HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

For those in remission

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/30/2010 12:25 PM (GMT 0)
I am in remission and doing all around good.  I have solid bm's, no bleeding, no pain and no urgency and on schedule with only my morning bm's.  I haven't felt this good in a long time.  But I feel like such a worry wort because lately I have been having a very slight increase of symptoms (slight urgency and extra evening bm's) - probably seasonal allergy related.  But whenever I have an increase of symptoms I can't help but worry that I am going into a flare.  I HATE this feeling!  I feel good and I want to stay this way!  I mean I haven't had this good of a remission ever in 18 years!  For once I am able to forget that I have Uc but then I start to get these slight symptoms and I feel like I got slapped with it in my face again.  I just so darned frustrated with this disease that it makes me angry!  mad   Of course I know to be proactive and I will know if and when I need more help.

For the people in remission, do you ever feel the same?

Posted 3/30/2010 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Red, I kinda know how you feel ..I "THINK" I am in remission..going 1-2 times a day only in the Am right now with no other symptoms at the moment..but once and a while an evening bm w ill come into the mix OR a really painful or urgent one right in the middle of a meal..and then I think oh there goes my remission! So I kinda know how you feel and yes its very very frustrating and others just dont get it..why we count our bms..why we worry so much..I sometimes think we are stressed cause of uc and NOT the other way around as most pple think.
Posted 3/30/2010 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
Red, I'm so happy for you. What I've learned by having this disease is that I take it one day at a time and learn to enjoy the good days. I used to always tone down my thrill for a good day by worrying about the future, but then I realized that feeling good and accepting that feeling doesn't change the future, so why not enjoy it! So I won't dwell on the fact that you are having some additional syptoms now, and will say that I'm so happy that you are better than you have been in 18 years! (Hope you stay that way for a long long time. :)
Posted 3/30/2010 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I certainly do know what you are referring to. I am at a place where I feel like I might be flaring, but the Remi keeps the blood at bay; but I have increased bm's...and am so worried that the Remi will stop working and my remission will no longer be! Let's keep the faith together, and think positive and enjoy the day. I will if you will! ;-)

Posted 3/30/2010 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Oh I definately enjoy the good days! :) It's just the bad days that make me remember that I HAVE Uc which is what bothers me :(

And you're on Carol! Postive thoughts all around!

Krissy, the whole what came first; the chicken or egg kind of thing. Yes I can see how having Uc in itself can cause stress so it's like a vicous cycle it seems.
Posted 3/30/2010 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
Sherry, I'm in remission also, but I will get the same thing when I have to take antibiotics - urgency, maybe even that ominous dull pain across my lower abdomen. I have started keeping Proctofoam and Hydrocortisone suppositories around all the time. (Like you, I don't tolerate mesalamine at all.) When I get the first inkling, I hit it with some steroid. Sometimes just a few days use will calm things down for me.

Like Carol, I get afraid that the Remi will stop working and I'll flare again. Since my last one took five years to bring under control, I really try to think positively and be proactive.
Posted 3/30/2010 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Not yet, but I'm sure I will. So far, I've been able to attribute and changes in poos to diet (ie, eating a lot of beans, berries, etc). I hope your remission sticks, though!
Posted 3/30/2010 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
I have constant anxiety that my UC symtoms may return...any day I have a loose stool or extra BM I panic. I am still afraid to plan any special getaways or go places that don't have bathrooms nearby....but the Remicade is doing its job so far and I feel better than I have in a long time.

I hope you stay in remission for along long long time...
Posted 3/30/2010 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Red 34:

Yes I am in remission.  Yet I always worry way in the back of my mind.  I worry that one day that this remission will come to an end.  I feel like my UC has gone away but unfortunately I am reminded when I have to take my medication, usually at night.  When I have a blip in my BM I do here we go.  But my UC has been very tame for a while.  I just try to be positive and not let UC ruin my life.  I always tell myself I have done the best I could.  That's all one can do I guess.

Unfortunately UC is a chronic disease so I have to have a sense of humour about it on many levels.

MyUC

Posted 3/30/2010 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
I'm doing really well considering all I'm going through with dealing with this cold. Once or twice sometimes depending on what I eat or took for my cold (more expectorant), but otherwise great!

REgarding urgency....there's urgency when the lower colon is full and one can hold it at least from the first or second urge....then there's urgency with that butt feeling that it's NOW and only time to get to the toilet.

If it coincides with extra distress, I wouldn't worry about it, but if there are any rectal feelings during a bm such as it pushing stuff out itself and feeling relief once it's out...I think one should at least try the rectal meds.

If it's consistent for maybe 4 - 5 days, I'd say slight inflammation....especially if previously was a bit long between bms.

This is a stressful time of year for many, whether it be the seasonal allergies or just the change.

quincy
Posted 3/30/2010 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
RED, i am rite up your street, every time i get sorted and think im doing fine or mayb i eat something then blood comes i get so mad and down but they say dont get down as it can make it worse,its terrible but just want to say this forum is great im learning from it. good luck
Posted 3/31/2010 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
In the past yr I've had a stream of health insurance hassles that make me as aware of being a UCer as the dreaded flare does. I have this bloomin' condition and am going to have it forever, but since I'm older now, the "forever" will likely be 15-20 more yrs at best. I will try to maintain remission on the least amount of med possible, and hope I can continue to lead an independent life. There are times when fears cross my mind or invade my dreams, mainly when I feel too tired to cope with routine chores. So I'd say your feelings are not unusual, Sherry, because they result from experience with the cycle of ups & downs that UC induces. You want to keep stabilized, but know it may not last permanently-- that's a UC veteran thinking. I'd call it being realistic. (You've earned your "stripes"!) / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 3/31/2010 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
I know where you are coming from. I too am in remission and think every little blip in my bathroom habits means something is wrong. The pollen in the Houston area right now is crazy and my seasonal allergies and the drugs I am taking for it are taking their toll. I just cross my fingers and soldier on ... The only thing I can do is make up for it each day with preventative maintenance - eating better, making sure I take my probiotics, etc.
Posted 3/31/2010 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
I've been in remission for a year. The thought that "today will be the day" that my remission ends in never far from my mind. I try not to let it ruin my day. I have to remind myself that I've been through flares before and I've come out of them just fine. :-)
Posted 3/31/2010 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
I have only been in remission for about 8 weeks and everyday I think how long it will last? I am obsessed with checking out my daily contribution to the water bowl and noting any changes. The past couple of days have been a bit off and I worry.
Posted 3/31/2010 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
My U.C is heading towards a positive space.First my stools are usually normal,sometimes i get smaller peices of stool,rarely any type of-D-,no blood.The worst part for me is the anxiety when i get even the slightest urge, usually when driving to work in the morning[a 30 to 40 minute drive].I just went back to work last week,i have to NOT overeat the day/night before.I usually don't eat much of a breakfast,i'll have a bagel and a bottle of water or gatorade for lunch.It's when i get home that i have to eat lightly.I'M 6'5,USUALLY 225-230,now 210,i have to be happy at this weight because it helps me function.Last week while driving to work i had a moderate to above moderate urge to go[ate too much the night before-bad boy],i tried to hold it in til i got to the jobsite but when i saw a Burger King i decided to not push my luck.What a great feeling when you go,no more anxiety and the rest of my day went fine.I'm still on 2.5mg of Pred,4 Apriso in the morning[i switched from Asacol to Apriso just when the normal stools started,about 3 weeks ago].2 folic acid,Multivitamin,Acidopolous and Klonopin for anxiety.I'M currently off 125mg of 6MP because my WBC was low,it's 2 weeks that i'm off 6mp and i just went for my 3rd blood test today,my doc said once my WBC is up to 3.5 he'll put me on 100mg of 6mp.I also go to a mens support group for crohns and colitis[last Tuesday of every month],a 4 week seminar on C and U.C and attended healing masses .I also belong to a 12 step program for the last 21 years.So i tried alot of things,what got me to this point,i don't know.GOOD LUCK and GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Posted 3/31/2010 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
I imagine it's sort of like the pyschological response of when you know something hurts you try to avoid it. But in our case we can't so we just keep that fear and dread in the back of our minds.

I'm glad that I'm not alone in my worry. I am an internal worrior by nature but I've gotten better as I got older since I've been trying to recondition my thought processes. I just hate having this thought of oh no not again kind of thing.
Posted 3/31/2010 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
Well another morning,i'll try the little boys room before i leave.We'll hope for the best.Have a great day.
Posted 3/31/2010 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
Good question. Helps to underscore the importance of having/maintaining a positive attitude in the face of uncertainty.

I may be an exception to the rule, but I no longer worry about going into another flare. Perhaps I'm delusional, but I think I am on a path to good health and am confident I will remain flare-free.

It's a good feeling. Wish I could pass it along to others.
Posted 3/31/2010 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!

I'm glad you're in remission. I am too, (even though I have to take meds still). Basically what I notice is that when I'm feeling a flare come on, I immediately go to basic foods. I never eat bread, milk or refined sugars in general, but if I feel a flare coming on, I'll go to really simple
high omega 3 foods like cooked sardines, eggs, and also chicken broth, and apple sauce (home made). I generally avoid aggravating foods. Then when the symptoms go away again, I'll have some of the stuff I missed like nut butters and things like that.
You may vastly reduce your flares if you avoid sugar, milk, bread, and potates, and rice, and any combination of the above.

Take care!
Posted 3/31/2010 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in my 5th year of Colitis and have been presciption med free for a long time. Since being RX free I have not had a hard core flare like I used to have. I am not in complete remission b/c I have urgency and a little blood sometimes but I've noticed that treating my UC with diet and natural treatments keeps the severe flaring at bay. It's weird. I'm not in remision but I don't ever thing about severe flares like I used to. The last episode I had of extreme bleeding was months ago when I totally disregarded my diet and ate ice cream and junk food and my gut got pissed at me and I was turning the toilet red but I tightend up my diet and the bleeding slowed down fairly fast.
I'm glad i read this post b/c although I am mildly flaring b/c I bleed often and have some urgency sometimes I really didn't realize that I haven't had a severe flare like my first 3-4 years of UC. I just wish that the bleeding would completely stop. Too bad I can't take prednisone anymore, that always made my bleeding stop.
I guess what I'm saying is that as you gain experience and knowledge of your body and gain faith in your method of treatment(s) you should not worry to much about the major flares that. Maybe I'm just saying this b/c i haven't been hit by that unexpected flare lately that will turn my life upside down.
Posted 3/31/2010 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not in remission, but when I am I'm going to continue taking a mood stabilizer like Zyprexa or Seraquel because the anxiety surrounding "when will it come back" brings on a flare, I believe.
Posted 3/31/2010 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Yes. I worry about it all the time, especially right now because I just came out of a tiny flare and I'm still going about two or three times a day. I got the flare from having used antibiotics and I'm having trouble keeping in remission. I'm just under a ton of stress right now. I'm between jobs. My bank account has gone back done to 0, and my bills are piling up. I always get so stressed out when this happens.

I worry the most when I have my period. It's easy to tell if I have a tiny bit of blood coming out my butt when I'm not having my period. But when I am...
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply