habba syndrome

Another question - does anyone know if you can have habba syndrome & ulcerative colitis simulatneously?  my son's uc symptoms when he was 1st diagnosed 3 years ago aren't anything like what he is experiencing now. Don't know if it's the meds he's on or what. He has no pain of any kind, no fatigue, bleeding or aches like he had originally. He began feeling a little churning many months ago, night sweats & then the urgency kicked in something horrible. He also had blood. Went to Mayo for a full work-up & had a 2.5 cm polyp removed which the surgeon thought could be the cause of the bleeding. He was put on a 6 week taper of prednisone & also 50 mg of 6mp. Pred kept D at bay while he was on it. about 4-5 days after the last pill, D came back.  The urgency is horrible right now - especially after he eats. Doesn't matter what he eats at all. We've tried to keep track to see if anything specific affects the D. We watched a medical mystery show about 1 yr ago about habba syndrome. If he hadn't been diagnosed with UC - we'd think this is what he has. No pain, just urgent D many times a day - and at night if he's had a snack before bed. His weight has maintained too. He's so miserable says he won't return to school in the fall if this is continuing. Don't blame him. So - any link between Habba and UC? Could the UC be cleared up on 6mp & colazal but still have Habba? It was his idea to check into it - he remembered the program & the name of the syndrome for all these months. Eveyone on this site is so helpful & kind. I so much appreciate your replies. Thanks in advance for any & all help. Like I mentioned in an earlier thread, he started on the Shaklee Prebiotics & Probiotics just yesterday - too soon to know if they are of much benefit. Thanks again everyone!!

Thanks - that's what I plan on doing 1st thing Monday. But I didn't know if anyone on this site has had any experience with Habba. Thanks again Quincy - I see your name on here a lot & that shows me that you care about others & are truly trying to help. So thanks for your reply. I really appreciate it!!

We were watching Medical Mysteries on TLC - probably last summer.  He was in remission at the time but the symptoms certainly got our attention . He's been in a pretty severe flare since January & we're both getting a little weary. His attitude is awesome but he told me last night that he won't return to school (his senior year) if he's still like he is right now. He had several accidents at school & he worried constantly. Toward the end of the year he was taking Imodium & that helped him get through the day but he still would have to go several times throughout the day. We took him to Mayo Clinic during his spring break & they did another colonoscopy & endoscopy - that's when they found the 2.5 cm polyp. His bleeding stopped after it was removed & the surgeon said it could be the culprit. He's had no normal cramping (as you usually have during a flare) aches (which he always had), gas,blood, etc. - Everything that he normally had with a flare is gone. It's only the urgency & frequency now - which sounds similar to Habba.  Also, people with syndrome often times have yellowish stools - which he told me he has had in the past - not all the time.  So, it's definitely worth looking into. I'm calling his doc 1st thing Monday & see if some tests can be ordered - at least to rule it out. My son is hopeful that this is the problem. This disease is horrible at any age - but for a teenager who should be out with his friends, it's even more devastating. College is in question - he's a straight A student & getting letters from tons of universities - he wants to be a pharmacist. But he's too scared to think that far a head. He can't even have a job at this point. Pretty frustrating - but I know that you know all about it! Thanks again for your help - I'm sure many people have benefitted from your advice & encouragement.  I'll post when I get an answer from the doc. Have a great day!

My son was on 6mp only for 2 months - the urgency continued. He had been on colazal when he was 1st diagnosed and achieved remission. But his symptoms were different then they are now. He never had accidents nor had extreme urgency during his 1st go-round with this disease. Just D w/blood. While on colazal he was totally normal. His doc then put him on Lialda since it was a once a day drug - very exciting for him. Oh - he was on enema treatment as well, in the beginning. The lialda didn't seem to work quite as well for him but it was still good. Colazal was wonderful! I asked the doc to put him back on the enemas too - she reluctantly did that - but things seemed to be looser for him. He stopped after 2 weeks but mentioned starting up again just last night. I know it seems to be a guessing game with this disease - trying to find the right mix of drugs. But I hate the drugs and possible long-term side effects. My son thinks the UC is under control - the bleeding, pain, gas, aches - all gone. Even when he was on colazal he had joint pain & fatigue. He has absolutely none of that now. Just the urgency & frequency. I'd like to take him off the 6mp - that drug seems to be so harsh. I think he'd switch back to aches & pains to get rid of the urgency! Poor kid!It's so heartbreaking. He's such a good kid too. Just a parent's dream. Well, thanks once again for your input. I really do appreciate it more than you know.

Yeah, it's a dilema regarding all the meds...what works, what doesn't...etc.

I think one thing you must do is insist on stool samples done as well, for he might have a gut bug as well....

Awesome that he's not fighting you on taking the meds and has gone back to the rectals...

Yes, it can take a while....

I had a stint a few years ago that all my stools were almost diarrhea with some urgency...I ended up increasing the Asacol and the enemas to nightly..and when I saw the doc (about a month later), he had me do stool samples. Nothing came back...and I continued with the 8 Asacol and enemas nightly for about 4 months..and eventually was able to start tapering.

It was NO pain as in a flare, but the doc "chocked" it up to UC related. I did, however, add Metamucil smooth twice a day, and at least that gave me some relief from the frequency.

I haven't had that since...still don't know what it was.

The fact that your son's UC has improved a LOT says the meds are working...but it is interesting regarding the difference in meds and other body symptoms.

Between a rock and a hard place sometimes....but it's definitely good for you to pursue the Habba syndrome or gallbladder aspect.

Let me know what the outcome of the phonecall is.

quincy