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What is concidered remission? also remicade question.

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/19/2009 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hello again,

I mean I've  had UC most of my life but never really have been in remission. To me its when you take a normal bm and go once a day.

I think this has happened to me maybe 12 times in 21 yrs of having this disease.

I don't have blood , some times mucus and cramping and lower back pain and weakness. I concider this to be in a flare.

Cay you guys tell me what your remission is to you?

Also how does remicade work for you guys who are on it. What is the difference you have in your bms and uc in general?

thanks donna

Posted 7/19/2009 8:10 AM (GMT 0)
UC in remission is the same definition as you have described. Remicade has worked well for me so far now that I have started taking Asocal with it.
Posted 7/19/2009 10:18 AM (GMT 0)
remission for me was virtually symptom free with 3-4 bowel movements a day but never has it been only 1 bm a day. Consider yourself lucky that you dont have blood and that your colitis is far from severe.
Posted 7/19/2009 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
To me, remission means a return to my symptom-free, pre-UC state -- maybe one BM a day, ability to comfortably hold it if need be, no unreasonable urgency, gas, blood, mucus, etc.

In 11 years, I have never gotten there. One thing that irks me about my GI -- whom I really like, overall -- is that after my last two colonoscopies, he proclaimed me to be in "clinical remission." I don't care what the camera or histology say, if I am hitting the can 3-4 times a day with occasional blood, malformed stools and above-average urgency, then no description of my current state should include the word "remission" -- I don't care what adjectives you sprinkle in front of it.
Posted 7/19/2009 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
I've had about 4 doses of Remicade and now down to 2-3 BM per day. One first thing AM, another after lunch and maybe one in the evening. Aside from the morning and lunch I rarely have any urgency. It's nice being able to hold it until I find a washroom.

No blood or mucous altough my stool is very loose. Once and awhile I form a good log but it's rare. Is this the same experience of others?

Since I've been on remicade (only started working after 4th dose), my diet has been a little poor. I'm eating a little too much fat and likely far too much beer.

Prior to developing UC I had a extremely healthy diet although it's not conducive to healing a rotten colon ( high fibre etc ). I would also have 1 BM a day, or 1 BM every 2-3 days. Can't say I was very regular.

So, I think I'm in remission but it's hard to tell since my stool is loose.
Posted 7/19/2009 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
Remission for me is no more than three formed BM's a day and no other symptoms. That's what Remicade has given me for the past three and a half years.
Posted 7/19/2009 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
I'd say my daughter is in remission: 1-2 formed stools, no urgency or blood, and the ability to eat all of the no-no foods---fruits, seeds, raw veggies, etc. Energy returned, pink cheeks, and the strength to even exercise. Remi is the magic, for now.
Posted 7/19/2009 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
I have one BM a day but it's slightly urgent and sometimes less than formed. I don't think I am quite in remission but I am a lot better off than I was and a lot better off than a lot of people. I am thankful to be doing as well as I am.
Posted 7/20/2009 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for all your input. I really appricate it. I won't say i'm in remission because I still get cramping but NO BLOOD that I guess to me is my remission but I still go up to 10 times a day.
I think the next step will be the remicade I have a colonoscopy August 13th. So we'll see how it looks.

To better health for all of us

donna :-)
Posted 7/20/2009 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
No blood, but no urgency is the best part. And I seem to have control over when I poo, depending on how long I sit. I even have gone a day or two without pooing at all, and that's a miracle.
I'm still getting used to being able to pass gas without needing to run to the bathroom!
I don't do it when anybody's around, but when I'm alone it's kind of exciting :)
Posted 7/20/2009 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Donna....you should consider to do the retention enemas...either 5-Asa (Rowasa or Salofalk or Pentasa) or steroid liquid or foams.

Is there a reason you're not using them? I'm sure I've asked, but don't remember the answer...maybe put the reason in your siggie if you cannot use
them.

Remission would be NO symptoms, one bm a day or two, depending on what I eat.

One doesn't have to be bleeding to constitute a flare, but it's great that your bleeding can be reduced.

Oh, forgot to mention there are also suppositories, but I don't classify them as a treatment option as much as a maintenance option...but that's a personal opinion.

quincy
Posted 7/21/2009 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
What do you guys think about having 3 or so BMs a day? That's what I had pre UC. I'm back to that now, so I would consider that to be my remission.

I have been really constipated the last few days. I hope that's not a sign of bad things to come.
Posted 7/21/2009 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
Jen O , the natural foods folks say that once a day is not enough if you are eating a healthy diet of whole foods. I have been cured for a year and a half after twenty years of UC and I go about 1-3 times and day.

Peety, I understand. Passing gas without being scared is so great. Also, when your bowels are normal, the peeing is great!! Most of the liquid used to go the other way - ! Has anyone else noticed this?
Posted 7/21/2009 7:15 AM (GMT 0)
Remission to me is no blood, no mucus, no diarrhea, minimal gas, no bloating, no hot abdomen, and one formed stool a day. My body still needs time to heal after a flare; so there may be some urgency, which gradually goes away the longer I'm in remission. I also need additional time for my energy level to return to normal, but that's because I loose a lot of blood when I flare. I can't eat foods high in fructose, because I'm fructose intolerant, which is probably due to a liver issue, not a colon issue.

Currently, I'm in remission. I no longer have urgency, but it's been six and half months and my energy level isn't completely back to normal yet although it is still improving.
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