HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

doing so well... until constipation.

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/3/2010 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
This is the second day I haven't had a BM and I'm worried. I went from 7 in my second flare to one a day, now to 0. Still on about 20 mg of prednisone. Last time this happened, it seemed to trip into a flare.

One of you posted on a thread of mine that constipation can be the signal of a flare.

I thought I'd take colace tonight and see how it goes. I know it's bad to judge one day, and view things instead in terms of a multi-day trend. But my fear is that what happened last time is just repeating itself. This time I'm on pred though.

Any encouraging words would help. I feel like my GI and 6 mp are staring me in the face, saying 5-ASA doesn't work for you. I hope and pray I can make it on 5-ASA, oral, rectal, suppository. I know you guys want it to work for me.

Ellen
Posted 4/3/2010 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
I feel like if it was diarhhea before, now it might just be limited to the rectum which is why you're constipated. So you could be going in or coming out. But since you already had some improvement I'd guess you're coming out. So I'd stick with what you're doing. If you're doing rectal meds that might give you a boost. Make sure you squeeze some in lower.

That's just my opinion. Good luck!

But, if you do end up going on 6mp, try not to be too worried. =)
Posted 4/3/2010 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
I've been deliberating the meaning of constipation for several weeks now. Mainly because I've been stuck in that stage of the flare. I have been flaring for about three weeks, but have yet to reach diarrhea. Just constipation.

I definitely consider it an early sign of a flare, but I think it's the lesser of two evils compared to diarrhea. If you are in the constipation stage, to me that's better than the diarrhea stage. In other words, you've gone back towards the beginning stages of a flare, which is improvement.

I wouldn't get too down about it. You can't expect the flare to end in a perfectly linear pattern. Sometimes it's an up and down journey. But it looks to me like your overall improving. Slowly but surely ;]
Posted 4/3/2010 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
do you think I should go up on the pred? I'd hate that, really, unless I was sliding into D. I had stopped the D pretty good on the pred.
Posted 4/3/2010 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your encouragement, Juju0100 and Elephantpipe
Posted 4/3/2010 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
This is what I read online

Constipation may develop during active flare-ups of ulcerative colitis. In ulcerative colitis, constipation may occur when the inflamed rectum triggers a reflex response in the colon that causes it to retain the stool.

Wouldn't my rectum be in pain if this were the case? I don't have any pain... yet.
Posted 4/3/2010 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
I should also add that I trended toward constipation -- two years before I was diagnosed. Never had D, etc... So my doctor thought that was my normal and we threw Miralax at it for a few days. Unfortunately, I slid into D and the second flare. So I don't know if constipation is my normal or evidence of a flare. Last time it was.
Posted 4/3/2010 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
I re-upped my prednisone this week when I had a major setback (blood disappeared then came back a lot). I really think it's best to stick to with taking it as prescribed. Don't increase the dosage, Stay on track.
Posted 4/3/2010 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
Two meds I just started up with Zyprexa and Ambien are constipating...so you never know...
Posted 4/3/2010 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Pred is constipating, too Ellen. I have a strong feeling it's the meds and NOT inflammation causing constipation. So I wouldn't increase the pred if I were you.
Posted 4/3/2010 5:55 AM (GMT 0)
don't increase the pred or add anything else except just eat as normally as you can.

the constipation is part of HEALING in a flare as well. please remember.....how it starts and how it heals are just opposites of eachother. flare upward, heal downward.....inflammation still, just healing at this time.

does this make sense? If not, ask another question related so I can help clear it up

Please don't take Mirilax, but if you're taking fibre supplements, make sure you take enough water given these symptoms.

Your rectum isn't painful because you're on pred and using the enemas....

Hang tough......PLEASE.....



Could you also answer the thread about sleeping...I'm still confused about that..lol.
q
Posted 4/3/2010 9:30 AM (GMT 0)
No, no don't go up on pred! It's probably the pred stopping you up. Get things moving gently if you can.
Posted 4/3/2010 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
drink lots of water, like 2-3 liters
Posted 4/3/2010 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
I feel like it's Rectal Tenesmus and that's not constipation. That was the signal of my last flare that flashed upward. I'm going to drink lots of water today. am worried :-(

Is rectal steroids an option here?
Posted 4/3/2010 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Oh... so you have the urges and nothing comes out? Hrm... :o(
Posted 4/3/2010 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
OK, so a small, but formed bm came out this a.m. without a problem. It does feel like there's some inflammation. But I'm not experiencing the dry heaves on this one.

I definitely won't go up on the prednisone. Stick at 22.5 for now.

e
Posted 4/3/2010 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
Am drinking lots of water, btw. Thanks for helping m pull through last night.
Posted 4/3/2010 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
I think the best thing to do is to stay calm and let things work themselves out. If you notice other symptoms, you may need to increase the dose but if the symptoms are limited to constipation, maybe it will pass? Can you call your GI and get an opinion? I had a lot of gas the other day, was about to increase my prednisone dose, spoke to my GI, she said to stay where I was, I listened and I am doing well so far. I think sometimes we stress too quickly and cause ourselves to get worse. I have done the opposite though too where I waited too long and it got bad quickly. It's tough to gauge. Hope you are feeling better soon.
Posted 4/3/2010 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
Smart post, NTSG. Thank God I'm on a mood stabilizer because stress could really create a snowball effect.
Posted 4/3/2010 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Am on 22.5 mg pred.

JUst had a couple of normal BMs (yippee!). But definitely can feel that sense of heaviness in my rectum that indicates, I guess, the swelling, which I believe is where it started and flashed up the colon, three weeks ago.

Don't feel any colon pain or discomfort now.

Should I stay on this dose of pred. until this discomfort goes away and bowel movements remain OK?

Notsosicklygirl pinpointed my concerns right here.

"I think sometimes we stress too quickly and cause ourselves to get worse. I have done the opposite though too where I waited too long and it got bad quickly. It's tough to gauge."


I have nowhere to go to beef up meds except for pred. Doing enemas nightly, suppositories daily and 12 400 mg. Asacol.That's what I feared, no more arsenal except 6 mp. Although I sound stressed, I really am not to bad with this mood stabilizer I'm taking.
Posted 4/3/2010 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
I am the same way. I don't use enemas, I wish I had some but my doctor feels that they probably will not help me too much more because I am already using Canasa and I take Asacol 3, 3x a day. I have decreased my prednisone to 7.5mg but last time I got really badly flared up when I got down to 2.5mg and I had to go way back up to 15mg and start over. Now I feel like if this taper doesn't work, my only option might be to try 6mp. I am also going to try switching to Colazal but right now I  seem to be doing alright how things are, I am a bit scared to change... Are you using steroid enemas or 5asa? Have you ever tried a different 5asa instead of Asacol? My doctor mentioned that some people do better on Colazal or Lialda.
Posted 4/3/2010 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a pancolitis and I think that's Asacol's bailiwick, though I'm not sure.
doc never spoke about anything different.

We seem to be on the same trajectory notsosickly. I realized this and I'm always looking at your posts.

My doc is really gunning for 6 mp and I've fighting tooth and nail to stick with Asacol.

Getting a second opinion soon.
Posted 4/3/2010 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
don't up the pred, like quincy and I said... we think you're just coming out of the flare. Keep drinking water and keep up with your rectal meds.

But please please don't panic about 6mp if you end up needing it!
Posted 4/4/2010 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
I was on 40 mg. and now to 10 mg. of Pred. Constipation is ALWAYS a sign of healing for me. Pred. causes (for me) everything to slow down or stop completely for a while. The first 2 weeks I was on it, I went 2 times in 2 weeks. BUT..I was ok with that because before, I was going many times a day and all crampy, bloody, d. So I guess I looked at the constipation as a "relief" in a way. (Glass half full I always say). I did start with a bit of Miralax every other day just to get some relief. And I drink TONS of water.

Now, this last week, Im going once in the morning. Finally Im feeling normal. Im crossing my fingers that Im finally getting into a remission for the summer.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply