Pain Pills

I have UC and was diagnosed with it in April of '06. I don't take any meds at the moment, I just deal with it as mine is not as bad right now as it has been in the past. I still hardly ever have even half-way normal stools though. I haven't crapped my pants since June, so that is good. Anyway, I just had a breast reduction and was on pain pills. They slowed me down and I almost felt normal for awhile. My main question is what is it in pain pills that "constipates" you and why the hell can't they make UC pills out of whatever it is that kept me from having crappy poop days for a little bit???? I was never constipated, but it seemed to get me back to as normal as a person can get that has UC. I'm off the pain pills now and back to crazy BMs. Just wanted to vent!

Thanks!!!

Pain pills slow the colon down, which can be a good thing on occasion but the problem that we Uc'ers face with that is if the colon is slowed down too much and for a long period of time; it increases our risk of Toxic Megacolon. This is highly dangerous and deadly condition in which the colon just stops working and can preforate causing sepsis. I get that affect too from pain pills but for me, even one dose constipates me so severely that I know I am at a higher risk for Toxic Megacolon. I'm talking one dose and I am constipated for 5 days! Absolutely horrible - I don't know what's worse; running to the bathroom all the time or being constipated for 5 days.

Wanna hear something really scary??? My brother has an arm injury and they gave him methadone for the pain. He has surgery in 2 weeks. I'm hoping that alleviates the pain. Perhaps the regular pain pills weren't working. To me they should then move up the surgery or something. I can't even get a prescription for ativan for 30 pills for A YEAR. My brother has an addictive personality (I don't). Giving him methadone seems to me to be the most stupid thing ever. The inconsistency in prescription practices in the US is INSANE!

Maybe your GI could give you a prescription for Lomotil. It slows the colon down but it is not a painkiller. You have to be careful you don't develop toxic megacolon though.

I know there are reasons that they don't give this stuff to UC patients, I just wish they could develop something that works as well. I get constipated, but not that bad. It's just nice to have a break in the constant run to the bathroom!!!

I've never heard that burnabygirl. I am not fond of Immodium though because years ago, I took a couple of them and had the most intense abdominal pain. I haven't taken them since. My GI said that I could take 1 a day if I absolutely needed to though. I'm guessing that your docs reasoning is that when there is bleeding, your colon is in a very fragile state?? But to know why your doc said that is to ask him.

Oxycontin, Percocet and other similar drugs are used for many things, Harpo. Pain from cancer, postoperative pain, any other severe pain. The thing about pain is that no one can ever truly know how much pain another is having, because we all perceive pain differently. Some people with active UC have very severe pain, others have little to no pain. It depends on how the disease manifests.

Hi guys! I have had UC for 5 yrs now. I do have BAD abdominal pain during flares. It can be to the point that i even pass out from the pain. I do not take pain meds for my UC. I have found that nulev works really well for cramping related to my UC.

Now, i also take Percocet 5mg 3x a day for the last few years for pain related to a accident that i had as a child that is causing chronic pain now. I am with a Pain Management Clinic, and my GI is aware that I am on percs.

Honestly, i can't say that even the percs help the accute pain w/ UC flares. The nulev usually does the trick tho. I have found that my flares and my Dirrehea are less as a result of the perc use tho. I did have severe constipation in the beginning but worked it out (ha ha, literally) w/ stool softners. Now, i do not even have constipation as a side effect, even tho i do have slowing bowels since i don't have D anymore most of the time!

Good luck