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6MPs do you sometimes get worse before you get better?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/9/2008 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Okay since my scope last week they bumped my pred up to 40mg and put me on 50mg of 6mp. 

I've had increasingly more formed stool since then and I attribute that to the Pred.  But today and a little bit last night I've had increased ammounts of gas and today blood in my stool. There wasn't blood in my stool since my scope until today.  I am still seeing formed stool so I figure that is good. 

Could this be the 6MP or is it perhaps something else?  I got moved to 6MP because of a nasty reaction to 5ASAs and I am concerned about something similar happening with 6MP.    Do things get a little bit worse before they get better or should I be concerned?

I've thought about food reactions and have looked back in my food diary and the only thing that I've had recently that I havn't had before is cashews and Olive Garden Spaghetti and meatballs.  The Cashews should have been out of my system a long time ago and I don't know about the spaghetti but unless they do something crazy to it I should be fine because I eat spaghetti all the time at home.  I don't think Olive Garden uses MSG and I know I don't use it at home... so I don't know.

Thoughts or comments are very welcome.   

Posted 6/10/2008 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
I think their food is a little on the greasy side which can give me lots of trouble. particluly the bread sticks. How many days ago was your scope?
Posted 6/10/2008 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
My scope was last monday (the second of June), so I'm not worried about the blood being from that.
Posted 6/10/2008 10:17 AM (GMT 0)
I would tend to think that it is probably just your flare that is making you have an increase of symptoms. Your flare can wax and wane until the higher dose of pred can do it's magic. Have you been straining any while having a bm? Do you have hemmies? What color is the blood?
Posted 6/10/2008 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
The blood is fairly bright. Maybe I have been straining a bit more than usual. If I do have hemmies they are definatly internal. I've never really had the discomfort of an external hemmie.

However today I did wake up with D. and a decent amount of blood.

Good thing I have a follow up today so I can pose a lot of questions to my GI.
Posted 6/10/2008 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
I started 6MP yesterday and I've had more bleeding and slightly more urgency today. I was also feeling nauseous and dizzy for an hour or two.

Oh, and I know 6MP weakens the immune system. So is it a really bad idea to volunteer at a rehab hospital for a few hours/week?

(Sorry, Bigphule--I didn't mean to take over your thread; I just didn't want to start a new one!) 

Posted 6/10/2008 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
CD, are you taking the 6mp at night? If not, this can help eliminate the majority of the side effects. Also, even though it lowers the immune system, it doesn't do it right away. It can take a while. If you volunteer, just be sure to wash your hands frequently and avoid people that have chicken pox and/or other viruses if you can.
Posted 6/10/2008 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hehe its cool, I can share virtual space :p

Now if you try to take over my house we'll have some issues :p hehehe
Posted 6/11/2008 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
Sherry, I'm taking it at night. Unfortunately, it's not making me drowsy at night--I always have trouble falling asleep and could use that drowsiness!
Posted 6/11/2008 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
6mp doesn't cause drowsiness - it can cause fatigue. The fatigue I'm talking about is when it seems you have to use every ounce of energy just to get out of the chair type of fatigue. But that is a possibly it can happen but doesn't mean it will.
Posted 6/11/2008 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
If I may ask, bigphule, have you had two c-scopes in ~6 months?  Any rationale for that?
Posted 6/11/2008 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
They needed a clear picture of what was going on. The first scope I had they saw little to no inflamation but saw some ulcers, or something to that effect. So they put me on drugs to help, some made things worse some made things better. This last one was to see what was really going on. So yeah now they know I have Pancolitis.
Posted 6/11/2008 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Oops, you're right, Sherry. I read "feeling extremely tired and weak" and somehow remembered drowsiness. Even before starting 6mp, I was feeling really tired and weak. Ugh.

Posted 6/11/2008 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
AGH, for the last few hours, I felt sooooo nauseous. I didn't actually vomit, but I dry-heaved quite a few times. And I had to run to the bathroom 4x in an hour with loose stools (which I was not having before starting the 6mp). I felt so miserable. I hate side effects!
Posted 6/11/2008 10:21 PM (GMT 0)

I see, bigphule.

My rule of thumb about colonoscopies is "curiosity killed the cat."  My doctor and I have a standing disagreement about their frequency.

Posted 6/12/2008 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Bigphule,

Hope your feeling better soon but I can imagine if your eating spaghetti or any pasta it will cause a flare up for you as the starch and the whole carbs will iritate your bowels.
Posted 6/12/2008 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Seconder, I really don't mind them. Sure the prep isn't fun, but as long as I don't remember the procedure I don't mind one bit.

Icebound, I've never had a negative reaction to carbs. I've been eating (before this) ravioli and other such pasta, home made spaghetti and never had a problem. My concern about the olive garden was more along the lines of MSG or something to that effect.

I'm not out right dismissing your idea as things have seemed to have calmed down quite a bit but I do not believe that it is the starch/carbs that caused the issue.
Posted 6/12/2008 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
Better man than me, bigphule.
Posted 6/12/2008 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know about that but where I come from good intel = life. 
Posted 6/13/2008 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
In my case, a c-scope every year doesn't give me any better intel (or treatment options) than one every other year despite my doctor's feelings. I think he gets curious (or doesn't trust himself) and relies on a tech solution.

I imagine you'll get sick of them eventually.
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