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Is this really remission?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/21/2009 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
I've been in remission for about 4 years now...with little flares here and there, but I've noticed that I always seem to have some blood. Either a little in my stool or just when I wipe, or both. Nothing like it use to be but I'm wondering if this really is remission and if I shouldn't be bleeding at all. I'm just so use to it that it's normal for me now. Any thoughts?
Posted 3/21/2009 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
It's so complex with this disease because there are so many forms of remission and flaring so if you're still having bleeding on a fairly regular basis I'd say you are still flaring to a degree or you may have an internal hemheroid that's causing the bleeding.

:)
Posted 3/22/2009 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
I don't see blood anymore but I don't think I could consider my current situation "remission". I am just not well enough that I would say that I am normal. I am still exhausted and my BMs are soft, I have D pretty often. I don't think it is remission if you have any symptoms. You should get checked for hemmroids. If your BMs are formed and you don't have urgency, maybe they are the cause.

Posted 3/22/2009 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
U sound like what i go thur, i don't think ur in remission if ur having the big D!!! I just started Humira, Wed. will be my second time!!! So i have a question, how long have u been on it & any big side effects? I'm having chills & my body hurts so bad. Yesterday i went about 16 times but Thursday 32 times!!! Hopefully tomorrow will be better if not i'll have to call my Doctor but it sucks because my Father-In-Law is having a Brain tumor removed on Tuesday so i don't have time for this wonderful disease!!! Plus i just got out of the hospital 13 days ago. Sorry to vent but sometimes we need it!!! I hope the best for u.
Posted 3/22/2009 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi happydays,

Sorry about your father-in-law having a brain tumor. My ex had to get a brain tumor removed several years ago. After the surgery, he said he felt like he was swimming in water. He talked like it too. Although he was able to return to work soon afterwards, it took him a couple of years to fully recover. I think the only permanent damage he had was to his spelling. But he never really was a good speller anyway.

Hi Blu021,

You could be bleeding from hemorrhoids or a fissure or a low-grade flare. You should get it checked out.

If you have no other symptoms of Colitis--no urgency, no diarrhea, no bleeding, ..., then chances are that it's just hemorrhoids or a fissure. A sign that it could be hemorrhoids is pain at or near the assh*le right when and/or after going. I don't know much about fissures, but I heard that they usually hurt.

You should still get it checked out instead of trying to second guess though. Hemorrhoids, fissures, and Colitis are all treated differently.
Posted 3/22/2009 5:51 AM (GMT 0)
You'd likely know if you had/have fissure(s) because it feels like you're pooping out razor blades.

:)
Posted 3/22/2009 9:41 AM (GMT 0)
Thank u Subdued, we praying everything will be fine cause they will have to go back in for another tumor that is in the back lower part of his head.
Posted 3/22/2009 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
Well it never hurts to go and it usually a little bright red blood nothing like I use to have when I was first diagnosed. But when I was diagnosed it wasn't with the typical symptoms of UC....I never had diarrhea or had much of an urgency to go. Usually the most I went in a day was maybe 5 or 6 and it was because I had so much mucus built up. The doctors had a hard time diagnosing me. Took almost a year to come to the conclusion that it was UC...they thought it was a strep infection at first.

I really don't want to have to tell my doc I'm bleeding a bit here and there because I really want to get off some of these meds (6mp). The humira works great...no side effects and with 6mp I'm over treating myself. So i want off it. I go see me doc in a few days and I'm going to tell him I want off. Not sure how he will take it.

I feel great otherwise. I bleed a bit but it never hurts and its formed and I got about once a day or every other day. I'll probably ask my doctor but I know he'll just up my meds and won't let me off the 6mp...not sure what to do...
Posted 3/22/2009 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
     Blu...when was your last colonoscopy?  I really think you should get checked out to be on the safe side.
Posted 3/22/2009 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
Great question, and I agree it is highly subjective as we all have our own intricacies with this disease. For me I would say I have been in remission for 2+ years, yet I still have a couple mild flares per year with pain, difficulty when on the toilet w/pain, rroids get really painful sometimes. I am thankful to be at this point with the way the first few years went!!! So that is how I relate it, it is more of a comparison. Does anyone really become symptom free with remission? IDK...if they never flare again I would say that they no longer have UC...Not sure how good it can get with UC...I may be in my glory days as we speak...
Posted 3/22/2009 9:15 PM (GMT 0)

Deacon Blues said...
Does anyone really become symptom free with remission? IDK...if they never flare again I would say that they no longer have UC...Not sure how good it can get with UC...I may be in my glory days as we speak...

Yes, you can become symptom free, have normal bowel movements, no longer wonder where the nearest bathroom is, be physically active and in great shape, and rarely think of UC throughout your busy day.
Posted 3/22/2009 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

Just joined, nice to see I'm not the only one out there! I was diagnosed with UC about 10 years ago. Was pretty much under control until last Nov. I started bleeding very heavy. Now have the bleeding under control-
but have been experiencing migrating joint pain, which can be very painful at times. Have been checked for everything under the sun and all negative, so I am assuming (as is my gastroenterologist and Rhumi) that the joint pain is from my UC and should subside once I am in remission. I seen to be in remission for about a week now. Does anyone out there feel that the joint pain is worse than their uc? I just want the pain to stop!
Posted 3/23/2009 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
I haven't had a colonoscopy in awhile...probably 3-4 years ago. I see my doctor this week, so I'll bring it up to him. Not so sure I wanna hear him say I need to stay on more meds but o well....I feel like i'm in remission. But i do have to admit that I don't take my asacol as much as he wants me too.

JointPain...you might want to look into seeing if you have rheumatoid arthritis. It goes hand in hand with UC sometimes. That's why I'm on humira...for my RA. Humira is approved for both UC and RA now so it kills tow birds with one stone so to speak.
Posted 3/23/2009 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
I have had blood tests to check for RA factor twice and both times have come up negative. I also take asacol right now and it seems to work good for my uc
Posted 3/23/2009 5:54 AM (GMT 0)
jointpain,
I had joint pain hit pretty good and soon as my flare was getting under control. It never got bad enough that I saw a Rhumi. A couple people on here said they get more joint pain than colon symptoms. My pain has declined slowly over time. I still get a little bit now and then. Joint pain sure is annoying! I hope you have some relief soon
Posted 3/23/2009 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
NUCID,
DID YOU SAY THAT YOUR JOINT PAIN STARTED AFTER YOUR FLARE? MINE WAS WORSE DURING FLARE. JUST WENT INTO REMISSION - BUT STILL HAVE SOME SLIGHT PAIN IN WRIST AND TODAY A PINCHED FEELING IN MY SHOULDER. WHERE DID YOU GET THE JOINT PAIN?
Posted 3/23/2009 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
Jointpain, welcome to HW :) To me it sounds like you may have:

Peripheral arthritis
Peripheral arthritis usually affects the large joints of the arms and legs, including the elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles. The discomfort may be "migratory," moving from one joint to another. If left untreated, the pain may last from a few days to several weeks. Peripheral arthritis tends to be more common among people who have ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease of the colon. The level of inflammation in the joints generally mirrors the extent of inflammation in the colon. Although no specific test can make a definitive diagnosis, various diagnostic methods—including analysis of joint fluid, blood tests, and X-rays—are used to rule out other causes of joint pain. Fortunately, IBD-related peripheral arthritis usually does not cause any lasting damage.

http://www.ccfa.org/info/about/complications/arthritis


Blu021, I always thought that consistant bleeding was just the norm for me and I accepted the fact that it may be. But then I hit a true remission and the bleeding stopped. Now I know that any form of bleeding is not acceptable whether if it's from Uc or hemmeroids. Bright red blood though sounds like either you have rectal inflammation or a hemmie. The brighter the blood means that it is closer to the anus. Darker the blood means that it's further along the intestinal track. If you are having no other symptoms then it could very well be a hemmeroid. Definately bring it up to the doctor though - maybe he can give you a rectal med to help if it's a hemmeroid.

Posted 3/23/2009 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi red 34,
thanks - that is what I think as does my rhumi and gasro drs. This is the first time in the 9 years from my 1st diagnosis with uc that I have had joint /muscle/tendon pain and it is going on about 3 months now. Definitely better now that my uc is under control. I am just hoping that it will go totally away once I am in total remission (no bleeding for just a few days so far). Is there anyone that has had joint/muscle migrate around for this long, and if so how long after remission does it take for it to stop?
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