Fibro and Ulcerative colitis

Is there anyone here that has both? The reason I ask is that I am on an IV medication for my Ulcerative colitis (Remicade). I just had an infusion last Wednesday and it seemed that this weekend, my fibro acted up majorly! I consider myself pretty lucky because my fibro is mostly mild; I get a few pings of pain here or there but it's tolerable. I have to take Benedryl and IV steroids with my infusions because I get a serum reaction with my infusions. I typically get increased joint pain with the infusions but this is the first time is has made my fibro act up. All weekend it seemed my muscles were "spazzing" out. I was one sore momma this weekend!

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SHERRY
Moderator-Allergies/Asthma and Alzheimer's, Co-moderator-UC
Diagnosed Left sided UC in '92 - meds: 6mp, Colazal, Remicade and Bentyl*Unable to tolerate ALL mesalamines*, in '11 diagnosed with IBS, Diverticulosis, Fibromylagia..I also have Sacroiilitis, Scoliosis, Raynauds, OA, PA, Rosacea, Psoriasis, Dry Eye and allergies controlled by Zyrtec and Singular

I guess I shouldn't complain because I am not getting iv meds. That must be hard to go through. I do know what you mean on those muscles acting crazy. It makes me feel like something else is going on with me. But then when I hear others tel their story, maybe it's just fibro symptoms.

My fibro is worse than my UC. But, when I do get an UC flare, my fibro pain is worse. No good away around it, I guess.


I cannot take OTC painkillers, for those aggravate the UC. I take tramadol, but even sometimes that is ineffective.

hi Sherry, i was goin thru all da posts as i normally do, only writin wen i think i need 2( which hasn't been for awhile) cos i hate typing. but wen i came across ur post i had to reply. i have just been dg with fibro in nov 2011, by a private doc cos was gettin no where with my NHS doctor. so am just sooo relieved dat i av a name for wat i feel. rather than thinkin i am makin it up or nt healthy enuff.

anyway cumin to ur ?, i was told i had UC in 2001, after dat was put on med n had all da test dun. was on n off steriods. i found this forum in 2007, on da UC forum i found so much help dat no1 else cud offer, i felt pple understood wat i went thru. in 2008 surgeon tld me dey should remove my colon, cos my life was barely none existance( with 3 children) anyhow after 2 yrs of surgeries i was up n happy with my quality of life. but as soon as i tried to stop my pain killlers i was in so much pain, all test were done, n the docs said i was fine but didn't no y i was in all dat pain. each tyme i went i gt stronger n stronger meds, i could feel my kidneys hurtin cos i knew all the co-cods n tramodol i was on. den tanx to my husband hu begged me to go private, i found a gr8 pain management doc, he straight away checked the trigger points n diags me with fibro.


looking back mayb i had fibro wen i had UC, n der were days where my flare up with UC caused more pain. but i can't tell cos i was in sooooo much agonisin pain. i did find here in the UK, dat for me co-drydomal helped.

i am sorry i can't b more of help, but i will b prayin God helps u n every1 thru xxx

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-diagnsed UC 2001
-On steroids etc until 2007
-Jan 2008 had surgery to remove colon and hav pouch,
got infection n was rushd 2 hav emergency surgery,family was told wasn't gonna make it,
-in ICU then HDU 4 a week
-had collapsed lungs, n had a drain put in my back
-in hospital 4 weeks

-had reversal 12/08,

Went thru so much pain but wud do it ALL AGEN ,2 hav life without UC;)

Thank you for your replies. It's rough having so many things wrong with you and when a medication makes one condition worse and the other better it can be even rougher!

My fibro finally calmed down yesterday but this is the first time that this medication caused my fibro to flare.

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SHERRY
Moderator-Allergies/Asthma and Alzheimer's, Co-moderator-UC
Diagnosed Left sided UC in '92 - meds: 6mp, Colazal, Remicade and Bentyl*Unable to tolerate ALL mesalamines*, in '11 diagnosed with IBS, Diverticulosis, Fibromylagia..I also have Sacroiilitis, Scoliosis, Raynauds, OA, PA, Rosacea, Psoriasis, Dry Eye and allergies controlled by Zyrtec and Singular

It is interesting to read with two chronic illnesses how they kind of feed off of eachother. I have fibro and depression and one can cause the other to flare.

Sherry, I hope you feel better. And everybody else as well.

Take care all...

Hugs, Karen

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Moderator-Depression and fibromyalgia


fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue, depression, allergies

I agree Karen that sometimes when my Uc flares it make my fibro worse, however I can say that my fibro doesn't make my Uc worse (thank goodness!). I sometimes don't know where one condition begins and the other ends. It's so confusing! If it's not my joints from peripheral arthritis (brought on by my Uc), it's my muscles from my fibro...a viscous cycle. :(

This is the first time tho that a medication actually activated my fibro. If what I had to endure this weekend is what you guys go thru on a typical day, boy! You guys definitely have my sympathy (and empathy)! Like I said, I have it fairly mild compared to most of you. In fact, I FOUGHT the doctors diagnosis of fibro for years because it just didn't seem to fit. But after seeing a rheumy and he found all but one of the trigger points that I finally conceded.

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SHERRY
Moderator-Allergies/Asthma and Alzheimer's, Co-moderator-UC
Diagnosed Left sided UC in '92 - meds: 6mp, Colazal, Remicade and Bentyl*Unable to tolerate ALL mesalamines*, in '11 diagnosed with IBS, Diverticulosis, Fibromylagia..I also have Sacroiilitis, Scoliosis, Raynauds, OA, PA, Rosacea, Psoriasis, Dry Eye and allergies controlled by Zyrtec and Singular

Hi, I developed UC in 1991 and lived with it for 5 years before finally having my entire colon and a portion of my rectum removed surgically. I lived for the most part healthy until about 2 years ago. I developed an arthritis that 2 different Rhuematologists have called "autoimmune arthritis." Basically, the same as RA. I have also developed Fibro! Many days now are a struggle. It's almost as if my docs don't think that a 39 year overweight guy could be as unhealthy as I am! My meds don't seem to help and the ones that do, are not covered by my insurance. So, I feel badly for anyone who has suffered with UC, Fibro, RA, or any other AutoImmune illness. God Bless.