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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/21/2010 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
I really really hate these things! I don't get sedated for mine but thankfully the prep is easier (two Fleet enemas). I have been bleeding pretty bad lately and I am in a lot of pain. So the doc wanted to have a look-see before throwing me on Allopurinol along with my 6mp. This flare is something else! I have never had a flare quite like this one. I am constipated, I can go a little but not a lot. I have almost no D because I am not going but every few days. But I have tremendous gas and a load of bleeding, mucous and what looks like colon tissue. In the past I have always responded well to the hydrocortisone enemas but not this time around, it didn't even touch this flare for some odd reason.

So anyway, wish me luck guys and hopefully it won't be as bad as I think it is shakehead Oh and cross your fingers that the Allopurinol + 6mp will be my magic combo!
Posted 9/21/2010 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck! Let us know how it goes. I may be right behind you if I can't get this extremely minor yet persistant bleeding under control.
Posted 9/21/2010 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck I hope you get this under control.
Posted 9/21/2010 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
Goodluck today!! I had a sig a few weeks ago, it was uncomfortable but quick. It showed some inflammation but my doctor said it didn't look too bad. Interestingly, I feel pretty bad. I have similar symptoms to what you describe, movements but not much coming out.
Posted 9/21/2010 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck, Sherry! As NSSG says, at least it's quick. I sure hope this is the magic med combo for you!
Keep us posted, I'll be thinking of you.....
Posted 9/21/2010 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck! I 've only had one sig. ( 2 cscopes) but I also remember it being quick. I hope your meds woek out!
Posted 9/21/2010 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Afraid it IS as bad as I thought :( I had severe inflammation with pus (or mucous - there was a whitish/yellow coating on my intestine) and blood clots up to 20cms. He mentioned putting on pred but I vetoed the idea. I told him to let me see if I can manage it with the hydrocortisone enemas alone until the Allopurinol with the 6mp kicks in. So at least I know why I've been in so much pain.
Posted 9/21/2010 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Wow Sherry....definitely doesn't sound good. What would the Allopurinol do for UC? I see it's used for gout and kidney stones...I didn't read any further, however.

The tissue stuff is mucus mixed with stool and pus I would think...

It's good it's not higher, but the 20cms is still difficult to treat.

Can you get the butyrate enemas in the US? Maybe something to consider.

Geez...I was hoping it wasn't as bad, but best you had it checked.

quincy
Posted 9/21/2010 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
What dose of Allopurinol are you taking?

Quincy, Allopurinol is supposed to help get you ino the theraputic range for 6mp. It reduces toxicity and increases positive effects of 6mp. I am having the same issues and trying to go tthe same route.

Red, I am sorry you're not doing well. I hope you can get this under control quickly without having to resort to prednisone. My sigmoidoscopy didn't look too bad but I don't feel too good. I wonder if I have bad inflammation further up past where the sigmoidoscopy could see.
Posted 9/21/2010 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm never heard of butyrate enemas? What do they consist of?

Notso, I am to start on 100mgs of Allupurinol and 25mgs of 6mp. I start it tonight and go in for a blood test next week and see my GI in two weeks.
Posted 9/21/2010 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Gosh, Sherry - good thing you got it looked at. I hope the meds go down ok and in fact kick in soon and powerfully!!!
Posted 9/21/2010 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
I am taking 100mg 2x a day and 50mg 6mp. I go back to see my GI next week & get bloods. I will let you know if I see positive changes.
Posted 9/21/2010 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Reading your previous posts, we had similar symptoms and I ended up doing hydrocortisone enemas. Stay positive. For me, the very first dose (where I practically stood on my head to get the enema in deep enough) had an immediate and profound effect. The incessant gas you get with the kind of inflamation disappeared right away and the yucky mucous and blood decreased a lot too.

I wonder why your doc would jump on the 6 MP right away and not see if the steroid enemas alone do the trick.

Let us know what happens. Don't underestimate the power of hydrocortisone to wipe out the inflammation on it's own.

Do be prepared for a bit of burning/urge to go when the hydrocortisone hits the inflamed tissue though. Fight through it and the discomfort will decrease within a short time... 10-15 mins for me.

Post Edited (C_G_K) : 9/21/2010 4:55:06 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/21/2010 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
C_G_K, I've been on 6mp for 4 years but I wasn't metabolizing it right which is why he added in Allopurinal (the 6mp and Allopurinol can take about 3 months to activate - but my GI thinks it might be less because I already had the build up of 6mp in my system). And I've been on steroid enemas for 3 weeks already with no great positive improvement. It did slow down my bm's a bit but then I was left with constipation. I've been flaring since June and in between that time and now I've already done about 2 courses of steroid enemas.
Posted 9/21/2010 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Does the Allopurinol go for Imuran too? Also, say 6mp/Imuran stopped working, would Allopurinol help? Just a thought.

For some reason with Rowasa, I get slowwwwwly better, if I taper I get worse again, but if I stop cold turkey I get better. Then after a while I need them again. I don't get it. Sorry I know Rowasa wasn't on topic but whatever.

I hope things work out!
Posted 9/22/2010 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
I remember my son having those tissue/skin-like things in his bowel movements.  He was then diagnosed with a c diff infection.  Pseudomembranous colitis apparently has a characteristic look to it, leaving yellow plaque areas. http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2009/kumm_jakl/Pathology.htm   

I guess I just wonder if the look of it is so different from a regular flare that they would know it just by looking?  Or if it would show up on the biopsies that they take? I know stool samples to check for it are sometimes unable to detect it with overwhelming accuracy.

Anyway, I guess I just wanted to be sure they aren't overlooking a possible c diff infection as common as it is becoming these days...

Jo

Post Edited (JoMarie) : 9/21/2010 7:55:26 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/22/2010 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I am pretty sure Imuran can be used with Allopurinol as well. Allopurinol is supposed to be used in conjunction with either 6mp or Imuran in order for it to work properly.
Posted 9/22/2010 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Jo, mine didn't look like those pictures. If you look up Uc images on Yahoo search it will show what a normal flare looks like. Not that it's any prettier! I had Cdiff once years ago and it was way different then what a normal flare would be for me. I had extremely watery multiple (30+) bms, horrid smell and a lot of pain and nausea.
Posted 9/22/2010 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Okay...Well, good luck and I hope you find relief soon..

Jo

Posted 9/22/2010 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Alas, you may feel worse for a few days from the Fleets (salty) + friction of the scope. Take it easy, be very kind to yourself. RE constipation: can you tolerate sweet potato? If so, try steaming it very soft & eat as is. This saved me a while back when my colon nearly shut down in reaction to generic Drisdol Rx! Hope you'll start mending real soon. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 9/22/2010 3:22 AM (GMT 0)

Red_34 said...
C_G_K, I've been on 6mp for 4 years but I wasn't metabolizing it right which is why he added in Allopurinal (the 6mp and Allopurinol can take about 3 months to activate - but my GI thinks it might be less because I already had the build up of 6mp in my system). And I've been on steroid enemas for 3 weeks already with no great positive improvement. It did slow down my bm's a bit but then I was left with constipation. I've been flaring since June and in between that time and now I've already done about 2 courses of steroid enemas.

Sorry to hear. I was unaware of all the things you've tried already. I guess I'm lucky the enemas alone are working for me. Now the trick is getting off them without the symptoms coming back.

Hope the new approach works for you.
Posted 9/22/2010 10:40 AM (GMT 0)
C_G_K, yeah it kind of stinks when you try everything, have done what your supposed to and you still end up flaring anyway :( My GI was joking yesterday and told me (pulling on his hair), "You see this gray hair? It's because I have patients such as yourself who don't respond well to meds! Your making me nervous!" I will keep my fingers crossed and hope you can get off the enemas safely.

Old Hat - sweet potatoes......really??? I LOVE sweet potatoes! I may have to give that a go and yes I can tolerate them. But I can't add anything to it such as butter at least? Without anything on it, it is sort of bland.
Posted 9/22/2010 10:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherry,

I'm having company right now so I'm a bit MIA but I did just read through this thread as I remembered you were having trouble with bleeding/pain.

It's good that you went and checked it out it seems...I hope the new med really kicks in with the 6MP and does the trick for you.

And I'm with you on the pred...I'm going to try to avoid it at all costs.

I sure hope you feel better soon!

Posted 9/22/2010 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
Sweet potatoes works for me, too ---- these days I peel them and slice them into about 1/4 inch slices and spread them on a cookie sheet with a little olive oil and roast at 400 or 425 until soft with a little dark around the edges..... makes them more interesting and the whole family likes them......
Keep us posted, Sherry!
Posted 9/22/2010 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the recipe Songlady :) Ohhhhh if I did your way maybe I can sprinkle cinnamon on them? I had some sweet potato fries at a restaurant sprinkled with cinnamon and it was scrumptious!


Thanks for all the well wishes everyone :) Keep those fingers crossed for me. I took my first 6mp/Allopurinol combo last night and so far, no side effects.....yet!
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