I researched the condition for a friend of a friend who lives in Egypt. There are medications and nutrients that can help but first it's important to determine what part of the colon is inflamed (upper or lower). And with or without medication, there are several foods you need to eliminate from your diet until you figure out which ones are triggering the attacks. It varies from person to person. Sugar is a major culprit.
Doctor Ronald Hoffman, a well-known and highly respected physician in New York City, who has written many books, and has had a national radio talk show for over 10 years, writes: "In my experience, the most significant breakthroughs for my patients with IBD have taken place with the "Specific Carbohydrate Diet" advocated by Elaine Gottschall in her book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" plus taking oral nutrients. There's lots of information at Dr. Hoffman's website:
http://www.drhoffman.com/page.cfm/170
The gal in Egypt has been under the care of a top specialist for years but he was unaware of the nutrients that can bring relief. She began taking several nutrients a year ago, in addition to her traditional medicine, and it has made a huge difference in her life. She was able to return to work full time after 3 years of unemployment due to the chronic IBD. (Her brother purchased the supplements here and brought them back to Egypt).
As already suggested, you need to see a gastroenterologist. Per Dr. Hoffman,
"Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are two conditions that have many features in common and are sometimes referred to as "inflammatory bowel disease" (IBD). While not as common as less severe conditions like "irritable bowel syndrome," Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis now afflict hundreds of thousands of Americans. They appear to be increasing in frequency. Crohn's disease was once a very rare disorder but it is gradually becoming more common. There are about twice as many cases of it today as there were 30 years ago. Moreover, these conditions are increasingly afflicting children and teenagers.
Symptoms include periodic attacks of cramps, abdominal pain and diarrhea and a general sense of feeling ill. There may be fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Especially in ulcerative colitis there may be rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and mucous in the stool. These symptoms sometimes begin insidiously, gradually worsening, or sometimes they begin all at once with great severity.
These conditions must be diagnosed by a physician, usually a specialist in gastroenterology. The rectum and large intestine may be examined by sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. A biopsy specimen from the intestinal wall will probably be taken during one of these tests. Or an air-contrast barium enema or upper GI swallow with follow-through lower gastrointestinal x-rays may be given. A proper evaluation for inflammatory bowel disease will usually include stool tests to rule out parasite infection which can easily mimic ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, and blood tests to test the severity of the inflammation and blood loss".
What a bummer--just when you've begun enjoying your well-deserved retirement. I pray that it may have just been an extreme allergic reaction to some food you ate during the holidays.