Could it be UC?

Digestive health
1

Hi guys,

About a month ago for the first time in my life I started experiencing severe abdominal discomfort and bloody diarrhea. After visits to multiple doctors I was prescribed a course of antibiotics which helped relieve the symptoms after a couple of days, and now my bowel movements are relatively normal and I have no pain. 

I'm just confused though, because similarly to UC, my inflammatory markers were raised, and my stool culture came back negative to any bacterial infection. 

I'm nervous that it was something sinister and that these symptoms will come back.

Has anyone had a similar experience to me? Is it possible to have raised inflammatory markers without it being an IBD? 

Also, how long to flare ups generally last?

Thanks

2

I wouldn't worry about it, because antibiotics will not get rid of UC or Crohn's disease. They can get worse when you take antibiotics. A flare can last for years if left untreated. I have been flared up now for two years and oddly it started after a long course of Cipro. Antibiotics trigger an immune response and that is all that is needed to start a flare. The fact that you are feeling better means it was a bacterial infection of some kind. Be thankful it isn't UC or Crohn's as those with it suffer a lot.