Coping with Springtime Allergies & Ulcerative Colitis

I should have known I was in trouble when the doctor told my mother I had allergies to house dust when I was only a baby. Twenty three years later the medical profession told me I had ulcerative colitis. I've decided no one should have one of these conditions let alone both.

I have a major period of time when I go through "heck" with my allergies. This is the seasonal change of spring to summer and lasts about 60 days.

The seasonal allergies are pretty much isolated as far as irritation or overlap of symptoms. However, they can affect ulcerative colitis and it can work the other way as well. Springtime allergies are often brought about by weed growth such as Ambrosia Ragweed.

When I am sleeping, I have drainage that goes all the way down into my digestive tract. This of course is happening without any type of protection for the bowel and so there can be irritation from the mucosa. (I know, yuck!) In the morning, I can wake up nauseated and ultimately, at times, I can have a flare of my ulcerative colitis.

What I have started doing is to use a high-powered humidifier; I have coated my bowel with Mylanta; I have eschewed eating late and I use mild nose drops. Further, I have utilized a "propped up" sleeping position. Of course even with these precautions, I may awake to a problem and, have, on a number of occasions awakened in the middle of the night to nausea. It is terrible to be dreaming and dream of feeling ill in the dream only to wake up sick.

There are times that I have had to utilize prescription medications that have caused side effects with respect to my ulcerative colitis, often the side effect is diarrhea which is well known for causing flares.

The medication that I have used recently is a medication called Veramyst (fluticasone furoate) which is reasonably easy on my bowel, at least so far.

Medication taken for ulcerative colitis flares can be annoying for the allergy sufferer. First, when you take Prednisone, your immune system begins to weaken, so things that weren't bothering you before all of sudden begin to.

It is possible to get into a "circle of misery" with allergies and ulcerative colitis. If you "drain" into your intestine and cause a flare; then after having an ulcerative colitis flare begin taking Prednisone, your respiratory system will weaken further.

I have found that spending more time exercising indoors is better; one has nothing to prove. An indoor walking pool is just as effective as an outdoor pool. Further, I have found that naps are a good thing. For whatever reason when I take two or three hour naps I don't have the same ulcerative colitis reaction.

I have had to use an inhaler once because the allergies got so bad. I have also been advised to get "breathing treatments" at various times (medication, gently administered).

As I said originally, I should have known I was in for bad luck when I was a baby, but, it really wouldn't have mattered. Ulcerative colitis and allergies are both bad enough on their own. Together they are almost overwhelming.

All one can do is stay inside; watch the allergy index and exercise, drink fluids and have an air conditioner. The other thing you have to concern yourself with is to not do something stupid like running into a nest of bees. If you add an anaphylactic reaction to the other two conditions, it may be the last addition you ever make.