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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/6/2008 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for confirming, Sara14! And sooo glad to find a few people with similar symptoms! My dr. should have stuck with his original description, which sounds like what gdfairy explained. I wonder if I hadn't gone thru the colonoscopy prep if my UC would have worsened into D or an impaction - quite opposite things. I appreciate quincy's detailed explanation, too. So it sounds like constipation UC either isn't as progressed/severe as the D form (and thus that everyone would experience some C before progressing to D in each flare), or that perhaps some people just react differently to the same inflammation? Anyone know if left-siders are more prone to constipation vs. pancolitis sufferers (under the extent-of-involvement theory)? Seems like most (all?) of us with constipation are left-siders.
Posted 1/7/2008 6:52 AM (GMT 0)
It's more of how much is inflamed at the same time...remember that UC is a continuous inflammation...starting at the rectum and going upward (to limited or throughout).

A person diagnosed with u. pancolitis can have constipation if all has been clear/healed and then the inflammation process is starting again. Inflammation will start in the rectum first...those are usually symptoms that many don't notice to confirm they're flaring.

On the opposite end of the scale...a person diagnosed with u. pancolitis whose colon healing will have the rectum pretty much heal lastly (or continue to be inflamed while the rest has taken a nice long-awaited holiday..lol. The symptoms can be constipation...again, still inflammation and usually not recognised or dealt with by using rectal meds to help keep it as much at bay as possible.

So, all UCers can have constipation (which again is subjective considering what the other symptoms can be like).

quincy
Posted 1/7/2008 6:55 AM (GMT 0)
Let me also add that some UCers stop eating any substantial foods....and once the inflammation has calmed, the intake of food hasn't increased. Slower colon (not spasming or pushing everything out in a hurry) with less food intake will cause fewer smaller bms.

For constipation, antispasmodics can help as well as stool softeners while adding more foods. The colon also has to learn how to finction again if it's been a long haul with healing.

quincy
Posted 1/8/2008 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
quincy - I hope you can bear with another question if you read this - my books just don't really get into this level of detail for some reason and just say UCers have D, period. And no one else wants to theorize about intestines with me, surprise (apparently not even my GI...grrr)! So, pancolitis sufferers might start and end a flare with constipation (which may go noticed or unnoticed*), whereas do you think left-siders might tend more toward constipation all the time because the involvement isn't as far up (only to the splenic flexure)? *I don't know about the others here, but mine was no ordinary constipation (like, nothing happening for weeks and weeks) combined with practically begging-for-death cramps, constant potty runs for other "stuff"...definitely noticeable.
Posted 1/8/2008 4:52 AM (GMT 0)
I would guess that if the inflammation was very minor it could cause constipation. The other problem would be that your colon has slowed down way too much and something else or in combination is maybe going on such as IBS??  Have you tried any antispasmodics to see if that could help?  Did your doctor offer  for you to try stool softeners for a while?


Normally, those of us with constipation wouldn't have it for very long before other symptoms started to show if the inflammation goes higher in the rectum and above...no matter how limited or throughout.

My UC is limited..rectum/sigmoid. My symptoms were mostly diarrhea...but once flares was dealt with earlier and earlier with the rectal meds (Asacol was always a constant), increased and tapered to maintenance, my symptoms changed to no diarrhea, no bleeding, more gas and rectal pain and some constipation..oh and stomach pain. The reason is that the inflammation is now more limited and with that limitation, I'm recognising when to increase the meds.

Regarding you...have you always ONLY had those symptoms since and after diagnosis?? or did you have the "norm" of diarrhea, bleeding..etc and then while using meds develop the constipation, etc?

Are you using Rowsa at this time?

I don't mind to theorise....

quincy

Posted 1/8/2008 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
Interesting....I guess that's the question I had on Katie Rose's posting, which is how it can be no D ever showing up for some of the people who responded, when that's sort of the classic UC symptom. I've had all the usual UC symptoms except D - and it was a while before I got treated, so it had time to present itself - but I'll move discussion of me over to my old post so as not to further hijack this post. :-)
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