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I'm home from work again!!! I don't feel well! Please help!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/23/2008 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
If the cause of UC was one thing then it would have been cured years ago. I think that it is caused from different things although there probably has to be some sort of genetic predisposition. A flare is probably initiated by some sort of imbalance in the stomach's bacterial fauna which might be caused by a course of antibiotics or stress (don't underestimate the impact that stress can have on your UC. I recall that stress chances the acidic balance of your stomach and might therefore affect your bacterial balances). Once the flare is underway then it can be exacerbated by foods which don't agree with you. Again this might be causing additional bacterial imbalances in your stomach.

I think you need to find out what disagrees with you foodwise and what helps you treatment wise. Try different diets and treatments but don't stick with them too long if they aren't working. Its costly and wastes time. See as many health professionals as you can (afford) but remember that they aren't god and if they had a patented cure for UC then we would all know about it.

Good luck with your fight. Hope you find your answer.
Posted 9/23/2008 2:49 PM (GMT 0)

I have read the genetics play a part in UC but I have never know of anyone in our family way back who ever had it or anything like it.

Because I have IBS also - what I eat is important - I think that is all related.  I crave sugar.  Someone had mentioned classic symptoms of UC - loss of appetite, weight loss, fever - I have had NONE of those.  I could use a loss of 80 lbs.  I eat right through the nausea and pain.

ElaineNY

Posted 9/23/2008 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
I decided to stay home. I just don't feel well. I am going to see the doc at 2pm. I made an appt with a dietcian next week. I was on canasa suppositories. I felt they worked for me for awhile but not doing it now. Rowasa enamas made me double over in pain. It cleaned my system out which wasn't bad, but it was bad when you have to work! Basically I have a l ot of pain my left lower region even after a bowel movement. I don't get it. I've stopped the Colozal because I was throwing up. It might be the Fiorcet. I have a feeling the doctor will tell me to stop the Fiorcet and find another headache alternative. Oy vey
Posted 9/23/2008 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you are seein g your doctor and hoping he can come up with a solution.  Colazal made me very nauseated.  Rowasa makes me sore and rectum ache!  Like you say - cleans you out anyway!  ElaineNY

Posted 9/23/2008 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah I totally agree with you about the sorness and achiness with the Rowasa. I am not sure what to do with the Colazal anymore. I find that taking 6 isn't too bad but once I start taking 9, I feel nausous and have to throw up. Its just weird. We will see what he says in awhile. Thanks!
Posted 9/23/2008 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Elaine, by NP do you mean nurse practitioner?  My family doctor has one in his office and I wouldn't take a dog to her.  Way back in 98 when I first exhibited symptoms (and very strong ones) of UC, bleeding, urgency, loss of 15 lbs in two weeks, diarrhea of up to 10+ times a day, she wanted to put me on Paxil!!!  Thank God I told the receptionist I wanted to see the MD in the practice.  He immediately knew what it was and referred me to a Gastroenterologist.  Never made it to the gastro doctor's office though.  By the end of that week I had to be admitted to the hospital.
Posted 9/23/2008 5:33 PM (GMT 0)

Yes, I love my two nurse practicioners.  My primary care NP is a doll.

Gastro NP has so much more time.  They both consult with the doctors before prescribing anything special and always refer me to a specialist for "special problems".  My guy NP sent me to gastro doctor and for colonoscopy, etc.  I am on Medicare and sometimes need a referral anyway.  I just think, Rachel (when prescribing more 5-ASA's had not impressed upon the doctor how they were affecting me).  I will make sure everyone understands!

ElaineNY

Posted 9/23/2008 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
I just got back from the gastro doc and he gave me a few samples of Lialda instead of taking Colozal. I frankly told him that I stopped taking Colazal due to the nausea and vomitting. It made me feel horrible. He also wants me on 6-Mp again. I just cannot remember if it makes me nauseous as well. He only wants me on 50mg. I am just hoping the Lialda and Remicade treatmnets will do the trick. I also have to keep taking Miralax...It just seems like so much medication. 6-MP, Achiphex for the nausea, Lialda, Remicade infusions, Miralax...Does it sound like a lot???
Posted 9/23/2008 8:21 PM (GMT 0)

I saw "whatever works".  However, why the Mirilax?  You have constipation?

I do wish we could all (at least all of us who haven't) could find the right combination to feel great AND heal!  I find a couple things that heal but nausea, etc.  Then I get something that agrees with me but makes the UC symptoms worse!  GEEZ!!

ElaineNY

Posted 9/23/2008 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I do suffer from constipation, hence the Miralax. I was supposed to do Meet the Teacher night tonight but feel way too sick to even stand in front of a crowd of parents. I called my school to let them know what is going on (just said I had a medical emergency) and that I will be back tomorrow. They were nice enough to let me stay home despite the Meet the Teacher night. Now I am freaking out because the assistant principal sent me a nice e-mail but said that I need to make an appointment with the principal when I go back to work. I am tenured and have been working for the district for 7 years. I am hoping it is just a simple warning and wanting to know why I have had so many absences this month alone (5). I will explain the situation, but I am starting my new diet and just going to be more careful with my stress management starting tonight. I was going to worry and fret about all of this but I cannot control the unevitable. I have a feeling he wants to know what is going on and to pretty much give me a 'warning'. I love my job but this illness makes it unbearable at times.
Posted 9/23/2008 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
A good manager will not let a long series of absences go without trying to find out what is going on and if something can be done about it. I wouldn't be reading anything more into it. Besides, stressing yourself is not somthing you want to be doing.

Its not your fault you have this disease and you can't go back to work while you are sick. So relax and get better and don't worry about what you can't control.

Did i say relax?

Posted 9/23/2008 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
LOL Yes, Peter, you made it perfectly clear about relaxing. Did I mention that I have a tendency to worry WAY too much over things I have no control over. My prinicipal (boss) is the fourth one in my school since I've started teaching. Even though he started last year, I've never really spoken to him about my health issues since its never come up. I guess it has this time around. You're right- I need to relax!!!!!!!!! OMMMMMMM I think I will lie in bed and watch a new movie. Get my mind off this stuff. Thanks for making me feel better. :)
Posted 9/24/2008 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
I play computer games to relax - but thats a completely different thread!

Sometimes I stress myself and don't realise it. I think thats been one of my problems. Maybe I should be getting weekly relaxation massages instead of 1 every couple of months.

:)
Posted 9/25/2008 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
Have you thought about doing your rowasa when you get home from work? Give yourself 45 minutes to an hour to lay down and relax - maybe even a cat nap... If you could retain it for 30 minutes that would be better than nothing. Although I realize how difficult it could be to find time for it. There never seems to be enough time.

How are you feeling today?
Posted 9/25/2008 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi dakotagirl, thanks for the suggestion regarding the Rowasa enemas. I saw my doctor on Tuesday and he had me start a new medication called Lialda. So far, it has been working, I feel a little better. I also revamped my diet. I cut all kinds of sugar, except I still have a little of gingerale but only with dinner. One of my co-workers recommended a nutritionist and I think I will make the appointment.

Thanks for asking how I am feeling today. Its been a stressful few days at work because due to the fact of being in a flare for the past two weeks, I have taken 5 sick days this past month. This is a big no-no in the education world, so I had to get letters and documentaiton from my doctor. I am scheduled to have a meeting tomorrow morning with my principal. So I am a bit stressed. The stress doesn't help my tum tum but I am hoping to just relax this weekend and get my body back into a "relaxed" mode. I need stress management. LOL
Posted 9/26/2008 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
If it was me, I would also cut out bread, alcohol, white flour, dairy, etc. until you are in better control and then slowly introduce them to see which makes you worse. Just a suggestion..
Posted 9/26/2008 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
I think a nutritionist is a great idea. Do you take any probiotics?

My doctor also recommended switching to Lialda. I'm going to finish off my Asacol first though - can't bear to waste the meds! I have a couple weeks of it left.

How was the meeting with your principal?
Posted 9/27/2008 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
I've tried the probotic Align and it works pretty well. I might go back on it. I don't drink any alcohol, very little dairy, and I am trying to reduce the white bread.

I actually like Lialda so far. Only problem is I experienced some bleeding when I went to the bathroom today. I have not seen that in a very long time. I definitely know that I am flaring. :(

The meeting went well. I believe it was a formality. I submitted all of the necessary paperwork from my doctors to reinforce the reasons of my absences. Thanks for asking!! :)
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