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Proctitis - Confirmed on 5/23/08 :(

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/1/2008 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed w/Colitis on May 10, 2008 - and after my Colonoscopy on May 23, 2008 was told that it was Proctitis - From my understanding - abdominal pain was not one of the symptoms of Proctitis, however, ever since my Colonoscopy - I have had horrible pains & cramping along with diarrhea (it has been green 90% of this time, is this common). I have been put on Asacol 400mg - 3 pills twice daily. Are the pains & cramps common with this disease? I have felt horrible!! ANY Help would be appreciated!!

Thanks,

Kathy
Posted 6/1/2008 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, welcome to Healingwell PrairieKat :) Yes, pain and cramps are common even for UP. I was initially diagnosed with UP and one of the main symptoms I had was D, bleeding and abdominal pain. But what suprises me is that you are not any rectal meds? Usually with proctitis, rectal meds are used first because Asacol doesn't always make it down to the rectum which is where the inflammation is. Did the cramping and D start after you started Asacol? If so, you can be intolerant of Asacol or it may take your body a while to get used to the med. Are you on any fiber supplements or probiotics? If not, please look into them. We have many posts here on HW about these.
Posted 6/1/2008 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
You definitely need rectal meds for the proctitis and also as Red mentioned, probiotics daily and indefinitely is also a good idea since research is further discovering that they can benefit us with symptoms as we do tend to have bacterial over-growth issues because of IBD...I'm sure the sooner you get on rectal meds though, the sooner you'll start to feel better.

What is with docs that don't perscribe rectal meds when it's confirmed a patient is dealing with proctitis???

:)
Posted 6/1/2008 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thank You for the quick responses!!
I was on Asacol from 5/10/08 - 5/20/08 - then I had my GI appointment on 5/20 then my Colonoscopy on 5/23 when i was re prescribed the Asacol - I seemed to be somewhat "normal" b4 my Colonoscopy, but I have been miserable ever since!!

I have my follow-up visit 6/04 to go over all of his findings from my Colonoscopy - I will ask him about the Rowasa (this requires a prescription doesn't it?)


Kathy
Posted 6/1/2008 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
My doc did the same thing when I was diagnosed. Stuck me right on asacol for months and months with the same crap happening everyday. At the time I didn't know any better, but that doesn't happen now, lol. Yeah, the cramping is usual
Posted 6/1/2008 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Rowasa would require an RX...I like cortifoam myself, it's a steroid based foam enema and is the only rectal meds that aid me when needed...BTW, I've noticed that since I started taking probiotics daily about 4 yrs ago now, I havn't had to use rectal meds and that may be coincidence but I've never gone that long in my 17 yrs of having crohns-colitis without having to use rectal meds when my proc*** acts up, so it seems it hasn't acted up since I started the probiotics...hope it stays that way!

:)
Posted 6/2/2008 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Definitely get on rectal meds, my GI told me that orals will not reach the area of inflammation with proctitis. I have used Salofalk suppositories and they worked almost immediately. Personally I would try the suppositories first, they are easy to insert and you can be on your way immediately.

I did not have any pain with my first flare, lots with my second and a little with my third.
Posted 6/10/2008 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
*UPDATE*
Went to my follow-up appointment on 6/04/08 to discuss the results of my Colonoscopy & Ultrasound - he took another stool sample to check for C-Diff and I received a call on 6/06/08 to tell me that the sample was positive for C-Diff - so now I am on Flagyl for 2 weeks!! ACK!!

Prior to all this - from 5/27 - 6/05 every other day - I was suffering from extremely BAD cramps, low grade fevers and bloody diarrhea - My GI Dr. acted very confused and didn't understand why I was in so much pain, "You only have a mild case of proctitis". (This really aggravated me - he tried to blame it on a Cyst he discovered on my right ovary after my ultrasound on 5/23). I had informed him that on 4/05 - 4/11 I had been on a very strong antibiotic for pneumonia and that he might need to know this information. He seemed that it wasn't very relevant information at the time - but decided that he would take another stool sample for C-Diff!!
GUESS WHAT!?! - It was positive!!!

I was taken off the Asacol caps (400mg) and was Rx'd Rowasa enemas nightly. - and was RX'd an Anti-Spasomtic med for the cramping.

I decided that I wasn't going to take either the Rowasa, the Asacol or the Anti-Spamotics - and ALL of my cramping, fevers, & diarrhea have completely stopped.

I have decided to seek a new GI closer to my home, current the one I attend is in Denton, TX and I live in Grand Prairie!!

Any recommendations for Physician in the Arlington, Texas or Grand Prairie, Texas areas - would be GREATLY Appreciated!!

Thanks,

Kathy

Post Edited (Prairie Kat) : 6/11/2008 8:27:37 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/10/2008 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Kathy, it's possible that you're sensitive to Mesalamine, which is the ingredient in both Asacol and Rowasa. If this is the case, Cortifoam may work better paired with Colazal, which is a different 5-ASA. Mesalamine gives me even worse diarrhea and cramps, but I can take Colazal.
Posted 6/11/2008 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
It's good the doc did another test. Hope you feel better soon!!!
q
Posted 2/27/2009 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
I have just been diagnosed with proctitis and will start my rectal meds tonight. I would dearly love some info as I am new to all of this.

Tennie
Posted 2/27/2009 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
     Hi Tennie!  I've had proctitis for ten years.  What are your questions?  I'm in remission now...so chin up!  I also was told that it is easier to treat UP than UC that has traveled further into the colon. smilewinkgrin
Posted 3/13/2009 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and thank you for answering my post. So far I am taking the suppositories but next thursday i will go to the doc to see what he does next. What can I expect? Meds for the rest of my life for this? Will it get worse? My hubby seems to think that I brought this on myself from taking diet pills. eyes   He loves to blame. I look forward to talking to you more.

 

Tennie

Posted 3/13/2009 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
How did you respond to the suppositories? Whether you are you better or worse will likely dictate what your doc recommends for a next step. Yes, it likely you will be on some sort of meds to maintain remission if you have reached it. However, not all people require or choose to reamain on medications indefinitely. You get a say in your treatment too!
Posted 3/13/2009 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
     I blamed my condition on the Atkins Diet but the GI doctor said it was just a coincidence.

     Yep, you most likely will have to take meds the rest of your life.  Although I do have a friend who was diagnosed with UC over ten years ago and now is off all meds and doing great..so, you never know.

     I go to my GI doctor next Wednesday.  Hope my white count didn't drop down any further.  It was 2.4 and I lowered my dosage of 6MP to 50 mgm one day and 25 the next.  I've had ulcerative proctitis for over ten years.

     I live in NJ, don't know any docs in your neck of the woods.  Perhaps you could find one online.  I found a great GI surgeon who I went to for a second opinion.  He said he wouldn't recommend surgery for me...this was last year after I was discharged from the hospital and still in an awful flare....he told me to hang in there and I did.  It took seven months but I feel good now.  Keeping my fingers crossed because this is the time of year I usually get sick..gulp.

Posted 3/13/2009 9:16 PM (GMT 0)

The suppositories have really helped me. It's hard for me to remember them though. I already take some meds everyday so that would not be a problem to take a pill. I guess I will know more when I see him next week. Right now I just have so many questions. Thanks for replying for me.

Tennie

Posted 3/23/2009 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
I was told by my doctor that since the canasa was helping that I am on a need to see basis. I can stop taking the canasa until I start having a flair up. No other meds at all to take. Does that sound right?

 

Tennie

Posted 3/23/2009 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
You should taper them to every second night for a few weeks..if all is fine, go to every third night..etc. You should stay at a maintenance dosage of at least once a week or stop taking them when at once a week.

Eventually, you'll realise what your needs are regarding meds...takes a while.
Just don't wait too long before you start remedicating once symptoms start.

The 6 Asacol daily should be continued.
quincy
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