HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

IBS and proctitis??

Support Forums
>
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/11/2007 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone, 

I've been on from time to time reading and getting some insight. I was diagnosed with proctitis about 2 years ago - I'm a 25 yr. old woman.  I took rowasa enemas and colazol and things seemed okay besides some blood and constipation until this past August. It's now February and there's no getting back to a slight tinge of what my life used to be.

 

I have the blood, the frequent dirrehea with severe pain and cramping, the bland diet, the different types of medicines, but nothing is happening to ease this flare, if that's what it is??  I've been taking rowasa enemas and 6 colozals - now my doctor suspects I may have IBS with proctitis - and wants me to try zelnorm.  Does anyone on here have proctitis with IBS? I feel that I'm at the end of the rope... my health has taken over my life this past 6 months - work, social life, love life, travel.. everything!  I was optomisic but now at 6 months later, I feel there isn't an answer.

 

Does anyone use immodium to stop excessive and painful dirrehea? Is it safe to use daily/long term? The pain is incredible. My doctor tried different antispasmatics, but none of them are doing the job - I'm just getting the side effects (nausea/extreme fatigue). What kind of methods do you use to ease the pain? The dirrehea and pain knocks me out. I had a bout that lasted 7 hours last Tuesday. I couldn't even get out of bed Wednesday. I didn't use immodium to stop that bout because my doctor said let it run it's course because the nine days prior I had only had blood and small mucus pass. I'm sorry it's so gross. I can't really talk about this with anyone really.

 

I'm a school teacher. It's my second year as a first grade teacher. I have been a mess. I have to run at the drop of a dime to the bathroom, but can't because I have all these little ones, so I find myself panicing calling everyone in my hall who has another teacher in the room to cover. But those days when it's not just one or two bouts, it's a total nightmare. I'm not able to do my job to the fullest which is upsetting.Not to mention all that goes in being absent for one day. There's so much to preplan and to catch up on.

 

 In August I thought it'd subside with time, medicine, and diet.. but 6 months later it just is getting worse. What type of work does everyone do?  As it hurts me so much to say, I think for my own health and sanity I may have to get another job. sad

 

Should I be tested for Celiac disease and Fibromyalia? When I started investigating IBS - the sites said to check for these things also. Should I get a second opinion? I also get a lot of right sided lower abdominal pain which I read could be a symptom of Crohns?/?

 


So sorry for the boat of questions. I am at the end of my rope.

Stacey

2 years Proctitis

Rowasa Enemas few times a week

6 Colazol per day

Possibly starting Zelnorm

Over the counter Digestive Advantage IBS (just started 2 days ago)
Posted 2/11/2007 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Staey :)

I actually have crohns and IBS, my crohns mainly affects my colon (crohns-colitis) and I often deal with proctitis (inflammation/disease in the rectom) as well...the only thing that helps when my proctitis flares up is using cortifoam enema sometimes for as long as a yr before weaning off of it.

I found the cortifoam helped me best once I payed attention to avoiding consumption of things that cause inflammation, sugar is a big inflammation culprit, processed foods too and fast-foods, I also drink nothing but chamomile tea and water. Once I adapted this better and healthier way of eating I found that it was easier to control/maintain the proctitis, too bad it hasn't put me in full remission with my crohns-colitis (activity in the colon) but then again, I do have some other CD complications (perianal crohns skin tags) that I've been told are interfering with me getting into full remission.

:)
Posted 2/12/2007 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there,   I have had proctitis and IBS for the last 2 years and have never found anyone who suffers the same so felt very alone! Great to find you! My gastro doctor said I had solitary rectal ulcer syndrome too which I had never heard of.  Basically I have all the symptoms of IBS but I also get inflammation and ulcers in my rectum.  I am in the UK so some meds are different here but I have prednisilone suppositories intermittently when I have the ulcers and these work extremeley well.  I also use lactulose which is a stool softener as I do get constipated a lot.  I don't suffer with extreme diahorrea but I get loose stools and stomach cramps and sometimes just peristalsis iteself can cause me cramps and nausea.  I take mebeverine (colofac) for the spasms and domperidone (motilium) if I feel nauseus.   I have been taking effexor since september last year and since taking this my IBS symptoms have got a bit better.  I still get bad days but they arent as bad as they used to.  Keep in touch and good to meet you.
Posted 2/12/2007 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
Just another opinion, but it sounds as though you haven't been thoroughly tested to rule out things like crohns, IBD or colitis - certainly not enough to slap the IBS diagnosis on you. The ulcerations and bleeding you mention have me concerned that this is not IBS. Throwing meds at the symptoms without proper investigations is, in my book, just plain lazy doctoring. Please see your doc again and make it clear that you want to get to the bottom of what is happening. Are you seeing a GI specialist? If not, it's time.

I can't tell you how many times I've had to tell the doc what was wrong; we argue about it; and in the end, I've been vindicated - every time. I surely understand your frustration, and sometimes you just have to take the reins of your own health and be your own advocate because the docs, many times and for whatever reason, just won't. For me, the days of "Doctor said, therefore it's true" are over. Ooops! Looks like I got on my soapbox again! :-)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply