learned along the way are as follows. At first, I could not eat/drink the following; dairy (except the hard cheeses like cheddar, provolone, and parmesan), anything tomato based, certain fruits (apples), and had to stay away from alcohol and sugar (candy, fruit juices, sweets, etc.). I started to get a little bit better but was still not great. I, like everyone, did some research and begin to think my gut biome was messed up (i.e. too many bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria). So, I started to do things that would correct this. I took a probiotic (adding good bacteria) and the things that I think helped the most were a multivitamin(helps the good bacteria flourish) and staying away from sugar (starving the bad bacteria). I also drink a minimum of 2.5L of water a day (flushing your system) and exercise 4 days a week. It has been almost a year and I am still taking the Lialda and multivitamin. I have gradually added back most of things I gave up but still limit my sugar. I am close to 90% back to normal with few intestinal issues these days. I am very thankful but it was a long road. During the journey, I had to adjust my expectations daily and was thankful for the smallest amount of progress. Lastly, when I was in the middle of it, the one thing that I found I could eat without many repercussions was peanut butter and banana on sourdough bread toast. I still have it every morning. Peanut butter is good for gut health. I hope everyone gets mostly back to where they were before this crap.

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So interesting to read folks’ accounts of bowel issues after having had COVID.

I think I had a mild COVID case 4/2020. Low grade fever for 3 weeks, but no one was testing and primary not seeing patients at time. When I called, primary, was advised to take Tylenol, rest and get fluids.

Started having horrendous headaches around 5/2020. Saw neurologist 8/2020, who prescribed a whole host of drugs with no relief. Finally started taking Gabapentin 12/2020. Some relief.

Then, had full -blown COVID 12/2020. Tested + 12/8/2020. Down for a month.

Starting 4/2021, began to experience explosive diarrhea about every 3-4 days. No regular bowel movements since 4/2021 thru today, 9/2023. Gastro has no idea what’s going on.

It’s been horrible. I travel quite a bit and never know when the explosion will hit. The occurrence is now about every 2 days. Clock work. Never never had issues before 4/2021.

Going to be tested for bacteria and such late Oct 2023. Thinking about trying gluten free to see if that’s the issue (tho never had this issue before 4/21). Ugh.

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