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Question regarding my condition of UC

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/20/2011 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all, i'm new here and recently i've been diagnosed with UC after Colonoscope was performed. I've been on Asacol for about 3 weeks and i have a few questions that i was hoping that they could be discussed or perhaps clarified.

I haven't had a flare since. However, i still notice red/ blood-like particles in my stool. Also, i've noticed that there has been mucus in my stool from time to time as well. Sometimes as stools pass right before it leaves my rectum, i do feel this sting/ burning sensation. Lately, i've also noticed pink/ red stripes on my toilet paper when i wipe.

my question is

1). Could my UC still be bleeding even when i am not experiencing any flare? My stool has been normal and my bowel movement has been just once or twice a day the most. Most importantly, i have no abdominal pain.

2) What could be causing the bleeding if it wasn't my UC?

Please feel free to share your thoughts with me,

thank you.
Posted 8/20/2011 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
It is possible what you are seeing in your stool is the coating of the Asacol itself.

And if you are feeling irritation when having a bowel movement then having a little bright red blood, it could be a hemmie.

 

Posted 8/20/2011 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
If you're still passing mucous then you might have inflammation that isn't being effectively treated by the asacol, in the rectum. Did your DR discuss the results of your scope with you? Do you know where inflammation was found? Many of us with rectal inflammation use mesalamine enemas to directly treat the affected area, as the oral meds don't seem to quite cut the mustard.
Posted 8/21/2011 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
I am in remission, but when I do have a flare up, all I get is blood in my formed stool. I never get horribly bad. So, maybe since you are still seeing mucus, you might still be in a flare and may need some extra help to get it under control. Thankfully it sounds like it's not bad at all.
Posted 8/22/2011 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Just had a BM, it was little loose but not bad, however, it was all fresh blood on my toilet paper again. No visiual sight of blood in my stool (perhpas there was but I was so bothered by the color on my toilet paper so didn't really pay attention).

Spoke to my doctor and he just told me not to worry about it. He said it could or should be my UC and asacol takes some time to be in effect. Seriously, what's wrong with me?
Posted 8/22/2011 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi..How many asacol are you taking?

Where is the location of your UC...limited (to where) or throughout?

You should really be on rectal and oral..call the doctor back and say you would like to try a rectal mesalamine retention enema...that will help.

q
Posted 8/22/2011 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, it is throughout my colon. However, there wasn't any presence of blood before but just started recently. Thank you for your input, ill contact my doc soon.
Posted 8/22/2011 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Definitely call the doc.

Just remember that UC inflames upward and heals downward. If all is good right side to left from you taking the asacol, the rectum and probably sigmoid will have inflammation.

Even if it's very mild, you'll have some symptoms, and the lower part still needs to be treated topically so that you don't have the impression that the oral 5ASA topicals will treat the sigmoid and rectum fully.

It is very possible your bleeding on the toilet paper is from a fissure, but if it was kind of mixed in with mucous and with stool, I'd lean towards fragile tissue/flare.

It's a difficult process getting it all figured out....and to get the hang of using the meds.

Oh, and just to note that many doctors seem to say that "you have pancolitis and the rectal meds won't reach the entire colon, so they won't work...blah, blah, blah".

The fact is that since UC starts at the rectum and heals last at the rectum, you want to keep that area nice and happy. It's also the area that deals with signalling , etc...so the sooner its inflammation can be reduced, the better.

My take on it based on the experience and asking my doc a lot of questions.

q
Posted 8/23/2011 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
thank you for all yours replies.

I'm just a bit frustrated because it feels like my symptoms are worse than before. Now i see bright red blood (good amount) every time i wipe which it never happened before even when i was flaring. The staff from the office did tell me that the doctor had found internal hemorrhoid during colonoscope, however, could it possibly be bleeding like this? I feel really lost because my GI has only been telling me to relax and give it time till Asacol completely kicks in but never attempts to approach it from a different perspective.

Perhaps I'm just worried too much because i've never been diagnosed with anything before.
Posted 8/23/2011 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Have you not taken a look in the toilet or at the stool?

I'm encouraging you to be proactive and for you to ask for rectal meds. The oral asacol is NOT enough.

Even if you do have hemmies, the rectal meds will help. I would still suggest a mesalamine instead of a steroid.

q
Posted 8/23/2011 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi again;

If your bleeding is getting worse I'd call and ask for the mesalamine enemas as well.

I started off with just the Asacol and at the suggestion and encouragement from members here (ahem, Quincy...) got the Rowasa enemas..and whammo...remission.  I have gone into 1 mild flare since but I have not seen blood since starting them.  Not saying it will be exactly like that for you, but it would be worth a try.

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