HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

What were your UC symptoms during pregnancy?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/18/2010 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
I am 24 weeks pregnant and still suffering with a flare that consist of blood, mucus, and diarrhea. I was in remission up until I got to 20 weeks; so basically I have been in a flare for a month now. I went to the doctor and he told me to continue to take the Apriso-he said he would hate to change my medications in the middle of a pregnancy so basically I am left not knowing what to do to clear up this flare. I make sure that I drink a lot of water since I have frequent bowel movements. I am just wondering what were your uc flare symptoms during your pregnancy? I am just trying to see what if what I am going through is normal for uc patients that flare in pregnancy.

Any advice on how to kick a flare and cope during pregnancy would be greatly appreciated?
Posted 7/19/2010 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi...I flared at about the same time...20 weeks or so. I started out having the blood, mucous, and pushing feeling...ended up trying everything. Enemas, suppositories, oral prednisone...and still going to the bathroom continuously. I eventually felt so bad i wasn't able to eat or drink anything. I got admitted to the hosp for 2 weeks. Where i started on iv prednisone...and then went back to oral. Remained on prednisone through out the pregnancy. They followed me and the baby closely. I ended up gaining 24lbs for the whole pregnancy...lost 7lb in the flare. My son was born 2 weeks early, weighing 8lb 3 oz and very healthy. He is currently 10 mos old now. I know that being pregnant and flaring is scary and taking all the meds is terrifying. But you have to take care of you to take care of that baby. and don't worry the baby will take all that it needs from you to stay healthy. Good luck and if you have any questions let me know.
Posted 7/19/2010 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
My situation sounds similar to Lynne's.  I was flaring slightly from about 15 weeks, and by 18 weeks the symptoms were so bad I needed to be hospitalised for a few days - on IV steroids and fluids. Symptoms were 20+ trips to the toilet every day, passing only blood and mucus, extreme cramping and pain, dehydration. I was discharged on oral prednisone, but my symptoms increased again to the point that I was readmitted about 10 days later and stayed in for a further week on IV steroids and needed an iron infusion and potassium supplements. Upon release, was on 75mg pred, but couldn't taper below 50mg without symptoms returning, so ended up using fecal transplantation for the rest of the pregnancy to keep things relatively under control.  Couldn't gain weight during the first half of the pregnancy - I weighed less at 24 weeks than I did when I started, and I was only about 115 pounds to begin with.

I ate very low inflammatory foods and I also tried to get as much rest as possible.

My baby was born full term, a healthy weight and is doing just fine!  I am sure you and your baby will be OK.

BTW, as soon as I delivered, my symptoms disappeared completely!!

 

Posted 7/19/2010 11:55 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for the feedback....I haven't had any issues with not being able to eat nor gain weight.  I think my main concern is wondering if the baby is ok when I have to use the restroom 6-7 times a day and having to strain to get poop out.  It's like when I see blood and mucus in the toilet-I think to myself, is my baby really ok inside of me-I tell you what, having a flare in pregnancy has been so scary to me....I get so nervous to when every time I have a bloody bowel movement, I pull out my home doppler to check the baby's heartbeat shocked . 

Posted 7/19/2010 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
I worked in a hospital until i really started to flare and i was the same way...i would check the baby with a doppler everyday i worked. Just make sure the doctors keep a good eye on the baby. It will be fine...thinking of you
Posted 7/19/2010 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
So Lynn 27-did you flare from 20 weeks up until delivery?

P.S. I am seeing a high risk doctor and starting next week they will do ultrasounds every four weeks to check on babys growth-thank god!
Posted 7/19/2010 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
so...let me get this straight...you aren't using any rectal meds? They won't hurt your baby, and will definitely be a help for you if you're still flaring once the baby is born.

q
Posted 7/19/2010 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Quincy,

I started using the rowasa enemas for a week and saw no change-still blood and mucus. What else am I suppose to do?
Posted 7/19/2010 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Continue to use them, one week isn't enough...if it didn't make you worse, then it will at least help keep the inflammation down.
Just to clarify...in what way didn't it help? Were your bms better, but the urgency still there?


Your pregnancy will be causing much of the inflammation...your worry about it, although totally normal and understandable, won't help.

You could take some fibre supplements to help bulk the stool a bit,
use probiotics,
use rectal meds.

You should call the doc and see if he could change the prescription to proctofoam..it's lower in steroid than the cortifoam...easy to retain too.

Don't not treat the rectum...you need to use something...the apriso isn't enough.

q
Posted 7/19/2010 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
I've been following your threads because I've been considering ttc, but it seems a bit scary. It seems like hormone changes may trigger flares, right? I think I've got my uc under control with rowasa and I plan on staying on them as a maintenance drug and if I ever get pregnant ;). Good Luck I'm sure you'll feel a lot better once you see you little one. What are you having?
Did you find out where you have uc?
Posted 7/19/2010 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
I was just recently pregnant and miscarried at 17 wks unrelated to my UC. While pregnant and still use them now I used Rowasa, Canasa and Proctofoam.  I find the Canasa and Proctofoam are really helping me the best.  I also started oral pred at 13wks and was going to maintain on 20mg for my pregnancy.  Since I lost the baby I tapered off.  You should really give the rectal meds a try.  I didn't notice the pregnancy making my flare any worse.  It was just bad from the very beginning and stayed the same.d  I am just now noticing a change for the better.  Instead of going to the bathroom 25x day I go maybe 4 times.  I only have blood from hemmorhoids not the UC.  I did have mucus but it is gone.
Posted 7/19/2010 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Boxermom,
Its great to hear you are doing better. :) Are you going to try again soon?
Posted 7/19/2010 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Yes. I am seeing a fertility doc now. Just had lots of tests done and waiting to get other testing done. Will take about two months before we can try again but are planning on it. The longer we have to wait though I get more afraid.
Posted 7/19/2010 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Boxermom- So happy you are finally getting some relief, you deserve it. Also I am happy that you have decided to ttc again. I remember what a shock your first pregnancy was to you and how you didn't know how to feel about it. I hope everything works out for you the way you want it :)
Posted 7/19/2010 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
kweeks- I know I was shocked and scared when I found out I was pregnant.  We had just accepted and I was finally out of denial and making plans when the worst happened.  Knowing it was not because of my UC helped but we still have no answers.  The autopsy said cause of death unknown.  We did find out it was a little girl which really broke my heart.  I am determined to get pregnant again and have a healthy baby.  For some reason my UC has been treating me pretty good.  The number of times I use the bathroom is drastically cut.  I am going to have to get my fat clothes out again because I am gaining all the weight back.  I weigh more now than I did five months pregnant.  I will take being fat and not feeling sick any day.
Posted 7/19/2010 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
I flared at 20 weeks and remained on prednisone 20mg through out my pregnancy. And then had a really bad flare again 4 mos post part. and ended up back in the hosp. I felt great for the end of my pregnancy...ended up on insulin due to the prednisone but ate great and actually went to the bathroom the most normal i had in awhile.
Posted 7/20/2010 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Missey,

You should start trying to conceive when you are ready, please do not base your decision off of me. I was doing great up until I hit 20 weeks and then I went into a flare which I truly believe was caused from taking those iron supplements called Slow-Fe.  It's like when I stopped taking the iron, the blood lessened up.  I am a Christian and I have faith that God will pull me through this pregnancy with a healthy baby boy.  God has brought me this far and there is no turning back.  Don't get me wrong, I would like to get this flare under control, but until that happens I will watch what I eat and continue to pray for healing.

 

Posted 7/20/2010 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
UCISNOTMY FRIEND- i strongly recommend the enemas. I only wish I knew about them during my pregnancy because I think I would have calmed my mild flare and would be feeling way better now.
Posted 7/20/2010 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
What makes you think your prayers AREN'T being answered by our continuous suggestions of the enemas????? or is that an answer you don't want to see? Just another bemused perspective.


Try to look at common sense solutions.You can also ask the doctor for suppositories at the very, very least. q
Posted 7/22/2010 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
When you ladies flared during pregnancy did the bleeding freak you out? 
Posted 7/22/2010 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
ok, I only had a little streaky blood now and then, but yes it did worry me. I wasn't worried about the baby really because I knew he was growing fine. I was also gaining weight (a little too much actually). I was worried about my health and how I was going to deal with a newborn if I was flaring badly. I had NEVER had a bad flare so that scared me. I took my meds, never missing a dose, saw my GI for multiple appts. and had regular u/s.
Posted 7/22/2010 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
I have blood on a daily basis and it's a good amount to where I can see it-probably the amount of 3 teaspoons of blood. Would that be considered alot?
Posted 7/23/2010 2:20 AM (GMT 0)

When I was about 17 weeks pregnant I saw a GP as I had become worried about the amount of blood I was losing.  He misunderstood me and thought that I was losing a few tablespoons of blood per day, and indicated that would NOT be harmful to my pregnancy.  However, I was actually losing that much everytime I went to the bathroom, which was about 20 times a day.  I actually collected the blood and mucus I passed over a 24 hour period, and it was a litre of fluid (and I hadn't eaten for 5 days, so there was little if any food being passed). I had an appointment with my GI three days later and was immediately admitted to hospital.  My iron levels were checked at that time and considered OK, but two weeks later I needed an iron transfusion. Apparently when you are very dehydrated as I was (they had trouble even getting one syringe full of blood out of me), it is a bit pointless to test things like iron levels as the results are skewed because your blood volume is low. When I was retested two weeks later,even though I hadn't been bleeding nearly as much, my iron was very low.

The amount of blood you are passing is probably safe for your baby, but you should have your iron and stored iron levels checked regularly.


Post Edited (amygrace) : 7/22/2010 8:32:21 PM (GMT-6)

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply