Stress + UC

I have been in remission for three month. Two weeks ago, after my final exams I noticed worsening of my UC symptoms.  I was wondering if these symptoms can be triggered by stress.

without a doubt for me, my child started being bullied march the 25th nearly 9 months ago and i am stilin a flaire up x

I just increased my Lialda dose. My doctor doesn’t have me use anything else, even probiotics. Lialda did help me a little, but after 4 days I’m not back to normal yet. I don’t know how fast I will recover. I’m new to having UC.

I would think that you might have had some inflammation rectally that will present itself differently than if higher up. Your doc should have you on rectal medications regardless...I would suggest Rowasa. Call soon so that you can get your flare under control at least sooner than later and the holday season can be more tolerable.

Yes, stress such as exams would have me flaring definitely.

The kind of stress that is continual where I am feeling a loss of control or of the deep emotional kind would have me flaring for sure.

I use rectal meds to deal with flares and increase them to nightly...I'd use them till the flare is over and then start the tapering process.

My oral meds might be upped depending on what my symptoms would be (more diarrhea rather than formed or soft stool)...but it usually stays at 6 daily.

Hope you feel relief after your exams...but that's definitely a heavy load for anyone, let alone one who has UC.

Rectal meds...please ask the doctor for them! Rowasa is what you should ask for.

He'll probably say you don't need them...say with your research you've done, you'll like to try them and hope he'll support you in that.

q

Stress was absolutely my initial trigger to UC, and it has been what has brought back my colitis every time with the exception of one bout of food poisoning!

The experts won't say that stress is a definite cause of UC but they agree that it aggravates it.

Outside of meds, there are lots of things worth trying to help relieve stress e.g. breathing exercises, physical exercise (need to be careful though - as over-exercise can possibly effect UC), simply laying down and relaxing more often etc.

Stress + UC = Anxiety for me. Anxiety sends me straight for the bathroom.

It's known that psychological stress can exacerbate colitis, although the worsening of your symptoms could simply be a coincidence (difficult to say). This relationship is somewhat paradoxical as the main endocrinological change that occurs in response to stress is an increase in serum cortisol, and exogenous cortisol (prednisone, etc.) is extremely useful in suppressing colitis-related symptoms.