Cat, colds in general don't bother my digestion but flu definitely will. I no longer take anything for either because medication definitely causes me problems because of the starch and probably cellulose in them. So I end up toughing it out as the lesser of two evils. I'm sorry you feel so badly. I hope you are better soon.
As for the whole ulcer, chrohn's debate, bacteria isn't the only cause of ulcers. See below from the Mayo Clinic site:
Your digestive tract is coated with a mucous layer that normally protects against acid. But if the amount of acid is increased or the amount of mucus is decreased, you could develop an ulcer. Causes include:
A bacterium. A common cause of ulcers is the corkscrew-shaped bacterium Helicobacter pylori. H. pylori bacteria commonly live and multiply within the mucous layer that covers and protects tissues that line the stomach and small intestine. Often, H. pylori causes no problems. But sometimes it can disrupt the mucous layer and inflame the lining of your stomach or duodenum, producing an ulcer. It's not clear how H. pylori spreads. It may be transmitted from person to person by close contact, such as kissing. People may also contract H. pylori through food and water.
Regular use of pain relievers. Certain over-the-counter and prescription pain medications can irritate or inflame the lining of your stomach and small intestine. These medications include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, others), ketoprofen and others. Peptic ulcers are more common in older adults who take pain medications frequently, such as might be common in people with osteoarthritis. To help avoid digestive upset, take pain relievers with meals. If you have been diagnosed with an ulcer, make sure your doctor knows this when prescribing any pain reliever. The pain reliever acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) doesn't cause peptic ulcers.
Other medications. Other prescription medications that can also lead to ulcers include medications used to treat osteoporosis called bisphosphonates (Actonel, Fosamax, others).
My erosion of the esophagus/colon and my ulcers were caused by Alleve. I was tested for every bacteria associated within two months of onset and nothing. I was very sensitive from the first one pill dose of over-the-counter Alleve I took and it ate holes in me. Then I became allergic to it. It was that simple. I'm not even sure anyone knew it did that back then but every doctor I've seen in the last two years has pointed to it because I have no bacteria in testing and I had onset right after taking it. It ate holes in me, caused my body to overreact to even trace elements of starch (so they feel like glass cutting me up) and somehow along the way something triggered CD, which according to my GI and the pathologist is just starting. So there we are. My body is attacking itself because there is nothing there to attack - it just believes there is. My brain is signaling the attack on a non-existent enemy.
And my erosion and ulcers were not healed by antibiotics. I never have taken them for any of this. I stopped eating any trace of starch and took Omeprazole. My recent colonoscopy/endoscopy showed all of that had healed. Now I just have to work on the Crohn's. And there's no infection or overpopulation of bacteria that they could find. My GI talked about how it could hide and that's why she took multitudes of biopsies and tests (just as they did two years ago). There's nothing. - Thank God for that too. At the rate I become allergic to antibiotics, I would be in very big trouble if that was my treatment.
We all have a right to believe about this what we want. Right now I have to go with what my multitudes of tests showed me. It's the best I can do. As far as I'm concerned, whatever works for someone is great.
At this point I just hope that Cat feels better soon.
I notice that when I get a cold or any other little virus or infection, my symptoms seem to be worse. I've not been in remission, I don't know if it would be like that if I was, but regularly, if I have something, my symptoms increase in severity.
