Hi,
I was diagnosed with Chronic Pan Ulcerative Colitis in February 2002, and began having night bm's in May of that year. Ever since the diagnosis, I have had diarrhea/very loose bm's, and the extreme urgency to go, began having accidents in public around June of 2002 which have not subsided since, and have developed the urge to go with not much coming out except with straining and sometimes not even then within the last 2 years. This particular symptom has worsened during the last 2 weeks, and I am concerned about it. I have never taken the Asacol the doc first prescribed back in 2002 at my inital diagnosis due to fears of the medication (i.e. never taken anything much other in my life than aspirin, tylenol, or antibiotics) and its possible side effects. I've just tried to deal with it via lifestyle changes, diet, etc. I did try Immodium once - along with some expensive 'natural' cure called 'Molocure' which did nothing. The Immodium they tell you to take along with it actually put me into what seemed like toxic megacolon - my ankles swelled up, I had 104 fever, and I was stopped up, having bad accidents on the bed. I only took 2 of those pills and then obviously stopped. I've only been to the doctor about my Ulcerative Colitis the first time I was diagnosed in February 2002, and once again in 2006, as I haven't had insurance consistently. The doctor again tried prescribing Asacol, but I still didn't want to take it. I tried to pin him down to an explanation as to whether or not Asacol (or other U.C. treatments) could actually prevent colon cancer, or whether it would simply mask/reduce the symptoms. I am reluctant to have a colonoscopy, which I know I need. Does anyone know if a virtual colonoscopy would do me any good, I mean can they see 'things' like strictures, and polyps? I don't have insurance, but I am going to apply for Medi-Cal and see if I can be seen on the basis of presumptive elligibility. I have to stay well and strong to care for my children. I am a single Mother, and there is no Father in the picture at all for my youngest. My bigger child has a wonderful Dad who she sees part time. I have been reading up and I am worried that I might have a stricture - does that sound like what it could be? My main symptoms are incontinence, extreme urge to go (tenesmus), and not much coming out except sometimes when the urge is very strong and it all just spews out at once. Sometimes I will go and just a little comes out, it feels like at my rectum something is stopping it...like the air has to squeeze past something to escape. Does anyone else have this too? Thank you so much. I am scheduling a free clinic visit to a general physician tomorrow and hopefully they can refer me to a gastroenterology also for free. God bless you! Taylor