HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Newly diagnosed, questions

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/30/2010 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all, I had a colonoscopy on 12/22/10 and was diagnosed with UC. I think I am pretty lucky as my symptoms were/are very minor. I was having rectal bleeding for about a month before that and urgency and was having BM's about 3-4 times a day with blood and mucous, I just figured I had a hemmie or tear or something like that, because I've known people with UC and they always seemed to get very sick. I never really felt sick at all, no cramping not really any diarrhea (just soft stools). I went to GP and he sent me to GI for colonoscopy. He said I have UC (did not give me any other details about it), gave me a script for asacol 800mg 1 three times a day. I have been taking these since 12/23/10. I am still having the bleeding, but am only going about 1 or 2 times a day. I just have a few questions.

1. Do the meds take a little time to work (is that why I am still bleeding)

2. Will I always have to take this med.

3. Because my flare seems so minor, could i get worse symptoms in the future or could it just always be like this.

Also I am scheduled for a follow-up appointment with the GI in 6wks.

Thank You for any information you can give me.

Posted 12/30/2010 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi..welcome.

You do also need rectal meds in conjunction with the Asacol.

Yes, flares can vary in intensity, it's good to get on meds to cover the entire colon/rectum inflammation.

Where exactly in the colon is your UC...limited to where or throughout?

q
Posted 12/30/2010 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Thanks for the quick reply. I am not on any rectal meds. just the asacol. This is what my colonoscopy report says. Terminal ileum was examined for a distance of about 3-4inches and was normal. The cecal pole showed evidence of typical UC, which was biopsied. This was involving at least 50%of the cecal pole and a Skip lesion was present in the mid ascending colon. After that the ascending colon, transverse, descendin, sigmoid and upper sigmoid colon were normal. The lower sigmoid colon from the anus to about 15cm was involved with typical changes of UC consisting of loss of light reflex, loss of vascular pattern, contact bleeding friability and presence of pus and mucus. Biopsies were obtained from the cecum as well as the rectum( i was told to call in another week for the biopsy results).

I am sorry if this is too much info, but I am new to this so not really 100% sure what it all means and what this means is involved.

Thanks again.

Posted 12/30/2010 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
to jamal, the bleeding is usually clotted and mucusy(stringy). It is always on the TP when I wipe sometimes there are just drops of blood in the toilet and it is usually surrounding my stool and clotted looking.
Posted 12/30/2010 8:49 PM (GMT 0)

quincy said...
Hi..welcome.

You do also need rectal meds in conjunction with the Asacol.

Yes, flares can vary in intensity, it's good to get on meds to cover the entire colon/rectum inflammation.

Where exactly in the colon is your UC...limited to where or throughout?

q


Quincy
Are we sure we can say that everyone will need rectal meds for UC? I have had UC since Dec 1999 and thus far no rectal meds for me. BUT tonight I am trying my first dose of Rowasa for a recent flare? that messed me up for 2-3 weeks. And in retrospect I should have used rectal meds several times perhaps. I have had HORRIFIC seasons with UC and am somewhat surprised that my GI has NEVER offered Rowasa...until I asked.
So, is EVERYONE with UC taking rectal Meds as protocal treatment? Deacon
Posted 12/30/2010 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome! Here are my answers to your questions:

1. Do the meds take a little time to work (is that why I am still bleeding)
-Yes, they will. But it sounds like you're making a lot of improvements! I also recommend that you ask your doctor about rectal meds. They will very likely help get rid of that last little bit of inflammation and get you into remission.
2. Will I always have to take this med.
-YES! You should always be on some sort of medication to treat your UC, even when you are in remission. If you are lucky, you'll be able to use the mesalamine (Asacol's active ingredient) medications for a long time, if not forever. Some people with UC have to use stronger medications to control their UC, but there are several people who have good luck with the mesalamine drugs.
3. Because my flare seems so minor, could i get worse symptoms in the future or could it just always be like this.
-Unfortunately, yes, it could get worse. Nobody can predict if how easy or hard to control your UC will be, nor how bad any future flares might be.

Deacon Blues, I'm not quincy, but I am a big believer in rectal meds! When I was first diagnosed, my doc just started me on Asacol, because I was flaring so badly he didn't think I'd be able to hold an enema long enough for it to do any good. After a week on Asacol with very slight improvement, we added the mesalamine enemas, and they made a BIG difference almost immediately. Also, studies show that people who use mesalamine enemas twice a week in addition to oral meds stay in remission longer than those who only use oral meds. I think I read three different studies that showed this, and did not come across any that showed no benefit to enemas. So that was enough to convince me to keep using them even after I got well. And I really do think they've played a big part (in addition to not skipping doses of my oral med) in keeping me in such a solid remission for over a year and a half now. The reason is that the oral meds don't do all that good of a job at treating the end of the colon and rectum, and the enemas do a very good job at that. As flares start at the rectum and move upward, it makes sense to make sure the rectum is getting treated.
Posted 12/30/2010 9:29 PM (GMT 0)

fruitgirl said...

Deacon Blues, I'm not quincy, but I am a big believer in rectal meds! When I was first diagnosed, my doc just started me on Asacol, because I was flaring so badly he didn't think I'd be able to hold an enema long enough for it to do any good. After a week on Asacol with very slight improvement, we added the mesalamine enemas, and they made a BIG difference almost immediately. Also, studies show that people who use mesalamine enemas twice a week in addition to oral meds stay in remission longer than those who only use oral meds. I think I read three different studies that showed this, and did not come across any that showed no benefit to enemas. So that was enough to convince me to keep using them even after I got well. And I really do think they've played a big part (in addition to not skipping doses of my oral med) in keeping me in such a solid remission for over a year and a half now. The reason is that the oral meds don't do all that good of a job at treating the end of the colon and rectum, and the enemas do a very good job at that. As flares start at the rectum and move upward, it makes sense to make sure the rectum is getting treated.

Yeah I really need to get the past the NOT wanting to do an enema thing as well. I started on sulfasalazine, allergic, switched to Asacol, went to 12 per day, lowered to 6 per day and am still taking that. I have been in a really good remission for almost 3 years, until this past month :-(. I probably could have avoided alot of unnecessary pain had I added the enemas throughout my journey with UC. I tend to 'tough it out and try to avoid more meds" but am not always convinced that THAT is a good rule to go by. We all have the same disease but each one of us manifests in such personal ways and have different pain tolerances and such. There probably is a case made for keeping the inflammation to a minimum as this leads to cancer increases...am I right? Thanks, Deacon
Posted 12/30/2010 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
I absolutely think a person with UC is more likely to get cancer if they have inflammation (and therefore, flares) more often. I haven't looked to see if there has been any research to back that idea up, but it just makes sense.

And really, enemas aren't that bad.  I honestly don't mind doing them at all, because I know they are playing a big role in keeping me healthy.  They have never hurt and don't cause me to feel at all uncomfortable, unless I have gas for some reason.  The more you relax before you use it, the easier it's going to be.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply