Blood in stool but otherwise not too bad?

I was diagnosed with IBS about 12 years ago and left side moderate UC in May of 2009. I started on four Lialda pills a day, Bentyl before meals, and probiotics which kept me relatively symptom free until late last year. Since December I have had some blood in my stool and some mucous, usually once or twice a day out of 4 bms a day.

I do often have an mildly upset stomach, gas, cramping and so on but no diarrhea; the prior symptoms have been annoying but not terribly bad.

I started on Rowasa nightly 9 weeks ago but it has not stopped the blood in my stool. I had blood work done a few weeks ago and everything was normal.

Has anyone had a UC flare with blood in the stool being the only main symptom? I am wondering if the blood could possibly be coming from something else like an internal hemmi. I have a colonoscopy coming on Monday and the anticipation is somewhat consuming me.

BTW, this forum is really great, I am so happy to find a place to do research and read about what others are trying.

Post Edited (zephyr) : 3/10/2011 12:01:50 PM (GMT-7)

Thanks for the tips quincy, appreciate it.

My records just indicate left side colitis, I didn't know enough at the time to ask him specifically where. I plan to ask him that Monday after my next scope.

I do take the Lialda all at the same time, normally lunch. If there any benefit to be gained from not doing so? That sounds like an easy thing to try.

Yeah I am leaning towards it being a flare as well, just trying to be optimistic.

The Canasa is a good idea, I would really like to handle this with the lower impact drugs before Imuran and prednisone which he mentioned would likely be my next steps if my current treatment doesn't work

My symptoms were really much the same before I started taking the meds except for the blood. The cramping and upset stomach I had for a long times which I have been told is from my IBS. 2 years ago I started seeing blood in my stool pretty regularly which is why I had the scope done in 2009 and got the UC diagnosis. The Lialda seemed to clear that up for the first 18 months or so but now seems to have lost its effectiveness.

Rowasa has not yet stopped the bleeding which is disappointing. You say 9 weeks is not an extreme length of time which is interesting. How long in your opinion would be a logical length of time to give it to work?

I'm on 4g of Rowasa. A year, wow. If it stopped the bleeding I would be willing to continue it but it is unnerving to still see the blood after 9 weeks. I am not sure if longer would make a difference.

I did drop the fish oil a week ago but that doesn't seem to have helped, if anything I see blood more often now.

Thanks for the probiotic recommendation. I've read everything here about VSL, I am going to ask my Dr. about that Monday.

As you say, the c-scope will reveal all.

I asked him about a steroid enema but he said he didn't think it made a difference. I would think it does since it is more local. If he think I need a steroid I will push it again. I may also go for a second opinion somewhere.

I wonder where the inflammation is this time, I was not aware that the rectum was the hardest part to heal. That's good to know.

I will be using ducolax/miralax as prescribed by the Dr. Blech, I hate prep day!

I wasn't offered the option to stay awake, I think SOP for them is to knock you out. Last time I think they used propofol if I remember correctly. I was awake for a sigmoidoscopy once and didn't really enjoy that. I don't handle medical procedure well and get very anxious.

Post Edited (zephyr) : 3/10/2011 1:34:20 PM (GMT-7)

Thanks cpaarchie, interesting to hear somebody else with similar symptoms. I haven't tried Colozal, I wonder if you would improve on Lialda. It worked for for a while but seems to have stopped. The Dr. told me to avoid fiber, basically said the less moving through there the better while in a flare.

I can't answer your question. I have blood on the tp sometimes but more frequently in my stool. It's normally pretty bright red, unless I have to hold it in for a bit because I'm in a meeting on otherwise occupied then it seems to get a bit darker.

Well, wouldn't you know it, but this morning bright red blood and mucous on the toilet paper! Just after I had had a couple days of feeling pretty good.

Sure is frustrating to go back and forth. I am thankful that for now, my symptoms aren't too bad - again, just a few BMs a day and if anything, the more I have, the better they seem to get (if I went 4 times in a day, they get gradually better over the course of the day).

My worst symptoms are always in the morning. about a half hour after I get up and for the next couple hours. Its crazy how I feel lousy in the morning and once I get to lunch, life seems pretty normal. Again, this is just how my symptoms have been for the past few months.

Tried the spinach/sunflower seeds - not sure that really worked, as I had really bad gas pain/cramping and diahrea after eating the cooked spinach.

canadagal - what do you think eventually put you in remission?

I probably just need to go to a new doctor.  All my doctor says is if this doesn't clear up, its time for the next stage of treatments.

Seems a little excessive to me considering my symptoms are mild and everything you say seems like the logical next stage of treatment.

well, as I mentioned, all around the same time (within about a month) I started on the nightly enemas, the spinach(canned)/ sunflower seeds and the splitting of the Mezavant. So I don't know what for sure made the biggest difference or if all 3 were what it took. It had been a very long stubborn flare(11 months), and other than it being really bad for the first month or so, the rest of the time i would say it was manageable.

During the flare, upping the mesalasine from 2.4 g to 4.8g didn't do much; Prednisone took a long time (5 months) but did eventually calm things down but then I became dependent so as soon as I did the final wean, symptoms returned so not a success after all. I tried turmeric for a while, I cut out dairy for a while, but all through out I would have about 4-6 urgent bloody / mucousy soft BM's.

Been doing really well for past 2 1/2 months. Have mostly dropped the spinach, still enjoying the sunflower seeds, I'm down to 3 enemas a week and will soon try dropping my meds back down (first to 3.6g then 2.4g) and I'm now a regular twice a day (within an hour of waking) normal stool kind of gal.. : )

Fyi - my doc never suggested or recommended the enemas, when I asked about them he said it only helps if just the rectum is inflamed. After the prednisone proved unhelpful he wanted me to start considering 6MP and Imuran, but as I felt I was somewhat mild and managing to cope, I told him I wasn't ready for such strong meds and told him I wanted to at least try the enemas.

yes, each capsule is 1200mg (1.2g). maintenance is considered 2 capsules once a day, treatment is 4 capsules once a day.