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does everyone bleed when they flare?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/30/2008 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
Just curious.  I always do and that is part of what scares me.
Posted 5/30/2008 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
Most times I have, but right now I am in the middle of a flare and have not had much bleeding. My colon doesn't want to give me any kind of hint or create patterns so I actually know what to expect! The bleeding is scary and one of the things the docs try to control b/c of how it affects your health. I used to bleed a lot and my doc told me not to focus so much on the blood, quit looking in the toilet. That man is lucky to still have his head attached to his shoulders. yeah
Posted 5/30/2008 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
I only bleed if I let the flare progress far enough. Thankfully, I usually slide into a flare - it doesn't just come on overnight. I have trained myself to watch my symptoms very carefully. If I start sliding downhill, I start taking steps to rectify the situation before the blood comes.

Stomach discomfort is usually my first symptom with more frequent stools from there. Because my UC always starts in the rectum, I don't have much D at first. But, I can tell from the way my stomach feels and from the fact that I have more bowel movements per day. That's when I increase my daily Asacol and go back to the Rowasa and try to deal with it that way.

My first two flares had bleeding. I think both of those were because I didn't know enough to catch things before they worsened. My third and fourth flares didn't respond to the increase in my Asacol and Rowasa, so the blood eventually came. I think I have been able to avoid other major flares/bleeding by increasing the meds at the first signs.
Posted 5/30/2008 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
Every time, scares me too and completely saps my energy.
Posted 5/30/2008 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
I must admit that has been the toughest thing since about Jan for me. I have fallen asleep at my desk at work several times, sitting up. And I didn't have a lot of warning, just going more frequently. I had weird symptoms this time around like nausea, weight loss and back pain. Still doesn't make sense but my doc is taking it one step at a time. I think the key is just looking for "unusual" things (in our lives that is sort of funny, right?)
Posted 5/30/2008 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
Yeppers - usually blood is the first indication that a flare is pending for me even if I don't have any other symptoms.
Posted 5/30/2008 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Not my first symptom, but yes, it's the one that sends me over the top.
Posted 5/30/2008 9:33 PM (GMT 0)

Red_34 said...
Yeppers - usually blood is the first indication that a flare is pending for me even if I don't have any other symptoms.

Same here. If the flare gets bad, then I get the dripping/gushing blood, but even if I'm in the mildest of flares, I always have some red colored bits of stool, mucous mixed with blood, or some streaks on the toilet paper.
Posted 5/30/2008 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, I am a bleeder.
Posted 5/31/2008 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
no....I hadn't bled with a flare for over 14 years until last summer when I went off the estrogen patch and hormones went completely wonky...I was shocked even though it was just a teensy bit.
None since then.

q
Posted 5/31/2008 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
Stomach pain increases, then extra gas, then smelly gas (yucky I know) then blood stripping on the stool. If I catch it I also increase my meds and use rowasa everynight for about a week or so then slowly cut down. Before I was given rowasas to treat it from both ends the blood would drip or spray with loose stool/D and lots of mucous...funny I always get to feeling great and my stool becomes so perfect about a month or two before I have a flair. Hopefully one day God will spare us all from the awful thing called IBD...

Post Edited (bbc) : 5/31/2008 12:12:18 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/31/2008 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
The blood is the worst part for me. It's been pretty much constant for the past 3 years. When it's really bad, it's like it's my TOM. That's what took me back to the GI for a second colonoscopy last August. The blood is the scary part for me, too, because my doc says the longer I bleed, the the higher the risk for cancer.
Posted 5/31/2008 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Bleeding is one of my biggest symptoms and I'm often amazed at the different hues and consistancies it takes on.
Posted 5/31/2008 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
I've had UC over ten years and blood is a constant for me, not lots but always there. It increases if I skip too many days not using the Rowasa enema--it probably would be best to use Rowasa every night, but I just get sick of sticking it up there--I'm talking over ten years of enemas folks!
Posted 5/31/2008 10:25 PM (GMT 0)

BigLucy said...
I've had UC over ten years and blood is a constant for me, not lots but always there. It increases if I skip too many days not using the Rowasa enema--it probably would be best to use Rowasa every night, but I just get sick of sticking it up there--I'm talking over ten years of enemas folks!

I know what you mean Lucy...that area is for things to go OUT not in!  LOL....
Posted 6/1/2008 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
Tapering properly helps you find a maintenance dosage...nightly isn't the best..maybe for very few.

q
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