too many bm's again

Just when I thought I was doing so good I'm right back to square number one.  I went three months without a flare.  That's the longest I've gone.  Now I'm back to the cramps all day and 10 to 12 bms a day.  It's not D, I just go a little a lot of times.  I'm on Asacol.  I don't know if I should start on my Entocort.  I usually go on the entocort and canasa when I get bloody D.  This is not bloody. Sometimes I think I'm not on the right meds.  Maybe something else would work better.  Doc is on vacation until the 9th of June when I have an appointment.  I feel so tired all the time.  I just want to feel good.  I started taking Nexium for ulcers in stomach and small intestines a couple of weeks ago.  I was wondering if maybe the Nexium is bothering my colon problems.  The last time I saw my doc he told me that we just have to find the right meds.  My husband is very supportive but even he is saying that maybe we should see another doc.  I would love to see a group of doctors that specialize in this.  Anyone know of any place in Central Florida.  Thanks for your support.   

I, like you, used to use the Canasa only when flaring or feeling close to a flare.  I decided after my last flare about a year ago to use it every night.  I've been fine since.  I have little or no trouble keeping it in all night comfortably so it doesn't affect me sleeping.

Canasa, at least for me, also has the added benefit of also being a good warning sign for me.  Usually I expel it first thing in the morning and it's the same color as it went in.  But if I felt a little bit off the day before or ate something I shouldn't have, it comes out a kind of blackish-purple as if something was amiss and it was doing its job.  Then I take it really light on the food and it seems to heal everything quickly.

Anyhow, while getting to a doctor is always a good idea, you might want to use the Canasa nightly no matter what, especially if is doesn't give you diarrhea in and of itself.  This is especially important because you're not bleeding yet and you can cut it off at the pass.

Good luck and FEEL BETTER!!!

You might also try supplementing with l-glutamine to reduce the number of bathroom trips and help your colon heal.

Be careful with Aloe Vera. It can cause diarrhea for some, it did for me. When I was on Asacol, when I would stary flaring, I increased my doseage to up to 12 pills a day... I don't recommend anyone do this without asking their doctor first. I agree with using the rectal meds, whichever one works for you. I hope you feel better soon.

Are you close to Jacksonville? If you are, you should look into the Mayo Clinic. I would love to go there but it's just too far:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/jacksonville/

They have GI specialists out there and from what I understand the doctors at Mayo are usually the best of the best.

Regarding the Mayo Clinic..I live about 4 hours from there. My husband keeps telling me I ought to go there. A friend of mine went there with medical problems and she was so pleased. They scheduled 3 different dr. appts for her. She did have to stay over one night in a motel right there. But all her test results were back in an hour. When I have a test done with my doc. I have to wait a week for results. It's something I'm thinking seriously about now. Meanwhile I have to get my husband through prostate cancer first. I'll keep taking my meds. Quincy always puts me on the right road with my meds. My doc never told me I could use the Canasa more than once. I'm getting with the program quincy. I learn so much from this site. Love you guys.

hi quincy...just finished reading the dosage info on the insert. Never seen anything printed so small, had to get a magnifying glass. It's saying one at bedtime. But I understand what you're saying, it makes sense. I got to tell you something real interesting. My colon problems started after I got salmonella. So I'm always searching and reading up on anything about foodborne illness. I found this organization called S.T.O.P. (Safe Table Our Priority). They said to email them if you ever had a foodborne illness, so I did. They phoned me and said I would be a perfect candidate to write my story. They want to put it in our local paper or magazine. They asked that I write to Congress and ask that that they become leaders on food safety issues. Sounds like a good idea. I complain alot about my illness and this gives me a chance to do something about it. Maybe it will help someone else. Just thought I'd share that with you. Thanks quincy.

lenie,

Just a suggestion...try cutting out all sugars (sodas, cakes, biscuits, milk, etc.) and see if there's an improvement after a week. Some benefit from doing this, some don't.

ps.
also cut back on breads and starches.

NBT

quincy...I got my salmonella from eggs at a local restaurant. Had D, fever, vomiting, real bad for 2 days, so sick had to call ambulance. Hospital gave me so much antibiotic that I then developed c-diff. From c-diff I got IBS and then colitis and then UC. The latest are the ulcers in my small intestines and stomach. Doc says ulcers are the result of UC. This all started on June 9, 2005. I'm coming up on my anniversary of 3 years. I haven't burned down the restaurant YET!!

Kevin came through his biopsies real well. We know that one side of gland has to be frozen and we're hoping other side isn't so bad that the doc can spare the nerve. It all depends on the results we get on Wed. We're hoping for the cryosurgery soon after we see doc.

We usually go up to the north east for about 6 weeks to get out of Florida heat for a little while. We're both trying to get to feeling good so we can do that.

NBT mentioned cutting back on sugars and starch. I don't drink sodas, but I do enjoy a glass of milk and a couple of cookies. I do have a sweet tooth. I did stop eating the Hershey bars. Spagetti is another thing I enjoy. Dang !! all the good stuff might not be so good. Since I've lost weight I'm always looking for foods to put it back on and the pasta I thought was a good thing. You're taking all the fun out of eating. One never knows what will help unless you try it. Thanks for the info.

sweetmelody...I found the Canasa really works well for me in a flare.  quincy will let you know how important it is to take the meds and more important is how to taper. 

quincy...Hubby has cryrosurgery this Tuesday.  That 3-D biopsy showed cancer just on one side.  That was great news. I'll let you know how it goes.  I'm still crampy, havings about 4 bm's a day but it's not D. but find myself with nausea.  But I can live with this as long as it's not D.  Hope this finds you well. 

quincy...Boy you hit the nail on the head when you asked if I felt hungry when I was nauseated. It's starts about 3 PM. I feel hungry, nauseated and my abdomen feels sore. Not crampy, just a constant soreness. I even starting eating crackers after lunch to see if that would head it off..but no, that doesn't work. I go back to the doc a week from Monday, he's on vacation now. I'll ask him about the dicyclomine. Right now I'm on just a Asacol. If I wasn't hurting, I'd consider myself doing pretty good. Hope you enjoy your week off. Weather here is HOT, 94 degrees today. We need rain sooooo bad. The small ponds in my area are all dried up. I feel sorry for the fish. You enjoy your time off. Put up your feet and relax and stay well.