Suspected Crohn's - Asacol and Co-Codamol

Apologies for the long post but here goes... I have had mucus covered stools for about 4 months now and since early October, I also noticed some blood covered on the stools as well as a throbbing pain from my anus area - the stools were also more softer than usual. I have also had a leaking liquid (a combination of blood and mucus that was covering my underwear (boxers) daily and so used tissue paper every day and night. I have lost some weight (not purposely) and felt a bit of pain as well. I went to my GP who sent an urgent referral to hospital. I visited a consultant who arranged for further investigations including blood tests, a colonoscopy, CT scan and MRI scan. I was then told that I would need to see the consultant again in 3 months time (an appointment date was given to me for Feb 2017). I had my blood tests, which was followed by a colonoscopy within the same week. After the colonoscopy, the nurse informed me that 8 biopsies had been done and that I may have suspected crohn's proctitis. I was prescribed Asacol which I have to take 3 times a day and told that if I was in pain, I should take paracetamol. about 2 weeks after the colonsocopy, the pain got so bad that I had to go to A&E. I was given 2 co-codamol 30/500 and 1 tramadol straight away and told that as I was being investigated by a consultant, all I could do is pain management. I was prescribed co-codamol 30/500 and told to take 2 4 times a day. This has eased the pain quite a bit. My stools continue to be covered in blood and mucus - although less. I have been back to my GP for an extra month's supply of Asacol and Co-Codamol. He was reluctant to give me co-codamol but I did explain that I am quite a lot of discomfort and paracetamol didn't work alone. I have to wait until Feb 2017 to see the consultant at the hospital for my test results. I have since had the CT scan and am due to have a MRI scan next week. I would welcome any advice about whether this is normal practice to wait so long for results. The pain without co-codamol is unbearable but I don't want to become addicted to any tablets. If I have Crohn's would I need to take Asacol and Co-codamol for life? I would be grateful for any advice. Thanks.

Asacol is useless for Crohn's, particularly if you have fistulising Crohn's (the leaking may be caused by a fistula; the MRI scan should give more info). Basically Crohn's goes through all layers of the bowel, and Asacol (and all mesalazine meds) can only treat the inner lining, not the deeper tissues.

It's a tricky one, 'cos if you demand stronger meds straight away, your new consultant may be put out. On the other hand if you take Asacol until February and nothing has changed, tell your consultant that you need stronger medication. Stress that you're in pain all the time. If you have a fistula, you should really go straight onto a biologic, e.g. Remicade.

The waiting time seems fairly typical. Routine appointments with consultants are once every 4 or 6 months normally. If you have a flare up in the meantime, you can usually get an appointment sooner if you phone the IBD nurse.

Codeine isn't that strong (morphine is 10x stronger), so hopefully you should not become addicted in 2-3 months. I understand the fear of addiction, but you can't live life in unbearable pain. As for taking codeine for life, no way. Once you get the Crohn's under control, there shouldn't be any pain.

What makes you think that you have a fistula? Those scans *should* show a fistula, but on occasion they miss things.