This site has helped me ALOT.... more help still needed!!

Hi everyone.  I joined this site a little over a month ago and for awhile, was online multiple times daily.  Many of you have been very, very helpful - I've been in what I would consider a fairly mild flare since March (3-5 BMs a day, usually soft, sometimes "D").  I'm on a probiotic and was taking 9 colozal daily.  Many of you indicated I needed a stronger probiotic (i've been taking the cheapest one available at CVS) and some of you also suggested lowering my dose of colozal to 6-7 a day.

I took this advice - still haven't found a better probiotic, but I've been taking 3 to get a higher dosage and I also dropped my colozal to 7 a day, and I have to admit, I had been feeling GREAT.  Things really seemed to turn the corner to the point where I would look forward to each day again rather than sitting around feeling sorry for myself.

The problem - this past week, I got a little excessive with some alcohol (primarily beer) and now the past few days, I seem to be back where I was before.  Again, my symptoms are relatively mild - no bleeding, less than 5 BM's a day, not alot of pain/fatigue, but I'm still not feeling "normal" and it frustrates me.  I'm thinking the alcohol likely has something to do with this...... but just tired of being so concerned about my poop!

Any comments/advice?  I've been less than impressed with what my doctor has to say, don't really feel like making another appointment to consult with him (especially since I'd need to start the conversation.... "well, last Tuesday night I had 8 beers...").

Thanks!!!!

 

I've heard beer can be bad for some. I think it's the yeast. Try to stay away from it from now on. With the probiotics, maybe you can find a low priced one with a high bacteria count. I got one with a super high bacteria count for about 24.00 at GNC. Good luck, Bellski

You should also be on rectal meds.
Plus, lowering the dosage too quickly might be part of it. Usually one pill every week or two is how to do it.

Have you been forgetting to take any of the Colazal dosages?

Rectal meds.

Alcohol is a stimulant....it also isn't so good for the liver. Small amounts over a long period of time is easier for the body and liver to metabolise.

Rectal meds.

You have some choices in how you feel.....but try not to make it all about one thing...you really aren't on a complete regimen of meds.

Did I mention rectal meds? Call your doc, request Rowasa (or the generic 5ASA) to start and use them nightly until you start to feel normal. They should be tapered to find a maintenance dosage for you.

Diet will sometimes alter stool consistency, etc. But not bleeding...if you are doing so, you're flaring.

Hope you contact your doc soon.
quincy

Well, I hadn't bled with a flare for over 14 years until last year when I decided to totally stop my estrogen patch....I was a tad shocked.

I've used the oral and rectal 5ASA meds for over 19 years....so, yes, they work.

There are different kinds of rectal meds...suppositories, retention enemas (both in steroid and 5ASA medications), and a foam which is in a steroid medication.

Your doc's aversion shouldn't be telling you what to do....especially if he's never offered them or you've never tried them.

At least he didn't put you on prednisone firstly....or did he?

Consider that UC starts at the rectum. If it's not dealt with, no matter how many oral meds (not including pred) you take, it'll NEVER be enough to touch the rectum. It also doesn't matter how high the inflammation is...beit limited to the rectum or pancolitis....the distal part of the colon should be dealt with rectally.

You administer them yourself....yes, it takes a while to get used to doing them because a pill is definitely easier.

They're taken nightly (enemas) and retained,,hopefully...overnight. As the rectum heals, the urgency to expel lessens and the longer one is able to retain them. The retention enemas (as well as the foam) will go as high as or even a bit beyond the sigmoid...which is a good thing.

Suppositories are an option, but I see them more for maintenance (personal perspective)...they can be used up to 3 times a day.

Do the homework, and request them....try them yourself.

As the inflammation lessens, the stools do tend to firm up and frequency is less.

Some who are on Colazal find that 9 daily can give them looser stools.

Have you considered to add a fibre supplement or probiotic?

quincy

I have to agree with Quincy. Rectal meds get the meds directly to the area that needs it the most. The problem with oral meds is some may not make it as far down your colon as needed.

I have used Salofalk sup. and they worked very well for controlling BM and stop the bleeding.

So are you just using the rectal meds during flares, or more as a maintenance drug that is taken daily regardless your symptoms?

At the end of the day, I'm open to trying these things, I'm just not sure my doctor will automatically prescribe them without having me come in for a consultation.  He has a tendency to go overboard it seems too (last time I just told him I was having a few minor issues with urgency and loose stools he acted like he wanted to scope me again, and my symptoms are not that bad...).

Thank you all for your responses!!!!