Diagnosed with UC today, taking Lialda

Welcome to HealingWell, confusedgirl. I'm sorry you need this forum, but glad you found us. There's a lot of information and support to be had here. You might want to start by reading through the UC resources thread at the top of the page. There's a lot of good information there. With a chronic condition, it's important to educate yourself so you can be an active participant in your care.

As far as diet, you may want to start a food diary so you can track over a couple of months and determine which foods or beverages really do bother you. Food has more of an effect on some than others.

I'm taking lialda myself, and it's been doing me just fine. It's much easier than the alternate Asacol, which you have to take 3 times a day. Anyway, I'm sorry that you've just been diagnosed. I was diagnosed when I was 15 and I know what a bummer it is. Bottom line is that once you get it under control, it's not that big of a deal. Everyone's different. Just take it one day at a time and learn what you're sensitive to and what you're not.

Hey there, sounds like you and I are in the same boat...I was "diagnosed" with UC 2 years ago....but it didn't become very active until last year at this time. I guess what I was experiencing last year was a 'mild' flare because I was having bloody, diarreah (sp?) stools for monthsssss. The GI that was treating me said it would take awhile for the suppository to take effect, then he switched me to an enema....and continued to give me the same line. Basically, I listed to this quack for about 5 months before I got sick of being sick and listened to one of my friends who has Crohn's and switched to her GI. The first time I saw this new GI, I took him the results of my colonoscopy and everything, and he recommended another colonoscopy...so I had another one done and he said the reason that the suppositories and the enemas weren't working was because those only reach the rectum and the sigmoid and I was infected all the way to the transverse. So he started me on a heavy dose of prednisone and lialda. Once I came off the prednisone, things had made such a significant change for me that I didn't realize that it wasn't "normal" to not have normal BM's. I thought loose stools were ok, considering the condition I had. I wasn't having any pain or discomfort, and the bleeding had stopped, so I just assumed that my BM's were just going to be kinda loose for the rest of my life.

I didn't realize that wasn't normal until I was admitted to the hospital the first week in December. My GI told me he figures that I was having a continuous low-grade flare since I started seeing him; and was puzzled as to why I didn't contact him before, but I had done such a 180* from where I was before, that I didn't think to complain. (What set off the hospitalization was Keflex, an antibiotic that I took ONE dose of for a bronchitis infection...and from there on, they couldn't get my UC under control with out-patient steroids, so IV steroids were needed).

I guess what I'm trying to tell you is; do your homework, ask questions; and don't "settle". Pay close close attention to what you are putting in your mouth and even CLOSER to your stressors. I have heard that UC is not what you're eating; its what's eating you...which I can tell you that I am an emotional person, and if I get all hyped up about something, it will affect my bowels for sure. Know that nuts, salads and fresh fruits/veggies are typically what will set off most problems because the colon has trouble digesting the little seeds and/or the acids in the fruits are very hard on it as well. ANYTHING that is put in a fryer will knock me down for days...fries, chicken fingers...stuff like that. You are the only one who knows your body...listen to it.

Don't let yourself get down because you have this diagnosis...it's not a death sentence; just a new way to manage your life. :o) Keep me updated; like I said, I think we're kinda in the same boat, being around the same age and rather new to this, although I have a little bit of time on you :). So far, Lialda has been good to me...yes it is very expensive, but it's hard to put a price on your health.

Have a great weekend. :)

When I went to the bathroom today, I noticed yellowish circles in the toilet, looked like a piece of corn. Has this ever happened to anyone? Is it mucus? I'm really scared.

confusedgirl22 said...
When I went to the bathroom today, I noticed yellowish circles in the toilet, looked like a piece of corn. Has this ever happened to anyone? Is it mucus? I'm really scared.

I have never had anything solid yellow (like a piece of corn) but I have had mucus/acid like stuff similar.  Not sure about your setup with your GI, but I know my GI and his nurse will return my call within a couple of hours when I have a question or am worried about an update in my health.  If you can, call them and keep them updated.

have just been on lialda less than a week... have noticed no side effects except for positive ones.... Have been fighting this ( my first flare ) for over a year. just about had myself in remission with diet changes then doc switched me to lialda from balsalazide. Instant change. No more symptoms. I think I got very close with diet and then the med switch put me over the top. even ate chili last night with no bad results. Hope things get better for you...

Have you mentioned those little pus balls to your doctor? I've been on Lialda or Asacol (both 5ASAs) for over two years now and have never experienced anything like what you are talking about. Occasoinally when I was taking Asacol I'd pass what looked like whole pills, but with a little research (involved gloves like your research did) I discovered it was just the shell of the pill. That doesn't sound at all like what you are going through though. And you are sure it isn't mucuous? If you haven't yet, give your doctor a call and ask about the pus balls, and then let us know what he says. You've piqued my curiousity.

JennaK4202 - I lost over 20lb with my last flare because of not eating, the frequent BMs and the vomiting, but then gained about 15 lbs when I was on Prednisone. Prednisone causes your appetite to increase and also makes you retain water so it's pretty normal to gain weight. My GI prescribed a diuretic to go with it because my ankles and knees were swelling too. Oh.. and the face thing is SO frustrating. I was on 100 mg of Prednisone in June '08 and took about 4 months to taper it down. My face stayed round (or as I read on another website "moonface") until November!