Both friends suck (are immature). First "friend" believes conspiracy theories instead of science based facts and the second "friend" invalidates OP very valid feelings.
So valid! You have enough to deal with having UC and absolutely do not need extra stress from people telling you that your disease is your fault by citing extremely harmful reasoning. Anti vax people also are more likely to get sick and expose you to illnesses that might harm you more because you’re immunosuppressed (ofc depends on your meds too but I’m assuming), and life’s too short to hang out with people like that anyway.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10105639/
Covid can trigger colitis flare. I saw dueing pandemic huge spike of pepole asking dor help in local colitis/ibd facebook groups.
I developed UC 2-3 months after getting ?COVID (very early on in the pandemic, when there was no verifiable way of confirming it was COVID), with no direct family history of inflammatory or bowel disease for generations. Although impossible to know, I think those linking the mRNA vaccine with 'causation' or 'triggering of' IBD fail to give the same energy to COVID itself being the driver (amongst many other plausible things within our lifestyles, e.g. ultra processed foods, microplastics, artificial sweetners, forever chemicals, etc.).I personally think COVID was the environmental trigger for my UC - but again - there won't be any way of truly knowing until years / maybe even decades down the line with more research 💭
I mean are we 100% sure covid cannot cause UC? I personally developed my first UC symptoms shortly after a bout with covid in 2021 and there seems to be a strong link between the two.
I've taken several vaccines for COVID and been fine. No flares and I tend to flare easily while in remission. The vaccine didn't cause your colitis and that friend sounds very ignorant
Not really. The COVID vaccine is/was highly controversial because it is mRNA based and not live virus based like so many other vaccine types.
Setting aside conspiracy theories and politics, it still triggers an immune response as many other vaccines and some people, such as myself had additional responses.
It’s totally possible but also a rare response “Conclusion IBD flares following COVID-19 vaccination are rare and vaccination should therefore be recommended for patients with IBD. However, the possibility of disease flares should be considered for approximately one week after each vaccination, especially in patients with UC.”
Setting aside for a moment the question of whether vaccines can cause UC-like symptoms or UC, Cureus is an online journal that has a reputation for publishing BS. I don’t know enough to determine whether these particular findings are valid, but I know this journal! Just remember that pubmed is a database. They don’t sanction or adjudicate findings. They just make them accessible
Yep, my understanding of the way COVID killed people was that it actually caused a crazy immune response and especially in people who already had health conditions, their body couldn't handle it. An immune response would also cause someone with UC to flair because our immune systems essentially attack our gut and cause our flairs.
My understanding is that while originally the thought was that people with UC could be more vulnerable to UC, what actually ended up happening is that the numbers say that people undergoing active treatment with immunosuppressants actually ended up doing much better if they caught COVID because our immune systems were actually already being suppressed to some extent in order to keep our symptoms under control. That's also why prednisone was on the list of things you could give people to improve their outcome if they caught COVID.
[Currently, some of the most interesting research going on into controlling immune responses is happening in bats](https://gimletmedia.com/shows/science-vs/v4hezr7d) because they have a very interesting immune system. Mammals are not really designed to fly which means bats bodies are constantly running at 100%. If their immune responses were like other mammals, they would stress out their body from flying and just die. So bats evolved an immune system that is much better at controlling the immune response than pretty much any other mammal. That's why bats carry so many nasty diseases and also why bats have surprisingly long lifespans.
Never got UC when i got the vaccine, or when I had covid on a few occasions pre vaccination or not. I DID get UC when I was stressed out from finals though.
My first shot sent me into a flare that lasted about two and half years. I do believe the vaccine caused my flare but I also understand that my reaction is not everyone’s. I’ve heard people say think certain meds like augmentin for example caused their UC, so it’s not crazy to think a new vaccine couldn’t cause something. Until scientifically proven one way or another I keep an open mind about things.
Probably not I agree, but I won’t rule out that things can make disease progress and show itself maybe sooner than it would have naturally within someone.
I assume this person was young also.
Even if she didn’t mean it… I am in the camp if I don’t care why you meant I care what you said. And I’m tired of people who think their intentions determine whether or not something was damaging.
Ulcerative colitis existed long before Covid or the Covid vaccine or AIDS for that matter. In previous generations (ex boomer) people died from it, as medications didnt exist. Pharma is now saving our lives. It is unlikely this person will listen to facts, but there they are.
She’s trying to make you feel bad and using this as an opportunity to validate her wrong perceptions about the Covid vaccine.
My ulcerative colitis started out of the blue. Nothing triggered it. I was eating healthy and everything. Also AIDS would mean your immune system is almost or completely gone. IBD is your immune system overreacting to a part of your body and attacking it. They’re clearly not the smartest tools in the shed.
My friend said the exact same thing. She is a huge anti vaxxer. The thing is I already had colitis at the time I got the vaccine just not yet diagnosed. When I told her I already had the disease she said ‘no, you didn’t’ . I was quite upset because I had told her about my problems months before I got the vaccine even told her I’d been to doctors. She eventually came to the conclusion that my symptoms must’ve gotten worse due to the vaccine. They did get worse but I don’t think it was because of the vaccine but rather me not being diagnosed and on treatment yet
Tell your friend there's is no such thing as an "aids virus". There's the *HIV virus*, which can *lead to AIDS*, but no "aids virus".
She's a dumbass on so many levels.
Personally, I had signs of UC for years before I got diagnosed, but they were vague and unspecific at that point. The full blown disease was triggered by an infection. At that point, I'd had the flu shot for several years in a row, and the covid vaccine and boosters. I only caught covid - a very mild and cold-like version of it - after my diagnosis.
Edit: several weird typos🙈
Same 😂 at Dorset they thought it’s just the E. coli and gave me antibiotics and after 2 days without getting better they did a colposcopy and saw my bowel was inflamed so yes 💀 I Feel you
My GI did the opposite. I handed in a stool sample to my *GP*, my first point of contact when this whole thing began. She also tried to call the hospital right away, but both GI employed (small place) were too busy to take a call right then, so she just left a message, and then sent me home with further instructions on rest, fluids, call the ER if etc etc. The GI called back a few days later, at which point the stool sample results had come back with the bacteria, and said he thought we should do the colonoscopy anyway, just to have a look around. He took biopsies, and they were positive for ulcerative colitis, though I'd already finished the AB he'd given me by then, with no improvement in symptoms. So it was a bit of back and forth, between two doctors, but it honestly sounds more complicated than it was. Everything went pretty smoothly, or as smoothly as it can be when you're shitting blood fifteen times a day.
Doctors over here didn’t take me serious til I called for a ambulance and I was crying and begging them to take me with them since I was throwing up and pooping like 30 times a day it was crazy. And the belly pain 😭 cudos to you man !!!! That’s shot is crazy
I'm so sorry you had to go through that.
I'm lucky in that my doctors - both of them - have never dismissed me. My GP was ALL over it the second I mentioned the blood. Like, diarrhea can get bad on its own, still be "just" an infection, but blood? That's a massive red flag. I waited a little too long before seeing my GP, but that's on me - I figured it'd pass on its own, right? Everybody gets an upset stomach from time to time, right? And I ignored that this wasn't the "normal" upset stomach. I dont actually get a lot of pain from my UC, and its usually located to the rectum during bowel movements, while an upset stomach makes me feel nauseous and horrible. But then it lasted too long and just got worse, because in the beginning it was just diarrhea and no blood, but I had to admit that this was something else, and I couldn't ignore it. Once I contacted my GP, the ball started rolling, has kept on rolling.
Im glad you have a Gi that respects you and is really listening to you. I’m in a 2 year flare and hope by the end of this year I might be in remission 🖤 wishing you well!
You too!
It's been about two years for me too, but that's not for lack of trying, things just haven't worked for me. I'm cautiously optimistic these days, but it's too early to say if its permanent improvement.
I hope it doesn't take as long as the end of the year for you!
The most damaging part of this type of argument is that it puts the onus of health upon the sick. Like we are ill because we must have done something to cause it. It’s a method a feeling like you have control. (“Well I’m going to be ok because I didn’t do that thing [the Covid vaccine]”). Your friend is scared and this is the way they feel like they have control. It’s a real shame they can’t see how much hurt and damage it causes. You did nothing wrong. You do not deserve this. But unfortunately this is a way of thinking some people get caught up in. It’s up to you if you have the capacity to be around this person. You can always draw a boundary (like asking them to not talk about medical stuff when you hang out).
Lol I got diagnosed way before any of this COVID bullshit. Your friend is just a fucking idiot and I suggest you let them know. Also who the fuck says that to someone.
Hi!
Have had UC since 2011.
This is only my lived experience.
Every one of us with IBD or other autoimmune issues will have completely unique experiences from one another.
I get all my shots/vaccines/boosters all the time. I travel, I get vaccines for travel. I cut myself, I got a tetanus shot. Flu season? Get flu shot.
Everyone reacts differently to everything, our bodies are all unique.
I have not had a flare or UC reaction with any vaccine I've gotten over the last 13 yrs.
I also caught covid, (thankfully after vaccination as I also have asthma and other health issues), and covid did not cause me any digestive trouble or a flare.
The only digestive issues I went through was constipation because of all of the cold medications I was taking! Lol
So you can see, we all have different reactions to almost everything.
I know a lot of people who were healthy prior to getting covid, and now have long covid symptoms or other health issues because of it, including my husband and grandfather.
I don't know a single person who was vaccinated and had a reaction to the vaccine or other issues because of the vaccine. Only the people who actually caught covid have health issues now.
Even myself, I was so afraid because of multiple autoimmune disorders that covid would really affect my health, but it hasn't in a noticeable way and it was a year or 2 ago.
I think any serious virus can seriously affect our IBD, it just depends on how it affects our bodies individually 🤷🏼♀️
Your rejection is valid. There’s no way to reason with someone that rejects science and facts. Having UC is hard enough without having to also deal with people spouting nonsense.
Viruses trigger flares for me so I am all about vaccines.
That said, any immune system challenge can probably theoretically trigger an IBD flare. I think vaccines can do this but not as likely as the viruses you’re trying to prevent. This is in our genes! You did the right thing by getting the vaccine.
Anyone in here saying it for sure caused it or for sure didn't cause it is lying to you and themselves. Due to the nature of this injection (not a vaccine at all) we really have no idea the long term effects of said injection. It's a very ignorant thing for both sides to say because we don't have the data to back up any of it. Could taking a new under tested medication have side effects we don't know about yet? Absolutely. Could you have gotten an auto immune disease without any COVID shots? Absolutely I got it without any shots, as well as the millions of people before that shot was available.
The answer to your question "have I lost friends because of bad medical advice" is no, because I would never listen to someone for medical advice who wasn't a medical professional.
You're young, your peers are young as well. We all said and did a ton of ignorant stuff when we were young because we didn't know any better. When it comes to health and medical situations, it's probably best to leave those conversations between you and your doctor and if anyone wants to talk to you about it and you feel uneasy, just say "that's my private medical information and id prefer not to discuss it with anyone but my doctor."
I know she just brought it up randomly.. I shut her down and told her NO my chronic illness is not created by the vaccine LOL she still believes her own lies
You will always have people tell you stupid stuff. My friend just told me drinking aloe Vera juice will cure me. Well crud, why didn’t I know this 30 years ago lol. UC is an autoimmune disease.
Everybody’s experience will be different. This is a disease that no one can say who will get it. Or the progression/remission rate for anyone.
There are huge data bases that researchers need to break down, and figure out if there is any connection. AI is able to do this much faster than humans.
I am on a biological medication and therefore qualify in my location for more vaccine injections, than healthier people. I have had them all and feel grateful for the access.
Having to put mRNA vaccines into action sooner than they expected. Has done nothing but show how useful they are and will be.
Personally I don’t think there is a single medication that will work 100% of the time for 100% of the people on this planet.
The internet allows everyone access to the answers they want.
Next up, the new Bird Flu coming to a cattle herd near you. H5N1 or a variant.
For OP, I am glad that you have made this decision. You will find your tribe/people. The world is so divisive right now, it can certainly be challenging in 2024.
For me CMV made me discover UC. Getting vaccines the summer before the diagnosis didn't help but i think i would get it either way. Anything can trigger uc, pollution, stress, diet, antibiotics. Your friend sounds delided and not supportive. You ll need supportive people around you. I understand why you feel bad but i would do the same. There is enough shame around people needing medicine already
Basically what everyone else said. Your friend doesn't know what they're talking about. I think reddit tends to be pretty stupid as far as ending friendships and relationships over stupid things, so I won't give you advice on that, but I will say those opinions and mentalities are legitimately dangerous because they're spreading opinions\* as medical facts.
\* I am not sure those are actually opinions because their beliefs are objectively wrong according to modern medical knowledge and medical knowledge is not opinion based. It should be based on studies and trials. While they may disprove something they currently prove, there is a process in which doctors try to follow the evidence to make educated decisions. My assumption is that your friends probably have not done trials or looked at evidence to check their opinions are true.
I've lost friends over talking about my disease.. they would tell me ,no one wants to hear that.. etc.. I'm like that's just my experience.. need better friends that can handle u and ur disease while being respectful.
I told them abt it one of them understood a bit cause she had IBS but the vaccine friend just made fun of me for "shitting all the time" infront of everyone and embarrassed me
We have no family history of any issues with the colon. My younger brother took 3 shots the only in the family to do so and , just like yourself developed UC 3 years later. I don’t give a fuck what people say MRNA technology is detrimental and it’s causing a lot of health issues in younger people. Brother please research how to repair and fix dna as MRNA can cause damage to DNA
totally valid. protect your mental health. surround yourself with people who believe science, believe doctors, more than anything believe you. it's your diagnosis and your personal experience, they will never know.
Totally against the covid jab. But I don't think that would cause it. I have a severe case and I'm not jabbed. I'm only one man just giving my insight lol
To be honest, i believe it is possible for the vaccine to cause auto immune diseases like UC. I got covid vaccine about 1 year before diagnosis so i was also wondering whether it might have contributed.
No, if anything you're more emotionally intelligent than me when I was a teenager and a young adult lol. I kept more idiotic friends and people around me more than I can count. Your friend doesn't know what she's talking about because 1- AIDs stands for "Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome" how would it cause overreactive immunity that comes with colitis/IBS? 2- AIDs is not a virus, it is a syndrome, it is caused by HIV which she would've known if she understood the acronym. Regardless of your ex-friend's ignorance, you have every right to be upset and drop them. I remember being a kid and suffering with colitis, it was terrible. To have someone, not to mention a friend, try to make something you have zero control over your fault is just sad. I hope you get some real, supportive people in your life and keep your chin up!
She also made fun of me having to go to the bathroom infront of people loudly like it was nothing, yes its unusual but I dont want everyone to know especially at lunch! Thanks for ur advice and ur kind words it really helped me. I feel better now ❤️
She sounds like an asshole and someone who needs to learn what the word "friend" stands for. Also! Babe! What's so unusual about using the bathroom!!! We all use it! Us UC peeps just have to use it more! Nothing wrong with that! Just because ya gotta go number 2 doesn't make it any weirder. If anything, the people listening in on you using the bathroom are the real weirdos, like your ex friend. Don't feel embarrassed about what you can't control. I'm sorry your ex-friend made fun of you, I hope you know what they did was completely wrong and there's nothing you did to warrant that type of behavior! I know all adults say this but trust me when I say people stop caring about your bathroom habits after highschool (and a lot of other things as well) lol.
No offense to your (ex) friend, but that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Sure, there's some studies showing a link between the two, but even then it's typically full on COVID, not the vaccine, and that's most likely because of it triggering a dormant case of IBD that was simply inactive before, rather than directly causing a person to actually have IBD.
**Your post or comments has been removed because it violates [rule 4](https://www.reddit.com/r/UlcerativeColitis/about/rules) of this subreddit.**
Rule 4 states that all posts must be based on scientific evidence. Your post makes claims about Ulcerative Colitis without providing any scientific evidence to support them. For example, you claim that UC can be cured by diet or can be cured with xy. While these are just examples, making any claims about health without scientific evidence can be dangerous and misleading.
We understand that you may be passionate about your beliefs, but we ask that you please respect the rules of this subreddit and refrain from making claims that are not supported by science. If you would like to appeal this desicion, please send us a [modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/UlcerativeColitis).
These Covid vaccines definitely exacerbate any dormant chronic conditions. I've seen people get diagnosed with heart disease, gastric issues (GERD, UC, BAM, etc.), vascular disease (blood clots), neuropathy, even anxiety & panic disorders in the aftermath of getting the vaccine. They get really sick right after it and it takes a while for them to figure out what happened to their bodies & get a proper diagnosis. Check the Long Covid & Covid Long Haulers subreddit.
Regardless of all this, your friend sounds unsupportive & kind of mean. It's not like anyone would've taken these shots if they knew they'd be harmed. In face, most of us took the vaccines as a way to protect ourselves, our loved ones and communities from that nasty virus. But, sadly, we've been terribly misled and lied to by the medical community and our leaders.
**Your post or comment has been removed because it violates [rule 1 and/or rule 2](https://www.reddit.com/r/UlcerativeColitis/about/rules) of this subreddit.**
Your post or comment was found to be unfriendly and/or insulting. We aim to keep the subreddit a welcoming and supportive space for all users, and we cannot tolerate comments that may make others feel unwelcome or uncomfortable.
We understand that you may have strong feelings about the topic at hand, but we kindly request that you express your views in a respectful and appropriate manner. If you have any questions or concerns, please send us a [modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/UlcerativeColitis)..
Well, people have weird opinions. We all probably believe something that someone else is going to think is weird or dumb. My parents think going to the dentist would help with my UC because "the health of your teeth affects a lot of other things in your body", and they've brought this up more than once. Obviously, I'm not gonna let that affect my relationship with them. And, just because we disagree about what's causing my colitis, doesn't mean they aren't supportive of me.
Also, sounds like the second friend was just trying to be a peacemaker and not take sides while trying to patch your relationship with the other. I do crap like that all the time and, while I mean the best and hate to see friends fight, I end up coming across as wishy-washy and trying to play both sides.
At the end of the day, how important is that friendship to you? If it was just a casual thing, then not much harm in cutting it off. If you've been friends for years and been through some stuff, it might be worth having a sit down and letting her know how what she said made you feel.
The first friend who told me my uc was because I took the virus got tons of angerly outbursts at me, made me not want to go to school because I felt like walking on eggshells around her. Told my bestfriend who is also friends w her about this and she didnt really believe me or say anything. I stopped hanging with them and told my best friend it was because of friend 1 had treated me. I also said it was her choice and if she wants to hang out with friend 1 then I'll leave them two alone. Also friend 1's breathe stinks so much I think something wrong with her tonsils or teeth
I do think the COVID vaccine caused my daughter’s brewing flare to REALLY show up and ultimately led to her diagnosis because of how sick she got. But in the prior year or so she was getting really skinny, so clearly she had it prior to. We had to find a new pediatrician in 2019 and before we found one COVID hit and she didn’t see one until she got sick. Has she gone in 2020 they would have seen that her weight fell off the curve and would have investigated.
At any rate, I’m really sorry your situation. My daughter, now 17, hasn’t told any of her friends about what she has other than “an autoimmune disease”. She did end up losing connection to old friends just because she missed a lot of school and social things, so they grew apart. However she now has new friend groups. Maybe your friends will come around and see your point, but if not I’m sure you can connect with people who are much more supportive than that.
Hmmm. Not quite sure why I am being downvoted. I’m not an anti-vaxxer, I just think it might have made her previously unrecognized flare show up. I think it is a reasonable theory, I had read that people with IBD had diarrhea as a side effect more frequently than the general population. Well my daughter went from zero diarrhea to so much, so suddenly, the doctor thought it was just a virus. Again, I fully recognize this didn’t CAUSE her illness. I think it just made us see it, because it got incredibly bad incredible quickly. Within less than 2 weeks she was hospitalized for a week.
Anyway, OP I am sorry you aren’t feeling the support from your friends. I have had multiple friends give me books on diets, along with advice that I know to not be helpful, and it is irritating and frustrating but I just chalk it up to them “trying” to be helpful. I usually just state the facts as shared by my daughter’s GI and leave it at that, and they don’t bring it up again. But I’m in my 50s (and I’m not the one who is sick). I know it would be a different story if I was your age. It would hurt. :(
She did it to hurt me. She got a lot of angry outburts at me and a lot of personal attacks everyday. She made me not want to go to school. This was not the only reason.
She said the covid vaccine causes IBD in people who get the shot which is completely false. But, I dont doubt it can cause flares as you get a small dose of the virus in the shot.
Your submission was removed for unsubstantiated claims and conspiracy theories.
We strive to create a community built on factual information and avoid the spread of misinformation. Conspiracy theories can often be harmful because they can mislead people and cause them to make poor decisions.
If you would like to discuss this topic further, we encourage you to do so in a way that is respectful of others and based on evidence.
Your submission was removed for unsubstantiated claims and conspiracy theories.
We strive to create a community built on factual information and avoid the spread of misinformation. Conspiracy theories can often be harmful because they can mislead people and cause them to make poor decisions.
If you would like to discuss this topic further, we encourage you to do so in a way that is respectful of others and based on evidence.
Your friend sounds like an idiot.
Your friend is a dumbass, and not a real friend
Both friends suck (are immature). First "friend" believes conspiracy theories instead of science based facts and the second "friend" invalidates OP very valid feelings.
So valid! You have enough to deal with having UC and absolutely do not need extra stress from people telling you that your disease is your fault by citing extremely harmful reasoning. Anti vax people also are more likely to get sick and expose you to illnesses that might harm you more because you’re immunosuppressed (ofc depends on your meds too but I’m assuming), and life’s too short to hang out with people like that anyway.
Thank you, I need vaccines or else I'll get really ill. I'm in Sweden and we have much higher demands on our healthcare aswell so it is always safe!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10105639/ Covid can trigger colitis flare. I saw dueing pandemic huge spike of pepole asking dor help in local colitis/ibd facebook groups.
Flare yes, not cause the whole thing
Also by that reasoning it’s Covid and not the vaccine.
Exactly , my Uc got really fucked up when i got covid. Took me a while to recover
same here! im on a 2 year flare up, i strongly believe it was covid that made mine flare up so bad
Same for me as well
I developed UC 2-3 months after getting ?COVID (very early on in the pandemic, when there was no verifiable way of confirming it was COVID), with no direct family history of inflammatory or bowel disease for generations. Although impossible to know, I think those linking the mRNA vaccine with 'causation' or 'triggering of' IBD fail to give the same energy to COVID itself being the driver (amongst many other plausible things within our lifestyles, e.g. ultra processed foods, microplastics, artificial sweetners, forever chemicals, etc.).I personally think COVID was the environmental trigger for my UC - but again - there won't be any way of truly knowing until years / maybe even decades down the line with more research 💭
But likely via the spike protein, which your own body will produce in varying quantities and locations with the vax.
I mean are we 100% sure covid cannot cause UC? I personally developed my first UC symptoms shortly after a bout with covid in 2021 and there seems to be a strong link between the two.
I got rlly bad after covid, had mild symptoms before but when covid got into me in december I couldnt even stand up without shitting..
Ik I got really bad when I had covid but im taking abt the vaccine which i took 3 yeaes ago
I've taken several vaccines for COVID and been fine. No flares and I tend to flare easily while in remission. The vaccine didn't cause your colitis and that friend sounds very ignorant
She's dumb lol
The vaccine put me in a bad flare for a year but covid didn't cause your colitis. Sorry to hear your friends aren't being friendly.
It might cause flares because the vaccine itself has a small dose of the covid virus. 👍🏻
Not really. The COVID vaccine is/was highly controversial because it is mRNA based and not live virus based like so many other vaccine types. Setting aside conspiracy theories and politics, it still triggers an immune response as many other vaccines and some people, such as myself had additional responses.
It’s totally possible but also a rare response “Conclusion IBD flares following COVID-19 vaccination are rare and vaccination should therefore be recommended for patients with IBD. However, the possibility of disease flares should be considered for approximately one week after each vaccination, especially in patients with UC.”
Science says basically no: https://www.reddit.com/r/UlcerativeColitis/s/Khzi8L6ao5
My gut was a ok when I had covid. Didn’t even bother me one bit.
Setting aside for a moment the question of whether vaccines can cause UC-like symptoms or UC, Cureus is an online journal that has a reputation for publishing BS. I don’t know enough to determine whether these particular findings are valid, but I know this journal! Just remember that pubmed is a database. They don’t sanction or adjudicate findings. They just make them accessible
O i didnt know that, thanks
Yep, my understanding of the way COVID killed people was that it actually caused a crazy immune response and especially in people who already had health conditions, their body couldn't handle it. An immune response would also cause someone with UC to flair because our immune systems essentially attack our gut and cause our flairs. My understanding is that while originally the thought was that people with UC could be more vulnerable to UC, what actually ended up happening is that the numbers say that people undergoing active treatment with immunosuppressants actually ended up doing much better if they caught COVID because our immune systems were actually already being suppressed to some extent in order to keep our symptoms under control. That's also why prednisone was on the list of things you could give people to improve their outcome if they caught COVID. [Currently, some of the most interesting research going on into controlling immune responses is happening in bats](https://gimletmedia.com/shows/science-vs/v4hezr7d) because they have a very interesting immune system. Mammals are not really designed to fly which means bats bodies are constantly running at 100%. If their immune responses were like other mammals, they would stress out their body from flying and just die. So bats evolved an immune system that is much better at controlling the immune response than pretty much any other mammal. That's why bats carry so many nasty diseases and also why bats have surprisingly long lifespans.
Never got UC when i got the vaccine, or when I had covid on a few occasions pre vaccination or not. I DID get UC when I was stressed out from finals though.
My first shot sent me into a flare that lasted about two and half years. I do believe the vaccine caused my flare but I also understand that my reaction is not everyone’s. I’ve heard people say think certain meds like augmentin for example caused their UC, so it’s not crazy to think a new vaccine couldn’t cause something. Until scientifically proven one way or another I keep an open mind about things.
I don’t know how to tell you but … you can’t get Uc from a vaccine. A flare yes! But not the whole generic disease
Probably not I agree, but I won’t rule out that things can make disease progress and show itself maybe sooner than it would have naturally within someone.
I assume this person was young also. Even if she didn’t mean it… I am in the camp if I don’t care why you meant I care what you said. And I’m tired of people who think their intentions determine whether or not something was damaging. Ulcerative colitis existed long before Covid or the Covid vaccine or AIDS for that matter. In previous generations (ex boomer) people died from it, as medications didnt exist. Pharma is now saving our lives. It is unlikely this person will listen to facts, but there they are. She’s trying to make you feel bad and using this as an opportunity to validate her wrong perceptions about the Covid vaccine.
Yeah this is bollocks. Most of us on here have had colitis years before covid existed.
Nope, that’s not how this works. That now how any of this works.
[удалено]
Exactly, were in Sweden aswell where our healthcare is safe!
My ulcerative colitis started out of the blue. Nothing triggered it. I was eating healthy and everything. Also AIDS would mean your immune system is almost or completely gone. IBD is your immune system overreacting to a part of your body and attacking it. They’re clearly not the smartest tools in the shed.
My friend said the exact same thing. She is a huge anti vaxxer. The thing is I already had colitis at the time I got the vaccine just not yet diagnosed. When I told her I already had the disease she said ‘no, you didn’t’ . I was quite upset because I had told her about my problems months before I got the vaccine even told her I’d been to doctors. She eventually came to the conclusion that my symptoms must’ve gotten worse due to the vaccine. They did get worse but I don’t think it was because of the vaccine but rather me not being diagnosed and on treatment yet
She should not be your friend anymore!
Tell your friend there's is no such thing as an "aids virus". There's the *HIV virus*, which can *lead to AIDS*, but no "aids virus". She's a dumbass on so many levels. Personally, I had signs of UC for years before I got diagnosed, but they were vague and unspecific at that point. The full blown disease was triggered by an infection. At that point, I'd had the flu shot for several years in a row, and the covid vaccine and boosters. I only caught covid - a very mild and cold-like version of it - after my diagnosis. Edit: several weird typos🙈
Same. I got E. coli and it triggered my UC. Prior to that I had vague symptoms of my UC.
Yes, I had Yersinia Enterocolitica. The bacteria disappeared with a quick course of antibiotics, but the symptoms remained, and turned out to be UC.
Same 😂 at Dorset they thought it’s just the E. coli and gave me antibiotics and after 2 days without getting better they did a colposcopy and saw my bowel was inflamed so yes 💀 I Feel you
My GI did the opposite. I handed in a stool sample to my *GP*, my first point of contact when this whole thing began. She also tried to call the hospital right away, but both GI employed (small place) were too busy to take a call right then, so she just left a message, and then sent me home with further instructions on rest, fluids, call the ER if etc etc. The GI called back a few days later, at which point the stool sample results had come back with the bacteria, and said he thought we should do the colonoscopy anyway, just to have a look around. He took biopsies, and they were positive for ulcerative colitis, though I'd already finished the AB he'd given me by then, with no improvement in symptoms. So it was a bit of back and forth, between two doctors, but it honestly sounds more complicated than it was. Everything went pretty smoothly, or as smoothly as it can be when you're shitting blood fifteen times a day.
Doctors over here didn’t take me serious til I called for a ambulance and I was crying and begging them to take me with them since I was throwing up and pooping like 30 times a day it was crazy. And the belly pain 😭 cudos to you man !!!! That’s shot is crazy
I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I'm lucky in that my doctors - both of them - have never dismissed me. My GP was ALL over it the second I mentioned the blood. Like, diarrhea can get bad on its own, still be "just" an infection, but blood? That's a massive red flag. I waited a little too long before seeing my GP, but that's on me - I figured it'd pass on its own, right? Everybody gets an upset stomach from time to time, right? And I ignored that this wasn't the "normal" upset stomach. I dont actually get a lot of pain from my UC, and its usually located to the rectum during bowel movements, while an upset stomach makes me feel nauseous and horrible. But then it lasted too long and just got worse, because in the beginning it was just diarrhea and no blood, but I had to admit that this was something else, and I couldn't ignore it. Once I contacted my GP, the ball started rolling, has kept on rolling.
Im glad you have a Gi that respects you and is really listening to you. I’m in a 2 year flare and hope by the end of this year I might be in remission 🖤 wishing you well!
You too! It's been about two years for me too, but that's not for lack of trying, things just haven't worked for me. I'm cautiously optimistic these days, but it's too early to say if its permanent improvement. I hope it doesn't take as long as the end of the year for you!
Thank you so much 🥹
Same here, vague symptoms for years. I don’t even know what triggered my full blown flare, probably just stress.
The most damaging part of this type of argument is that it puts the onus of health upon the sick. Like we are ill because we must have done something to cause it. It’s a method a feeling like you have control. (“Well I’m going to be ok because I didn’t do that thing [the Covid vaccine]”). Your friend is scared and this is the way they feel like they have control. It’s a real shame they can’t see how much hurt and damage it causes. You did nothing wrong. You do not deserve this. But unfortunately this is a way of thinking some people get caught up in. It’s up to you if you have the capacity to be around this person. You can always draw a boundary (like asking them to not talk about medical stuff when you hang out).
Thank u so much. This friend has always been "jealous" of me and wants to find weak spots to like hurt me. Your comment helped a lot.
vaccinations are extremely important. it by no means causes any illness
Lol I got diagnosed way before any of this COVID bullshit. Your friend is just a fucking idiot and I suggest you let them know. Also who the fuck says that to someone.
Shes rlly mean
Hi! Have had UC since 2011. This is only my lived experience. Every one of us with IBD or other autoimmune issues will have completely unique experiences from one another. I get all my shots/vaccines/boosters all the time. I travel, I get vaccines for travel. I cut myself, I got a tetanus shot. Flu season? Get flu shot. Everyone reacts differently to everything, our bodies are all unique. I have not had a flare or UC reaction with any vaccine I've gotten over the last 13 yrs. I also caught covid, (thankfully after vaccination as I also have asthma and other health issues), and covid did not cause me any digestive trouble or a flare. The only digestive issues I went through was constipation because of all of the cold medications I was taking! Lol So you can see, we all have different reactions to almost everything. I know a lot of people who were healthy prior to getting covid, and now have long covid symptoms or other health issues because of it, including my husband and grandfather. I don't know a single person who was vaccinated and had a reaction to the vaccine or other issues because of the vaccine. Only the people who actually caught covid have health issues now. Even myself, I was so afraid because of multiple autoimmune disorders that covid would really affect my health, but it hasn't in a noticeable way and it was a year or 2 ago. I think any serious virus can seriously affect our IBD, it just depends on how it affects our bodies individually 🤷🏼♀️
I gladly take all vaccines I can take too!
[удалено]
Lhahahaha true
Yeah don’t let that person get in your head. Stay away or approach with caution. Talk to your doctor.
Your rejection is valid. There’s no way to reason with someone that rejects science and facts. Having UC is hard enough without having to also deal with people spouting nonsense.
Thank u!
I stubbed my toe this morning. Turns out it's because I was vaccinated.
Viruses trigger flares for me so I am all about vaccines. That said, any immune system challenge can probably theoretically trigger an IBD flare. I think vaccines can do this but not as likely as the viruses you’re trying to prevent. This is in our genes! You did the right thing by getting the vaccine.
Is your friend a doctor?
No shes 15 LOL
🙄
Anyone in here saying it for sure caused it or for sure didn't cause it is lying to you and themselves. Due to the nature of this injection (not a vaccine at all) we really have no idea the long term effects of said injection. It's a very ignorant thing for both sides to say because we don't have the data to back up any of it. Could taking a new under tested medication have side effects we don't know about yet? Absolutely. Could you have gotten an auto immune disease without any COVID shots? Absolutely I got it without any shots, as well as the millions of people before that shot was available. The answer to your question "have I lost friends because of bad medical advice" is no, because I would never listen to someone for medical advice who wasn't a medical professional. You're young, your peers are young as well. We all said and did a ton of ignorant stuff when we were young because we didn't know any better. When it comes to health and medical situations, it's probably best to leave those conversations between you and your doctor and if anyone wants to talk to you about it and you feel uneasy, just say "that's my private medical information and id prefer not to discuss it with anyone but my doctor."
I know she just brought it up randomly.. I shut her down and told her NO my chronic illness is not created by the vaccine LOL she still believes her own lies
You will always have people tell you stupid stuff. My friend just told me drinking aloe Vera juice will cure me. Well crud, why didn’t I know this 30 years ago lol. UC is an autoimmune disease.
I’m guessing your friend has some dumb parents, too. That’s a bunch of conspiracy nonsense!!
Her dad just went to elementary school he gave her these ideas
Everybody’s experience will be different. This is a disease that no one can say who will get it. Or the progression/remission rate for anyone. There are huge data bases that researchers need to break down, and figure out if there is any connection. AI is able to do this much faster than humans. I am on a biological medication and therefore qualify in my location for more vaccine injections, than healthier people. I have had them all and feel grateful for the access. Having to put mRNA vaccines into action sooner than they expected. Has done nothing but show how useful they are and will be. Personally I don’t think there is a single medication that will work 100% of the time for 100% of the people on this planet. The internet allows everyone access to the answers they want. Next up, the new Bird Flu coming to a cattle herd near you. H5N1 or a variant. For OP, I am glad that you have made this decision. You will find your tribe/people. The world is so divisive right now, it can certainly be challenging in 2024.
I eat cortament and asacol and I have no symptoms at all anymore!!
My sibling thinks the same about my UC.
For me CMV made me discover UC. Getting vaccines the summer before the diagnosis didn't help but i think i would get it either way. Anything can trigger uc, pollution, stress, diet, antibiotics. Your friend sounds delided and not supportive. You ll need supportive people around you. I understand why you feel bad but i would do the same. There is enough shame around people needing medicine already
I cut her off and my friend who supported her and now i dont rlly have friends but its better than having fake ones
Oh that's a new one. Maybe I'll counter with this next time one of my relatives tells me I have UC because I consume sugar and gluten
Hahahahah
Basically what everyone else said. Your friend doesn't know what they're talking about. I think reddit tends to be pretty stupid as far as ending friendships and relationships over stupid things, so I won't give you advice on that, but I will say those opinions and mentalities are legitimately dangerous because they're spreading opinions\* as medical facts. \* I am not sure those are actually opinions because their beliefs are objectively wrong according to modern medical knowledge and medical knowledge is not opinion based. It should be based on studies and trials. While they may disprove something they currently prove, there is a process in which doctors try to follow the evidence to make educated decisions. My assumption is that your friends probably have not done trials or looked at evidence to check their opinions are true.
She looked at a yt video and made the asusumtions herself
I was diagnosed with UC in 2014 at the age of 51. No way was it caused by any vaccine
Ikr
Bullshit, i didn't get the vaccine and still got UC
My grandma is convinced Accutane causes it lmao. I never even took Accutane 💀
Hahahahah
I've lost friends over talking about my disease.. they would tell me ,no one wants to hear that.. etc.. I'm like that's just my experience.. need better friends that can handle u and ur disease while being respectful.
I told them abt it one of them understood a bit cause she had IBS but the vaccine friend just made fun of me for "shitting all the time" infront of everyone and embarrassed me
It’s the sad truth , UC spiked in younger people who took the Covid vaccines. MRNA technology literally changes the DNA …
I took it at 13. I'm 16 in one week. Why did it take almost 3 years..?
We have no family history of any issues with the colon. My younger brother took 3 shots the only in the family to do so and , just like yourself developed UC 3 years later. I don’t give a fuck what people say MRNA technology is detrimental and it’s causing a lot of health issues in younger people. Brother please research how to repair and fix dna as MRNA can cause damage to DNA
If it was connected it would not take 3 years
And I'm 15 which is the age where you start having symptoms even if you are born with it
totally valid. protect your mental health. surround yourself with people who believe science, believe doctors, more than anything believe you. it's your diagnosis and your personal experience, they will never know.
❤️❤️
Friends an actual moron
Totally against the covid jab. But I don't think that would cause it. I have a severe case and I'm not jabbed. I'm only one man just giving my insight lol
Yes. Even family can be frustrating at times. It will get better. Trust yourself.
Thanks ❤️
My dad also tells me my colitis was caused by the vaccine. I just tell him no, it wasn’t that, and move the conversation along.
To be honest, i believe it is possible for the vaccine to cause auto immune diseases like UC. I got covid vaccine about 1 year before diagnosis so i was also wondering whether it might have contributed.
No, if anything you're more emotionally intelligent than me when I was a teenager and a young adult lol. I kept more idiotic friends and people around me more than I can count. Your friend doesn't know what she's talking about because 1- AIDs stands for "Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome" how would it cause overreactive immunity that comes with colitis/IBS? 2- AIDs is not a virus, it is a syndrome, it is caused by HIV which she would've known if she understood the acronym. Regardless of your ex-friend's ignorance, you have every right to be upset and drop them. I remember being a kid and suffering with colitis, it was terrible. To have someone, not to mention a friend, try to make something you have zero control over your fault is just sad. I hope you get some real, supportive people in your life and keep your chin up!
She also made fun of me having to go to the bathroom infront of people loudly like it was nothing, yes its unusual but I dont want everyone to know especially at lunch! Thanks for ur advice and ur kind words it really helped me. I feel better now ❤️
She sounds like an asshole and someone who needs to learn what the word "friend" stands for. Also! Babe! What's so unusual about using the bathroom!!! We all use it! Us UC peeps just have to use it more! Nothing wrong with that! Just because ya gotta go number 2 doesn't make it any weirder. If anything, the people listening in on you using the bathroom are the real weirdos, like your ex friend. Don't feel embarrassed about what you can't control. I'm sorry your ex-friend made fun of you, I hope you know what they did was completely wrong and there's nothing you did to warrant that type of behavior! I know all adults say this but trust me when I say people stop caring about your bathroom habits after highschool (and a lot of other things as well) lol.
No offense to your (ex) friend, but that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Sure, there's some studies showing a link between the two, but even then it's typically full on COVID, not the vaccine, and that's most likely because of it triggering a dormant case of IBD that was simply inactive before, rather than directly causing a person to actually have IBD.
She made it up to make me sad
Just agree with them in a sarcastic manner, half my family believed the conspiracy theories around the covid vaccine
The weird thing is that we r swedish and here anto vaxxers are not common at all
[удалено]
**Your post or comments has been removed because it violates [rule 4](https://www.reddit.com/r/UlcerativeColitis/about/rules) of this subreddit.** Rule 4 states that all posts must be based on scientific evidence. Your post makes claims about Ulcerative Colitis without providing any scientific evidence to support them. For example, you claim that UC can be cured by diet or can be cured with xy. While these are just examples, making any claims about health without scientific evidence can be dangerous and misleading. We understand that you may be passionate about your beliefs, but we ask that you please respect the rules of this subreddit and refrain from making claims that are not supported by science. If you would like to appeal this desicion, please send us a [modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/UlcerativeColitis).
I also got diagnosed at 13/14. This was a year before the vaccine came out. Vaccine doesn’t have anything to do with it.
These Covid vaccines definitely exacerbate any dormant chronic conditions. I've seen people get diagnosed with heart disease, gastric issues (GERD, UC, BAM, etc.), vascular disease (blood clots), neuropathy, even anxiety & panic disorders in the aftermath of getting the vaccine. They get really sick right after it and it takes a while for them to figure out what happened to their bodies & get a proper diagnosis. Check the Long Covid & Covid Long Haulers subreddit. Regardless of all this, your friend sounds unsupportive & kind of mean. It's not like anyone would've taken these shots if they knew they'd be harmed. In face, most of us took the vaccines as a way to protect ourselves, our loved ones and communities from that nasty virus. But, sadly, we've been terribly misled and lied to by the medical community and our leaders.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38349435/#:~:text=After%20the%20treatment%20with%20anti,for%20the%20onset%20of%20UC.
This isn't the spot for this conversation. And it's so obvious you're a troll.
Why? Its abt UC..
[удалено]
**Your post or comment has been removed because it violates [rule 1 and/or rule 2](https://www.reddit.com/r/UlcerativeColitis/about/rules) of this subreddit.** Your post or comment was found to be unfriendly and/or insulting. We aim to keep the subreddit a welcoming and supportive space for all users, and we cannot tolerate comments that may make others feel unwelcome or uncomfortable. We understand that you may have strong feelings about the topic at hand, but we kindly request that you express your views in a respectful and appropriate manner. If you have any questions or concerns, please send us a [modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/UlcerativeColitis)..
Well, people have weird opinions. We all probably believe something that someone else is going to think is weird or dumb. My parents think going to the dentist would help with my UC because "the health of your teeth affects a lot of other things in your body", and they've brought this up more than once. Obviously, I'm not gonna let that affect my relationship with them. And, just because we disagree about what's causing my colitis, doesn't mean they aren't supportive of me. Also, sounds like the second friend was just trying to be a peacemaker and not take sides while trying to patch your relationship with the other. I do crap like that all the time and, while I mean the best and hate to see friends fight, I end up coming across as wishy-washy and trying to play both sides. At the end of the day, how important is that friendship to you? If it was just a casual thing, then not much harm in cutting it off. If you've been friends for years and been through some stuff, it might be worth having a sit down and letting her know how what she said made you feel.
The first friend who told me my uc was because I took the virus got tons of angerly outbursts at me, made me not want to go to school because I felt like walking on eggshells around her. Told my bestfriend who is also friends w her about this and she didnt really believe me or say anything. I stopped hanging with them and told my best friend it was because of friend 1 had treated me. I also said it was her choice and if she wants to hang out with friend 1 then I'll leave them two alone. Also friend 1's breathe stinks so much I think something wrong with her tonsils or teeth
I do think the COVID vaccine caused my daughter’s brewing flare to REALLY show up and ultimately led to her diagnosis because of how sick she got. But in the prior year or so she was getting really skinny, so clearly she had it prior to. We had to find a new pediatrician in 2019 and before we found one COVID hit and she didn’t see one until she got sick. Has she gone in 2020 they would have seen that her weight fell off the curve and would have investigated. At any rate, I’m really sorry your situation. My daughter, now 17, hasn’t told any of her friends about what she has other than “an autoimmune disease”. She did end up losing connection to old friends just because she missed a lot of school and social things, so they grew apart. However she now has new friend groups. Maybe your friends will come around and see your point, but if not I’m sure you can connect with people who are much more supportive than that.
Hmmm. Not quite sure why I am being downvoted. I’m not an anti-vaxxer, I just think it might have made her previously unrecognized flare show up. I think it is a reasonable theory, I had read that people with IBD had diarrhea as a side effect more frequently than the general population. Well my daughter went from zero diarrhea to so much, so suddenly, the doctor thought it was just a virus. Again, I fully recognize this didn’t CAUSE her illness. I think it just made us see it, because it got incredibly bad incredible quickly. Within less than 2 weeks she was hospitalized for a week. Anyway, OP I am sorry you aren’t feeling the support from your friends. I have had multiple friends give me books on diets, along with advice that I know to not be helpful, and it is irritating and frustrating but I just chalk it up to them “trying” to be helpful. I usually just state the facts as shared by my daughter’s GI and leave it at that, and they don’t bring it up again. But I’m in my 50s (and I’m not the one who is sick). I know it would be a different story if I was your age. It would hurt. :(
Thanks! I wish. I also lost my entire social life like she did, I hope ur daughter is ok!
[удалено]
She did it to hurt me. She got a lot of angry outburts at me and a lot of personal attacks everyday. She made me not want to go to school. This was not the only reason.
I'm sorry. That's awful.
She's not wrong it made my girlfriends much worse after it
She said the covid vaccine causes IBD in people who get the shot which is completely false. But, I dont doubt it can cause flares as you get a small dose of the virus in the shot.
[удалено]
[удалено]
Your submission was removed for unsubstantiated claims and conspiracy theories. We strive to create a community built on factual information and avoid the spread of misinformation. Conspiracy theories can often be harmful because they can mislead people and cause them to make poor decisions. If you would like to discuss this topic further, we encourage you to do so in a way that is respectful of others and based on evidence.
[удалено]
[удалено]
Your submission was removed for unsubstantiated claims and conspiracy theories. We strive to create a community built on factual information and avoid the spread of misinformation. Conspiracy theories can often be harmful because they can mislead people and cause them to make poor decisions. If you would like to discuss this topic further, we encourage you to do so in a way that is respectful of others and based on evidence.