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Flare or IBS?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/19/2010 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
I have no idea what is going on with my body! I just got over a flare a few months ago (thanks to prednisone) and started on Imuran. I'm on month 3 or so of the Imuran. For the past 4 weeks I've had: nasty gas, mucous, blood, now progressed to urgency, and D (99% of the time after I eat). Is this a flare because of the blood? (there isn't a whole lot with the D, just other times). Or is it IBS? (my GI says that the two often go hand in hand. I have seen my GI the other day and am going for a flex sig on Wed. I was just wondering if anyone else has this. When I flare, it is usually alot of blood and never D. Thanks!
Posted 6/19/2010 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
I'd vote for a flare b/c blood is not a symptoms of IBS. Hemmies can cause blood too, of course. Good luck with the scope. You'll probably get some answers and maybe a change of medication.
Posted 6/19/2010 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
I have always been confused about what is IBS versus UC. Previously someone stated in a thread that IBS was the term used when the symptoms had not been diagnosed via a colonoscopy.
Once a colonoscopy has confirmed UC then it is UC and no longer IBS.
No doctor I've ever seen has used the term IBS since my UC was diagnosed.

FWIW your symptoms sound like UC.
Posted 6/19/2010 10:30 PM (GMT 0)

imagardener2 said...

I have always been confused about what is IBS versus UC. Previously someone stated in a thread that IBS was the term used when the symptoms had not been diagnosed via a colonoscopy.
Once a colonoscopy has confirmed UC then it is UC and no longer IBS.
No doctor I've ever seen has used the term IBS since my UC was diagnosed.
Uh....wrong info. The two are separate. IBS is mechanical, UC is organic.

I have both, diagnosed by my GI and explained the difference. I can almost always feel the difference....unless I'm getting out of a flare when symptoms are then more confusing.

livinlife......you're obviously flaring.

q

Posted 6/19/2010 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
This was written by my specialist that I went to in Albany, NY.  Maybe it will give you some insight into IBS and IBD.  It helped me.  I was diagnosed many years ago with IBS when having two scopes - no signs of UC.  Then two years ago I had blood for the first time in my life and a scope confirmed IBD - UC.  It is hard sometimes to tell the difference when I don't feel well, have eaten something that causes my IBS to flare.  I have to try to listen to my body and also not to eat what I know causes my IBS symptoms to be worse but not the UC.  What I eat does not seem to make a difference with the UC.

ElaineNY    http://vid.imedex.com/pdf/5477/macdermott.pdf

 

Posted 6/20/2010 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the replies. I guess I'm a little confused because my UC flares are not like this at all and get progressively worse quite quickly. In the past, after 4 weeks of flaring I'd probably be in the hospital on IV steroids. I've been told I prob have IBS as well, but I've never really noticed it. Food doesn't bother my UC, it is triggered by stress.
Posted 6/20/2010 7:31 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe now that you're on Imuran, why not give the rectal meds another go? I'd suggest 5ASA enemas...how much of a chance did you give them in the past?



Your symptoms are obviously flaring.....do some research on IBS and learn what some of the symptoms are. To me, spasming was the worst IBS symptom, whenever.....antispasmodics helped from the first day. I've used them for 21 years.




q
Posted 6/20/2010 10:43 AM (GMT 0)
I can't remember how long I was on the 5ASA enemas...it was quite a few years ago now and I've had so many med changes. When I was first diagnosed I remember being on enemas and supps for a long time (?6mo - 1yr) but kept flaring. Then moved on to oral 5ASA, flared, rectal steroids, flared, bla bla bla...I'll mention it to my doc on Wed! Thanks!
Posted 6/20/2010 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
So, were you on both oral/rectal topical 5ASA meds at the same time? That's the key.

q
Posted 6/21/2010 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
No I wasn't. I did the rectal first, they failed, then went to the oral.
Posted 6/21/2010 7:22 AM (GMT 0)
You get, I hope, they should be used together?
unless you cannot take 5ASA meds at all...

q
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