Proctitis (Ulcerative)

Yes, in two separate 10-day sessions, separated by a 2 months, in succession....the latter session 2 months before getting ulcerative proctitis.

Could be a BINGO! moment for you. Antibiotics (fungal toxins) can be implicated in UC symptoms. At least they were for me. Because antibiotics kill of the good, along with the bad bacteria, yeast is allowed to proliferate, causing a dysbiosis, causing symptoms of disease. I had all the tests done, looking for bacteria (nothing out of ordinary found), but fungus won't show up on a test your doctor orders. So, trial and error, I went on an antifungal diet/program, got well again. You may want to look into fungus as a potential cause, if you've tried the other routes and still haven't found anything that explains your symptoms or gets rid of them. Now I always say...fungus until proven otherwise. I am  FUPO head! :)

I never had any problems until after a 2 weeks cycling trip across Cuba back in December 07. Been to Cuba twice before that (sick both times). I believe I was officially diagnosed sometime late 06 with UP...thought it was hemorrhoids for awhile...until I found the right doctor who explained what was going on.

What started has mild UP turned into full on Pancolitis, colon has to go. Fortunately through Remicade, Prednisone and perhaps the disease just running it's course for the time being I've been in remission since May/June. To answer your questions about cannabis...when I left he hospital the GI said no to Tylenol 3 for pain. The cramping, frequency of BM's was insufferable after being released from the hospital and standard opiate based pain relief medicine was not appropriate as it could cause harm (exploding colon). I asked a physician if marijuana was worth looking at for the pain and got the "ok"...considering the cocktail of Pred, 5-ASA and Remicade what harm could it to. It can reduce cramping and colon motility. I There are a number of studies (not by activists) that indicate cannabis acts as a anti-inflammatory and reduces pain as well as promotes healing of the intestinal wall. I'm no advocate, nor am I trying to promote it, just saying.

I lived with UP on and off since about 07 on the standard 5-ASA drugs... it wasn't until NYE of 09 that the UP turned into full on Pancolitis while on vacation in Cuba. No matter how many enemas I shoved up the bum nothing happened. When I returned from vacation the GI put me on 2.4G of 5-ASA pills which caused greater colon pain. He then started me on Prednisone which worked for about 2 weeks then the flare got worse and I checked into a hospital downtown. After a 3 week vacation they checked me out but it wasn't until about 2 month later that I was semi-normal.

All I can suggest is do your best to keep UP in check because if it continues further up the colon life really starts to get tough. I've been wondering if I had been more on top of UP could I have prevented full blown Pancolitis...I didn't do my research early on and the first doctor I visited dismissed it as just "colitis" and gave me some suppositories...what wasn't explained was that it was a chronic disease. In fact, this particular colon doctor initially coined my musous discharge and itching as Anusitis ( apparently he discovered it and wrote a book to which other GI's now mock), then later UP.

There have been a number of studies ( posted a link or two awhile back), indicating bacteria is at fault, or lackthereof to which I believe may be the cause of my UP/UC. I've never been of the opinion that food or diet was the cause as there are so many people who eat far worse (millions) and prior to developing UP/UC I was a extremely fit amateur bike racer. I do think that certain foods/beverages will aggravate symptoms or make them far worse during flare.

There was also another study that stated (I'd have to find it to recall exactly what was said), but UC was considered a genetic fault where our bodies were missing something (again I forget ..it's in a few post back), hence causing a autoimmune disease. This may explain why UP/UC is more prevelant in Jews than other ethnicities. I certainly wouldn't think the Jewish population eats any worse or better than anyone else therefore would assume UC is not foods related food related. Maybe it's carried in the genetically. No one else in my family has UC although my father did have colon cancer and they removed part of his colon.

Personally, unless a cure of sorts is found I'm reserved to the fact my colon will need to come out..it's just a matter of time as the Infliximab research group at the hospital advised Remicade was a short term solution ( 1-3 years ), not designed for long term use. There is no way I want to go back onto Prednisone again. My sister in law, who happens to be jewish ( grandparents fro Russia ), and a surgeon in the US, knows a number people who have UC or a J-Pouch..and she recommends the surgery, stating a normal life is ahead of me after surgery. I'm getting accustom to the idea of being colon free.

Yes, for 3 months. The 2nd operation creates the j-pouch and no more illeostomy bag.

There is an ostomies forum here on Healing Well where you can connect with folks who have an ostomy...they definitely wouldn't say that life is terrible with a pouch, so don't think that!

Suebear is a fairly active member on this site with a j-pouch, and from what I've read, lives a really active, totally normal life. However, if you'd like to talk to more folks with j-pouches, you can go to www.jpouch.org.

I clicked on Resources at the top of knowthecause.com, but on the page that links to I don't see a "tab" on the left side that says "Resources." There is only something on the left called "Resource Links (7)"....is that the right thing to click on to get the gist?

Chatter, thanks for chiming..I appreciate it. Now that you are fully recovered and acclimated to the j-pouch, how is your life/digestion different now from when you were, say, 26 years old (i.e., since you got UC when 27)? In other words, I would love to hear you say the only difference is that you digest more quickly, but I don't want to lead the question....

I realize many may have tried dietary changes...but has anyone paid specific attention to gluten-free diets...I have read long-term exposure to gluten when intolerant can cause rectal bleeding.
Also, has anyone tried a diet 100% free of all GMO (genetically modified organism) or bio-engineered foods. (unless it's organic and non-processed...it will be GMO)
GMO's kicked in around the mid-1990's...and there has been an insurgance of digestive disorders since their introduction. Wondered if anyone has heard of or has performed any case studies???

My 15 yr old daughter has been diagnosed with proctitis, cause unknown...she uses Asacol 500mg suppositiories at night (though she was prescribed Canasa 1000mg...I just found that amount to be a bit much so we scaled her back....She stopped taking it and starting eating processed foods and is having a BAD flare right now. It took about a month off medication and eating garbage for her symptoms to flare back up. VERY bad rectal bleeding, constipation, abdominal pain and some mucus....she had a scope...did not see ulcers....biopsy and blood work was not performed (still wondering why not)

When I can convince her to eat healing, gluten-free, holistic and organic foods...she seems to do quite well...but teenagers are stubborn...they want their junk food (shaking my head)