new member & in need of some advice!

Hello everyone,

I found this site a couple of nights ago and have been reading and reading and reading. So much useful information on here. I wondered if I could pick your brains for some advice, my story is that I have not yet been properly diagnosed with UC, but it looks very likely that this is what I have. I have for a few years (how I hate to have to say that) had bleeding & mucous in my stools, sometimes just blood. Misdiagnosed twice as being piles, I finally had a sigmoidoscopy in December where a biopsy was taken. The biopsy came back showing nothing abnormal, but the dr commented that my colon is inflamed and bled easily. From there, I have had a long wait to see the gastroenterologist. I finally saw him on friday of last week, and he is going to call me in at short notice within the next two weeks for another sigmoid, but this one will go part way up the large intestine. I'm eager to get a proper diagnosis and get on with some healing!!!

Over the last few days I am having some very noticable pains around my tummy area and a lot of swelling - I have been prone to bloating problems with this ailment and am consequently careful about what I'm eating. Anyway, I've also been a bit constipated for the last couple of days which I assume is not helping the swelling tummy. I also have noticable pains in various parts around my tummy (i assume this is around the large intestine) where it actually feels like pressure is happening at certain points (ulcers perhaps??), I just wondered if anyone recognises these feelings? I'm in the UK and did take some nurofen tonight to see if it would help with the inflammation. I'm a little worried about taking it (not sure why), I know pred is a much stronger anti inflammatory (my partner takes it as he has sarcoidosis). I am just feeling so bloated, my stomach feels like a football, and I am so paranoid that my intestines are just going to split...am I being a hypochondriac? If I wake up like this tomorrow, I'm definately going to go back to my doctor in the morning. Just feeling very worried, which is probably not helping I know... any advice I would really welcome.. I've been drinking chamomile tea too...

thank you for reading xx

Hi,

Thanks for replying so quickly. Yes, nurofen is ibuprofen..I have been really monitoring my food intake for the last few months (i finally got referred in April last year but it's taking so long to get seen). I eat pretty bland foods and only drink water and peppermint and chamomile teas... i think the bloating is a mix of inflammation and some constipation, though I have had 3bm today, it's just been slow to move around and out . I'm not sure what's made it all go nuts in the last few days at all, but the painful areas around the colon is really worrying me as this is a new symptom for me. I have not had problems with diarrhoea or alot of other symptoms that alot of people seem to have, but the bloating has been quite a common one..alot of people have commented that I look pregnant which has been somewhat embarrassing (more so because I work with children).

Thank you so much for replying...this looks like such a good forum and i have a feeling it's going to be somewhat of a haven for me over the coming months.. i'll lay off the nurofen too. .

Love in a mist, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, aspirin and other NSAIDS are generally forbidden us because they can cause GI bleeding. The safest thing is to stick to acetamenophen (Tylenol,) which doesn't have this side effect.

Hi

I've not had any stool samples taken or any further biopsies dones, but have had blood tests done. I think the GI is waiting for those to come back before doing the second sigmoid. Plus, I have very recently had a miscarriage and I saw him just over a week since that happened. So the consensus was that I needed a bit more time to heal from that before anything is done. I really wish I was seeing him this week though. The waiting is a nightmare. He said he didn't want to put me on anything until it's properly diagnosed.

Would parasites cause bleeding and mucous? My stomach has deflated this morning thankfully, but I'll see how it goes in the day. Prob is I don't yet have a direct number for the GI. Thanks for the advice on nurofen, i've been to the states a few times and know what tylenol is, but we don't have that in the UK. I think probably paracetamol is the closest any other Uk peeps on here know??

Rachel.

Hi Rachel,

I'm in the UK too.My consultant told me not to take Nurofen or anything similar....just paractemol based painkillers.

I hope you get your diagnosis soon so that you can start any medication as soon as possible, if thats what is recommended.Good luck.

Lynn

Since the advice above has been good and you're stuck playing the waiting game, I would also suggest a heating pad on the abdomin to help with the pain.

You may also want to look up a picture of where the colon is in the body. I find that I have specific pains where the left colon turns to the transverse colon - basically in my left ribs. I also find that a gentle rub along the colon helps things to feel better for a moment at least.

Good luck!

Awhile ago, someone on this forum suggested boiling two cinnamon sticks in water (about one and a half cups) and drinking the water. Apparently, cinnamon reduces inflammation. I tried it and found it helpful - and it tastes good. I don't believe there is any downside - so it is worth a try.

M