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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/31/2009 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with Colitis in Jan 09.  My dr is unsure if I have leftsided colitis or full UC....he put me on Asacol 400mg 2-2/day.  I felt pretty good for about a month but I am still having blood in my stool.  For about the last month I don't have a bm for a week, then one day I will and it will be D but it will come with incredible pain. It feels like my stomach, below my belly button is spasming. I cant get out of the bathroom and when i do I am doubled over in pain.  I was in the ER right before I was diagnosed for similar pain.  The ER Dr. had given me pain meds so each time my pain came back over the last month Ive been using the percocet. I went back to the dr last week and he uped my Asacol to 3-2/day and gave me a script for Hyomax (an anti spasm pill to put under the tongue to work right away)(supposed to stop the spasming).  Well like clockwork the spasms came back the other day and I took this Hyomax under the tongue like I was supposed to and it only helped for about 5 minutes. Then I had to take the immodium to make the pain go away. And now I won't have a bm for a week bc I took the immodium.  Does anyone have any suggestions??
Posted 3/31/2009 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like the constipation/diarrhea/spasms cycle of irritable bowel syndrome. Do you have IBS in addition to colitis or did you have it before your colitis diagnosis? If so, IBS responds very well to dietary changes, in my experience.
Posted 3/31/2009 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I get those incredibly painful spasms too, on my lower left side. Usually taking immodium makes it worse, although sometimes it's just necessary to control urgency in situations but I know I'll pay later for blocking things up. I've never taken anything for the pain, just keep telling myself it will end soon. After an episode, I am wiped out. I don't know that there is anything to be done about it, except to try to get out of the flare with prednisone and rectal meds.

3x2 Asacol still is not a very big dose. You might consider asking about rectal meds to get medicine to that lower left part of your gut that is spasming?
Posted 3/31/2009 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Did you have a colonoscopy yet? I ask because you said your doc is unsure what extent of UC you actually have. If it is pancolitis, you may need a higher daily dose of Asacol and possibly medicated retention enemas, too, to bring your inflammation under control. Have you tried eating a low residue diet for a while to see if that reduces your cramping? It's safer to try diet modification than to take Immodium regularly. Many members here who control their inflammation with Asacol also take Metamucil daily to help regulate their bms-- so that's another possibility you could look into. Best wishes. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently fighting off flare in sigmoid colon)
Posted 3/31/2009 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
when that happens to me i take librax...i also get bad gas with spasms...so i take the cherry chewable gasx also. i take 2 librax 2-3 times a day till the spasms have stopped!!
Posted 3/31/2009 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
I did have a colonoscopy done in Dec 08 and they found that I had Cdiff, and also Colitis. My dr first treated me for the Cdiff, then the colitis. He said he saw inflamation the left side of my colon but also some on the right which he said he had never really seen before so he didnt know exactly how to treat it. 
I have taken caffiene, grease, anything that I think will trigger an attack out of my diet. I have lost 25 lbs in 3 months. My friends and family were very worried as I dont look very healthy anymore.  I work out everyday, to try to help things too.  I am going to try the metamucil.  I dont like taking the immodium but sometimes I Feel like its my only option. I know Ill pay for it in a few days but I want to have a life too ya know.  It just gets frustrating!

Posted 3/31/2009 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
So you really had a double whammy to deal with-- because C-diff & meds to knock it out tend to wear UCers to a frazzle. If your doc did see right-side inflammation during the C-scope, then Asacol should treat that in addition to the left-side. Do you take a daily multi-vitamin? You could look into Forvia, which is especially compounded for IBD patients. Many members posting here do well taking it. Probably while you're still feeling run-down, you should take it easy with exercise; be kind to yourself & get plenty of rest. Keep yourself well-hydrated with water & nutritious drinks. It sounds like you can get on top of things with the right Asacol dose, good nutrition, & vitamin/mineral supplements so hang in there. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
Posted 3/31/2009 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
Last September I had terrible spasms on my lower left side during BMs. My GI doctor let me try Entocort (steroid) enema. After using it nightly for 5 days the spasms went away and never returned.
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