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Loose BMs....still

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/10/2011 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
I posted a couple times last year about how I've been having loose BMs even though I am in clinical remission (confirmed by a colonscopy in December). All my blood work is normal as well.

But the BMs keep getting worse. Early last year, I would get the occasional loose BM, like it'd come and go for a few days. Then, later in the year, I was getting loose BMs almost all the time but number of times I had to go was the same as before and still in the morning. The past couple of weeks, I've been having loose BMs all the time, all throughout the day. I've been going at least 5x/day (usually after every time I eat something). It's like a flare, except no blood and the urgency is not as bad (hopefully I'm not jinxing myself). My butt is so sore--I almost cried the last time I went to the bathroom b/c it was so painful. I'm using calmoseptine and will buy some wipes.

I've tried increasing probiotics, decreasing probiotics, increasing fiber, decreasing fiber, cutting out sugar, adding iron, etc. None of these things have made a difference. When I saw my GI at the end of last month, she said it was "just IBS" and to try an Imodium a day. However, even taking 1/2 an Imodium daily makes me feel bloated (like my stomach actually balloons out) and, even though it might cut down a BM or two, it's still loose.

Help! This doesn't feel like remission :(

Posted 2/10/2011 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
I am sorry you're feeling bad. Have you tried adding psyillium husk? I have seen some people here mention that helping to bulk things up. Are you eating spicy or high acid foods? That can cause pain with movements. Could you have a tear? Calmoseptine was helpful for me when I was having a lot of pain in my rear but nothing seems to stop the pain 100% :( I definitely think 5x a day is a bit much for remission. I get nervous if I go 3x. Are you taking anything for your IBS besides Imodium?
Posted 2/11/2011 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Have you tried keeping a food diary? Maybe you need to add something daily to bulk up the stools. Psyllium never worked for me, but I get relief from plain boiled rice or plain brown rice cakes eaten once daily. As long as your gastro sees good results at c-scopes I'd suspect a dietary adjustment to be needed. Something that absorbs/holds moisture should make firmer bms. A number of forum members here get good results from Metamucil wafers-- less hassle than mixing the powder, too. Best wishes! / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 2/11/2011 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
Psyllium husk is in Metamucil, right? I increased my Benefiber intake, but maybe I should try something with psyllium husk. I'm also getting more fiber through foods (like Kashi products). I'm still taking VSL #3.

I don't think I have a tear--there's no blood on the tissue. It's just sore from wiping so much.

I'm not eating any spicy foods and the most acidic thing I'm eating are tomatoes (couple slices on sandwiches a few times a week and marinara sauce on pasta once/week). I used to be able to trace back loose BMs to trigger foods, but now it's loose no matter what I eat. I guess I'll start eating rice more frequently, instead of once or twice per week.

Posted 2/11/2011 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
Try the rice serving daily for a few months & watch tomato consumption. Seeds bother me-- also prepared sauces because I can't always see what's in them, and I know from experience that heavy black pepper or oregano disagrees when it reaches my intestines. Being cautious can be boring, but if it helps you to control bms it's definitely worthwhile. I was going bananas 'til I found that plain rice worked magic for me. Put a little Desiten lotion on your sore butt in the meantime. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 2/11/2011 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
Yep, psyllium is in Metamucil-- not sure how it compares with benefiber. I think we each can react differently to these fiber supplements, though, and they can be expensive. Over the yrs I've found that fiber in different food items helps or hurts my gut so I don't bother any more about commercial fiber sources. Most recently plain rice works to firm bms & steamed sweet potato helps if bms start drying up too much. I found this out by trial/error. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 2/11/2011 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
That is what happened to me a few years ago. A scope showed I was in clinical remission but yet I was still having D, bloating and cramping. My GI said I probably have IBS. I found that things that help IBS does not help my UC such as high fiber. I have tried fiber supplements in varying forms over the years and nothing helps, it makes me worse. So I try to get my fiber thru diet instead. Most things will give me D but I found that eating Romaine lettuce salads are the best for me. It seems to solidify things a bit. Like Old Hat states, rice is a good stool solidifier. I also will eat ripe bananas to help.

Like you, I can not take Immodium. It makes me feel horrible....extreme bloating, full feeling...just all around icky.
Posted 2/11/2011 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I've been having the same problem and I was wondering if it's GI virues going around. My kids have had a few lately and teachers are saying something is going around. That'll set me off for sure but my blood work is good and the scopes show very little inflamation. Go figure. this is uncomfortable.

Posted 2/11/2011 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
I hope it is not but it could be a mild flare. There is not always blood and urgency with a mild flare.

I also see you are on Lialda. It worked really well for me for several years then at some point it started causing me to have loose stools and multiple BM's. I had been on it so long that I never imagined that it was the problem but I went out of town once and left it at home. I did not take it for ten days and my BM's GREATLY improved. I switched to Apriso and it worked better without causing loose stools but after about 2 months it started to give me the same problem... Just something you might look into.
Posted 2/11/2011 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Bookworm,do you drink coffee,tea,coke or anything with caffeine. If you do try going to decaf types.
Old Mike
Posted 2/11/2011 7:29 PM (GMT 0)

super8 said...
I've been having the same problem and I was wondering if it's GI virues going around. My kids have had a few lately and teachers are saying something is going around. That'll set me off for sure but my blood work is good and the scopes show very little inflamation. Go figure. this is uncomfortable.

Yep. Daughter reports loose poops without any drastic diet changes, now today after attending the kids concert recital I feel like I have the start of a flu which normally I never ever get.
Posted 2/12/2011 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
I've gone to the bathroom 7 or 8 times today. I upped Imodium but that hasn't made a difference. Even water makes me feel like I need to go. I think I'll start using my leftover Canasa.

Old Hat, I had my wonderful dinner of yogurt and rice today and will be eating applesauce before bed. I'll try Benefiber for a couple more days before switching to Metamucil.

Sherry, you've been able to eat lettuce? I've only had it a few times since diagnosis. I did have spinach with Italian dressing earlier this week. Could that have made my loose BMs turn into diarrhea this week? I'm allergic to bananas.

super8 and aguywithuc, I'm rarely around kids. I hope it is a virus (and not a flare!); maybe I picked it up at the grocery store or restaurant.

thatfield, really interesting that Lialda worked and then turned on you. I actually just switched from Asacol to Lialda in November, hoping that it would improve the occasional loose stools I was having as well as hair loss.

Old Mike, I have a cup of chai every morning. I'll switch to decaf green tea tomorrow, but how will I stay awake in class??? :)

I really hope this gets better by Monday...
Posted 2/12/2011 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Metamucil is one of my miracle remedies. It's psyllium husk. But we are all different, so... the experimentation is so tiresome and costly!

Have you tried spinach? I can't eat any lettuces while flaring, but spinach does help bulk me up and seems to soothe.

Good for you, trying the BRAT diet..... keep us,posted on how you're doing.

My beloved old GI used to say, "If the bottom is sore, keep it lubricated with almost anything - but just keep it lubricated!" I have found that to be helpful advice over the years and upon occasion I've used almost anything vaguely appropriate I've found handy in the medicine cabinet....
Posted 2/13/2011 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Well, it looks like a virus (on top of my period and a migraine). I only had two BMs in the morning yesterday, but today I have been continuously going. It's definitely diarrhea, I can barely eat anything, nausea. I feel awful...and I have so much work to do!
Posted 2/14/2011 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry you're still feeling crummy. It may be that your course load contributes to health problems. I think you need some advice from (1) Malkavian, who is also in grad school (for science) and (2) Peety, who's in remission on Remicade and reports great results-- eating a pretty standard diet, it seems. By the way, I didn't recommend mixing plain boiled rice with yogurt per your post above! I would try the plain rice with some roasted skinless chicken or broiled fish and a steamed veggie or two-- to start. Then try ca. 4 oz. of yogurt as dessert, maybe with some ripe banana. Monthly hormone changes can also loosen bms-- that may be part of your problem. Do you have use of a kitchen, or do you have to rely on campus cafeterias/dining facilities? How were you feeling over Christmas break-- specifically in regard to loose bms? Hang in there & try to get enough sleep nightly-- since you mentioned feeling sleepy in AM classes. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 2/14/2011 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
I'm taking the minimum courseload so I'm not really stressed out.

I do usually feel worse during my period, but the loose BMs have been happening for a while (even during Christmas break) and have gotten worse.

I usually get 8 hours of sleep per night and then 2 hour naps most days. I'm still not well-rested. My PCP said she could diagnose me with chronic fatigue syndrome if I wanted, but there's nothing we can do about it.

I think the 1.5 Imodium I took finally kicked in. However, the nausea still remains.

Posted 2/14/2011 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
White rice always help me until things calm down
Posted 2/14/2011 12:54 PM (GMT 0)
Try drinking ginger tea to help with your nausea. I personally like peppermint tea but some Uc'ers find this aggravates them.
Posted 2/22/2011 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Let us know how you're doing, eh? / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
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