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Where does the mucus come from?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/17/2008 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
 

Ok, I can guess that it comes from the colon..........

But for those of us who pass a lot of it both with and without stool  - What is the most likely site of inflamation?  Can it be from anywhere in the colon or just in the lower portions of colon and/or rectum?

I'm tweaking my medications right now and knowing the answer may help me make  better choices. 

 

Posted 11/17/2008 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
     When starting a flare, mucus is the first thing I notice.  I have ulcerative proctitis, so I would guess it comes from the lower portion of the colon.
Posted 11/17/2008 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
it's been my understanding that if mucus is the first or only thing to come out it's the lower part of your colon that's inflamed and you need rectal meds.
Posted 11/17/2008 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
The wall of the colon produces mucus throughout its length. The purpose is to lubricate the colon for easy passage of waste. People with healthy colons don't even notice the small amounts of mucus. When your colon is irritated, it produces more mucus to try to protect itself, and it becomes very visible.
Posted 11/17/2008 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
When I first flared, all I had coming out was mucus, and the c-scope showed pancolitis. So it doesn't necessarily mean the inflammation is localized.
Posted 11/17/2008 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
People with IBS can get mucus too and there is no inflammation with IBS...

However, the large bowel mucus layer effectively prevents contact between the highly concentrated luminal bacteria and the epithelial cells in all parts of the normal colon. Colonic inflammation is always accompanied by breaks in the mucus barrier. Although the inflammatory response gradually reduces the number of bacteria in mucus and faeces, the inflammation itself is not capable of preventing bacterial migration, adherence to and invasion of the mucosa.

 

In UC, the mucus membrane of the intestine becomes inflamed and develops ulcers. These ulcers bleed and produce pus and mucus, which may be visible as they are passed in the stool. In IBS, there may be increased mucus production by the lining of the intestine, which is then passed. Mucus is more often associated with diarrhea-predominant IBS. Mucus is less frequent with CD, but may be associated with the development of an anal fissure.



:)

Posted 11/17/2008 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
If you just have watery cloudy(mucus) exulsions with no stool and no blood, does that mean UC or IBS. Right now that is the biggest complaint.....several nighttime mucus movements...no stool and once or twice during the day...how do you stop that if it is IBS? on Remi and no steroids.....GI says my colon is not relasing enough water..Is that from damage? Any tips on how to stop the mucus production would be great appreciated....formed stool most days...very little blood, and what is there he says is from Hemmies....any help to stop the watery cloudy discharge...on garden of life pro biotics too and a fiber supplement.....Maddening to have this going on at night....
Posted 11/17/2008 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
basically....it's increased activity in the colon that creates the excess mucus. It could be a mechanical defect in how the colon acts/reacts as in IBS. . It could be from inflammation as in infection or UC or CD, MC...etc or it could be from IBS. Both can cause spasming in the colon..and the apasming can cause the increased activity which causes more mucus. Some will get more mucus without increased expulsion, some would get increased expulsion and mucus...could be only mechanical, could be disease, could be both....

clear as mud.

I think for either, an antispasmodic and fibre supplement and probiotic can help.

quincy
Posted 11/17/2008 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Definitely fibre supplements, probiotics and bee propolis has aided my mucus issues, execessive mucus is no longer an issue for me.

:)
Posted 11/18/2008 1:44 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks everyone for your input.

I guess mucus is a symptom of many things and too hard to pin down exactly.  To be expected of slime I suppose.

I do take fiber and a probiotic.  This sudden reappearance of "mucus bombs" yeah as someone in this forum so eloquently put it, is colitis related because I definitely feel something brewing in my guts and I keep seeing blood more and more as well.  Rowasa to the rescue I hope!

Take care!

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