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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/2/2010 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
i have been diagnosed with uc in 11/08 but i'm sure i've had it longer than that.  i have never had the diarrea part of it just clots of mucus and blood daily.  Since being diagnosed I have not gotten any better everyday still have the same bathroom issues.  I feel the urge to have to go badly and when I do it's just clots of mucus and blood like I said before.  Just yesterday I started getting bad cramping and had horrible diarrea.  This morning I felt an extreme urge to go and when I went it was basically mucus diarrea nothing else.  I have not had a colonoscopy since 11/08 had a sigmoioscopy (sp) in june or so and just had a CT scan in September.  When I went and saw my doc in December he said he doesnt think I need another colonoscopy or any test he said wait and see when I go back in March and if I am not better he will put me on a steriod suppository.  The suppository I use now is anusol for hemmroids and uc it has hydrocortisone in it. I take Lialda 2x a day, Prilosec once a day, 2 ultram nightly for cramps, and bentyl most of the time daily for spasms. My pcp just put me on klonopin because I am so stressed and worried about my health that I am only making myself worse.  So I take half in the morning and a whole one of those at night along with 20 mg lexapro.  Basicallly my question is what should I do ask to get another colonoscopy I feel like all I am doing is getting worse and worse.  I feel like crap everyday. I just don't know what to do. 
Posted 2/2/2010 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Nope, I honestly don't think you need another c-scope...you know that you have UC, and I don't think a c-scope is required to treat the symptoms. Yes, regular c-scopes are necessary to check for cancer and such, but not for figuring out how to treat flares. Your doctor should, however, adjust your meds since you are still having symptoms. So you're only taking 2 Lialda a day? If I were you, I'd up the Lialda to 4 a day and request mesalamine enemas from your doctor. They do a better job at treating the part of the colon they can reach (which is most of the left side) than the oral meds do, and you end up healing a lot faster. Plus, oral meds don't necessairly reach the end of the colon. If you are having a lot of rectal symtpoms (ie, pain, feeling like you've got to poop all of the time), you could use mesalamine suppositories as well, buy using an enema at night and a suppository during the day. I'd honestly give the mesalamine rectal meds a try before you use steroid ones. If your doc won't prescribe the rectal meds now, find another doc.
Posted 2/2/2010 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
I completely agree with fruitgirl!
Posted 2/2/2010 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like your rectum is inflamed because you're having urgency issues besides expelling bloody mucus. The devil! Definitely try adding rectal meds if you haven't already. I think it's commendable that your gastro doesn't want to rush you in for another scope right now. Since the tissues are inflamed already, they would likely feel worse after a scope passes over them-- so it might give you another week of setback to recuperate from. Best wishes for you to feel better ASAP. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 2/3/2010 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Now i am taking anusol for hemmroids and he said that anusol should also help with uc has anyone tried that before.  or does anyone have hemmroids along with the uc?  also, so you say i should try asking for an mesalamine enema for the night time then a mesalamine suppository for the am?
Posted 2/3/2010 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
I also agree with fruitgirl. You need the mesalamine enemas. I requested them from my doc a few weeks ago and the bleeding and mucus stopped after a couple of days of using them! Those are two of my major issues, along with cramping, urgency and loose bowels. I also switched from Asacol to Lialda (cheaper co-pay for me) plus upped the dosage: 2 Liada 2X a day, just as fruitgirl suggested. This enabled me to continue tapering my prednisone. I was tapering before but would get to 15mg and the bleeding/mucous would come back. Now I am down to 10 mg and none of that mess! I have not had a colonoscopy in 2 years, though a couple of sigs. I am still having the loose bowels and urgency but I can live with that for now.
Posted 2/3/2010 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
what kind of suppositories do you take that works for you? they keep bringng up to me about putting me on steriod suppositories what side affect would i have from them? also, any other steriod really i am so scared and do not want to be on steriods i've heard such bad things like face swelling and weight gain (which i could use a little of) but i'm just so nervous
Posted 2/3/2010 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Try to calm down & analyze your situation rationally. What did your June sigmoidoscopy show? (Extent & degree of inflamation.) If your sigmoid colonand/or rectum was inflamed up to a level termed "moderate", then you should try using Rowasa enemas in addition to the oral med for a couple months. They take a while to work, but do not contain steroids. They also treat higher up than suppositories can reach. What is your usual diet like? Are there irritating foods that might prevent your meds from working optimally? Do you get enough rest nightly? Have your blood levels of vitamin D been tested recently? (Specialists now think that low vit D can impact on IBD.) The case for steroid meds strengthens when one's level of inflammation reaches "severe". It is true that a patient can experience unpleasant side effects from lengthy treatment with Prednisone, but steroid enemas usually cause few, if any, side effects & can be very effective at treating left-sided UC or proctosigmoiditis. When is your next gastro appointment? That would definitely be a time to bring up enemas if you can't get an Rx by phone. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
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