HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Question..

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/15/2011 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
How often do you guys with UC have a colonoscopy?
Posted 3/15/2011 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
i think you're supposed to have them every other year and every year after 10 years with UC. Not 100% sure about that. I had one 2 years in a row because I was flared up and my GI wanted to see what was going on.
Posted 3/15/2011 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
I've had them every year since about the 6th year after diagnosis, but that's because an adenoma was found at that point.
I'm so past the 10 year mark I'd be doing them annually by now anyway.
Posted 3/15/2011 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
I've had 2 scopes and three ct scans in 9 months! I think they've got it in for me lol!
Posted 3/15/2011 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
I get one every year
Posted 3/16/2011 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
It depends on a few factors, the severity of your disease, the lack of symptoms improving and family and/or patient history. The norm ranges from GI to GI; depending on how often they want to do one. I had my initial one for diagnosis, one 3 years later after switching GI's, then 5 years after that and then 2 after that. Now that I am past the 10 year mark, I go in every 2 years.
Posted 3/16/2011 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
I had one for diagnosis, one at the the first year mark....then every 3 years. the last two were every two years and I'll continue with that...because my doc will be retiring sooner than later.

I've been with him for 22 years...it'll be a sad day when I have to get another GI..or GP for that matter..

Regarding more often scopes...if all the biopsies are fine and one's UC is controlled fairly well and cancer doesn't run in the family...I don't think yearly scopes are necessary regardless of the time factor.

q

Posted 3/16/2011 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the responses!


I was just wondering. I've had UC since I was 11 and have had colonoscopies done about every 2 years. I haven't had one done in about 1 year and 3 months and I was thinking about asking my GI to do another one soon because I'm in the middle of the worst flare that I've ever had with new symptoms and just would give me piece of mind and see if my disease has progressed anymore.

What are your thoughts?
Posted 3/16/2011 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
worst flare? what meds are you on? what are your symptoms exactly?

Where is your UC..limited or throughout?

q
Posted 3/16/2011 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on Asocol 3 pills 3 times a day and Imuran 2 pills a day.
My symptoms are bloody BMs with lots of dark colored blood clots, lower back pain, swelling in the left side of my abdomen, extreme pressure in my lower pelvis area (like where my ovaries would be) on the rare occurrence that I actually DO have a solid stool to pass.. and even then the stools are about the width of my index finger.

My UC stared out as only limited to the rectum. The last time I flared about 2 years ago my GI said it spread to the left side. I defiantly still have pain on the left side but this time I can feel pain on the right side where as before, I could not.
Posted 3/16/2011 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
Remember that spasming can happen throughout the colon, even where one doesn't have inflammation.

I think you need to get on rectal meds to deal with the rectal inflammation which you'll have, no matter how high the inflammation.

When did you start of the imuran?

Regarding the asacol...have you missed any doses like in the middle of the day?

How many bms daily?

how are you eating?....

I wouldn't say you're in an unusual flare, some of the pain/cramping could be helped with the rectal meds and antispasmodics. As well...changing some of your food intake might have impact on comfort levels.

Definitely ask for the mesalamine retention enemas.

Regarding the lower left sided pain...are you ovulating at this point? or expecting your period soon? sometimes that correlates to flares and is difficult to differentiate regarding pain, etc.

q
Posted 3/16/2011 5:43 AM (GMT 0)
I was prescribed Rowasa enemas. I used them for about 3 or 4 days and I felt like they made it worse. I tried to keep them in as long as I could but only managed to keep them in for about 10 minutes. They made me have worse bloody BMs then before I used them.

I've been on Imuran for years.

I'm having about 10 BMs a day. Except for the past day or so, I only had a few those days. Now it's back to numerous trips to the bathroom.

As eating is concerned, I have lost about 6 pounds. I try to eat, I just have no appetite and the thought of food disgusts me.

Re guarding the ovary question... I'm beginning to wonder if I don't have a cyst or something on top of the flare. Could it be possible? I've been noticing pain there for a few months but wasn't sure if maybe the inflammation from my bowel was just irritating the surrounding area or something.
Posted 3/16/2011 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
I think you should try the Rowasa again...at least once more.

10 bms a day is a lot.

I think you should definitely see the GI asap and request maybe an abdominal ultrasound in conjunction with stool samples to make sure nothing else is going on regarding that.

I had endometriosis and an ovary cyst....it definitely played havoc with flares and periods. The left side was the worst...even when I wasn't flaring.

Considering you've been on imuran for a long while..is this the first major flare you've had?

What did you do in the past if you did flare?

It's unfortunate you don't have an appetite, I can relate when I have extremem nausea when flaring.

q
Posted 3/16/2011 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
My GI is supposed to call me back today. Do you think I should request a colonoscopy so she can see whats going on in there? Is the ultrasound for the possible ovary problem? If so, I'm planning on making an appointment with a gyno so should I ask her to do that?

Is it possible my colitis could have spread to the right side of the colon also?

My usual flare only consists of some mild pain on my left side with blood. The last time I flared she did a sigmoid and gave me some steroids. I seen her about 2 weeks ago and she said she didn't want to give them to me. That's usually how I get my flare under control. This time there are dark blood clots, barely any stool coming out, lower back pain, shortness of breath, feel like I'm going to pass out, eyes hurt, swelling on the left side of my abdomen, and the little stool that does come out is a weird light green color. I've never had that before. Do you have any idea what that color could mean?

Btw, thank you for your help! :)

Post Edited (UCsince1999) : 3/16/2011 10:29:45 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/16/2011 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
you definitely have a few things going on, and need to be checked for any invaders for sure...especially since this is different for you from past flares.

Yes, I would suggest the ultrasound for possible ovarian stuff..but this could still be UC related...frustrating for women (so many parts in the same area). As well...maybe the gallbladder/liver area.

Yes, it's possible one's UC can spread throughout the colon...some have limited and it stays there...no guarantees apparantly.

I've not had greenish stools unless it was food related. It could be bile or lack of bile or just that the colon is working quicker, etc. or it could be infection....hence the stool sample testing.

For sure....stool testing.

For sure...rectal meds

I wouldn't go on prednisone until stool sampling is complete and the rectal meds don't work.

You could also consider steroid enemas....but again, stool samples for sure.

Your situation definitely seems to be worsening...and considering you're on imuran for a long while, the doc should check blood to make sure nothing else is out of whack.

Express how bad you're feeling, but I hope she doesn't just throw pred at it.

Keep us posted as to what's happening.

If you do get worse and can't get help from your doc...go to the hospital if necessary.

q
Posted 3/16/2011 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
I just got off the phone with my doctor. She is having me come by the office tomorrow and get things for stool testing and is going to check my blood. She also said she is going to give me some pred. Idk how I feel about it but it's what I've always done when I flare so I guess I'll just go with it. :(
Posted 3/17/2011 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
maybe discuss with her the rectal meds...at least until you get the results from the stool samples. They might help...to me it's better than pred.

But you have the experience with the pred...not that it has to continue.
I've never been on it.

Let us know how your appointment goes.
q
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply