What could cause cramps below my belly button ???

Hello all,

I had been in a pretty bad flare for 2-3 months but finally got it under control using salofalk 5-asa enemas every night for the last month. (thanks quincy for always pushing the rectal meds). I did unfortunately have headaches but it was worth it. My doctor told me to start tapering to every second day - which i started a few days ago. My urgency is almost gone, not much mucus, stools are pretty regular :)

I have noticed the last few days though that I have a cramping feeling below my belly button, sometimes in the middle, or right/left side. It is not terribly painful (but its there) usually throughout the day. I have had it in the past and it just went away. I do keep a food log but cannot find any real changes in the past few days.

Any idea what could be causing these cramps?
And what I can do about it?

Thanks so much

Hanz

* 36 Year old Male - Diagnosed with UC 05/2008 - inflammation to 25cm then normal to cecum.
** Current Regime: salofalk enemas, clonazepam (as needed), immovane, bio-k, Multi vitamin, Vitamin D + E, Magnesium, psyllium husk, bentonite clay
**** Dietary Restrictions: NO dairy - gluten - sugar - spicy - greasy - caffeine - sweetener - raw veggies

Yes it most likely sounds like your colon acting up a bit. Could be some inflammation coming and going for whatever reason.

Since you were the one to push for the rectal meds and not your doc (if I got that story right) that might be why he's eager to get you off them. I have found that outright asking if i can continue/be on a med usually works, so I hope he agrees to you staying on them every night longer!

You should still be on an oral 5ASA...even low dosage such as 4 daily.
What other enema did the doc give you instead of the Salofalk...Pentasa?

q

Hi..right, I remember now the headaches from asacol and mezavant. If you're sensitive, you're sensitive. But You could try and see if they help.

Were you on the enemas when you started the oral asacol?
Had headaches before the enemas?

I would stay on the salofalk at least for another month...your symptoms will change as the inflammation improves. ARe you on the 2g or 4g ?

The cramps could be the UC...when exactly are you having them?

Are you taking any probiotics or fibre supplements?

I can match as many questions...no need to apologise..lol.

If you can call the doc to ask for an antispasmodic, that would be helpful I think.

quincy

Also forgot to mention that I have rosacea and seborrhic dermatitis (not sure how to spell that) and the 5-asa really irritates my face.... But again, I rather that then the colitis symptoms. Well, I'd rather neither actually LOL

Hi Q,

Thanks for taking the time here to reply and all, it really is much appreciated.

Mezavant capsules are 1.2g each.... I can try to take 1-2-3 per day (I believe the recommended dosage is 2-3 per day) and see if the headaches get bad and alternately if the symptoms get better. You feel this is good to do, in addition to the rectal meds, correct ???

I will ask the doctor about the 2g dose - I am guessing you're suggesting it as it would be easier to retain ??

I checked the bentonite clay and it says the ingredients are bentonite and water.. No mention of aluminum. Are you saying it will soothe my face LOL ??? Do I need to find one with aluminum?? Very interesting if yes ....

I simply use water to wash my face (sometimes spectro-jel or another one cannot recall the name) and use metrojel at night. Plus I sometimes use cortisone when really irritated (only for the dermatitis).

I usually retain for a few hours, sometimes all night if I'm lucky..

Regarding anti depressants, I had tapered off effexor also, along with paxil, prozac, cymbalta, cypralex, etc.. Tried many, always issues and side effects. I usually went from one to another which was much easier, but in 3 cases I stopped them entirely (effexor being one of them).. The problem with effexor (and others) is that they have a short shelf life (and are very potent SNRI) which is why the withdrawal is so bad. What helped me tremendously was using prozac to get off the effexor, and then weaning off the prozac (which is much easier).. Going daily, to every second day, and then third day. Just a suggestion.. Another suggestion is weaning really slowly. I had my pharmacist break up the doses for me (bought her a nice bottle of wine otherwise the withdrawal was too difficult. I will check out l-theanine, heard about it before...

Do you think a probiotic can cause me to get worse again? Because in addition to the cramping, I have noticed a decline over the last couple of days in my UC symptoms (slight liquid, slight mucus, and general difficulties). And the only things I changed in the past week are;

- added biok probiotic (non dairy)
- added kyolic garlic pills
- added canned spinach

Let me know your thoughts on this, and also if you recommend any other vitamins or probiotcs

Thanks and have an amazing weekend,

Hanz

Thanks everyone for the feedback
Much appreciated

Great idea RE the lower dose of melasamine enema, will speak to my doctor on monday...

Something really strange happened today; I decided not to take any of my vitamins or anything this morning, and had no cramps whatsoever.. I will test again tomorrow, but it may be something in one of the vitamins I take that is upsetting my gut. No idea which one. I take vitamin e, vitamin d, fish oil (krill), garlic, magnesium, biok dairy free liquid probiotic, chromium, multi vitamin, along with the psyllium husk and bentonite. I know we are all different lol, but do any of those stand out to you? I can try stopping the garlic as you suggested, or just reintroduce one at a time to really get a clear idea..

I was taking the biok after breakfast..

Great idea on the mezavant, will try one in the morning and one at night

Will stop bentonite, had no idea that it had aluminum in it. Plus prob not needed at this point.

I will check out the cetaphil, and biotherm..

Am happy to hear that you're not having any extreme symptoms and are able to reduce the effexor.

Sorry this was all broken up but I wanted it to make sense...

Thanks again SO MUCH...

Hi...interesting regarding your symptoms have lessened, but I'm not surprised actually.

What I would discontinue at this point would be the fish oil and the garlic. Take the probiotics at night before bedtime.

Take the fibre after you eat or during a meal.

Why are you taking chromium? I found this excerpt from http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-932-CHROMIUM.aspx?activeIngredientId=932&activeIngredientName=CHROMIUM
interesting....

"Behavioral or psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia: Chromium might affect brain chemistry and might make behavioral or psychiatric conditions worse. If you have one of these conditions, be careful when using chromium supplements. Pay attention to any changes in how you feel."


Of course, these are only suggestions, but for many of us...adjustments regarding supplements, food, etc are necessary for comfort.

Why are you taking the vitamin E?

Do you take your supplements once a day or twice? sometimes dividing the dosages morning and night can be helpful for some symptoms.

Yep, trial and error needn't take a long time...it's a continual process actually, because there's always something "new" one wants to try..lol.

q

When do you take the mezavant...after eating or before?

Some have commented regarding stomach discomfort after taking the meds...I can't personally say it's connected because the coating never dissolves in the stomach. I always take it (with my other meds, vitamins/supplements) in the "morning"...my schedule is chaotic...after eating "breakfast", about a half hour after the fibre supplements. At night I take it (and other meds/vitamins/supplements) long after eating, about an hour or two before taking the probiotics.


Eating or whatever can increase reflux....it wouldn't cause the reflux, however. So another issue you might be able to help. OR...change the mezavant to another such as Asacol or Pentasa or oral Salofalk if you have it there.

Rectal inflammation as it heals will also cause stomach aches (weird), so really getting that down can help. That's a symptom for me of an impending flare...

I'm more than happy to offer suggestions...sometimes tweaking something simple makes a difference.

Keep the journal regarding food intake / symptoms. I used to do one with the left side of the book stating times of intake of whatever. On the right side time of symptoms, bms, discomfort, gas..etc.
Each page has one date, never two on one page.

Have a good day too!
q

I kept a journal for almost 3 years before diagnosis. I was quite sick and lost so much weight.

I thought it was food related...and I did notice some symptoms that were so many hours after eating...but what goes in comes out anyway. Actually, anything I ate gave me symptoms, the obvious were lactose, nuts, whole grains. Oh, and eating triggered bms anyway. It was a very stressful time.

I burned them a few years after diagnosis....the freedom was amazing.

Let me know how it works for you.

I think that it's reflux in general in conjunction with rectal inflammation and possibly just peristalsis, and you should ask the doc for an acid reducing med to see if that helps.

quincy

Wow regarding your anxiety. I took 5-htp once...I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. Took st. john's wort...same thing...
So, they can have an effect even though "natural".

The constipation/bloating is rectal inflammation related...limited inflammation, so that will soon pass when it recedes.

I don't think 1 tbsp psyllium is enough daily, but it's a start with one meal for a week. if all is good, increase it to another tbsp with another meal in the day. I take the capsules because drinking it is more volume to me. subjective.

What metamucil formula are you using? exactly?

great the reflux has improved...but it could also have been related to one/some of the vitamins...possibly.

Eat for comfort...I notice sympoms of slight cramping/gas about 6 hours after eating whatever is the culprit.

Experimenting is good...some things might be too much.

Oh, I take NAC occasionally, and that causes me great gas...yikes!

Have a great day as well!
It's nice and sunny here...not too warm for winter, so a perfect day for me! -18 to -13C

q