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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/27/2011 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Week 3 of flare-up. Today including my after midnight trips I've experienced urgency 14 times and it's only 4:30 PM. With the exception of a few mid afternoon trips where I was actually able to produce some small stools, the MAJORITY of my trips have been met with a large gas emission followed by very small fragments of stool and/or red mucous and some liquid. I am afraid to leave my house....HELP!
Posted 12/27/2011 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear what your going through. I've gone through a 2-3 day flare up but never 3 weeks straight!
I would seriously take a visit to your local Urgent care center as they are less expensive than the ER. Call your doctor too! Sometimes they can fit you in right away.

What are you eating right now?
How long have you had UC?
What meds are you on?
Posted 12/27/2011 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
You need to talk to your UC doctor.
If you don't have one, then be careful about urgent care centers.....I don't have a lot of faith in those places.
The ER would be a good option??

You need some medications to slow this down and get it under control.
I've been where you are and its gone on and off for MONTHS, its a total mess....
I'm better now, and hoping for continued relief, but not in remission as its only been a few days....
Posted 12/27/2011 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
What meds are you on? I don't think a visit to the ER or Urgent care is warranted. I have had worse symptoms and those places are not going to be much help. Call your GI. Make sure you are using mesalamine enemas and on some sort of oral treatment. At my worse I was making 20-30 trips a day with a lot of blood (peeing blood basically) and mucus and I did not go to the ER. Sounds like the gas is a big problem. Maybe think about what you are eating that could be making it worse. Though gas happens to be a big problem when flaring for me too, no matter what I seem to eat. Keep a food diary to see what helps vs what exasperates your symptoms. When I am flaring badly the trips to the bathroom are worse when home then when out. Somehow my body reacts differently in the safety of my home:)
Posted 12/27/2011 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
I concur! Your dr office will sometimes give you free medication samples. They gave me a variety of them when I didn't have insurance at all.

I highly recommend asking for Rowasa enema. It is the Number 1 go to for a flare up. If you can hold it in for at least an hour or two it will do its job and you will feel better.
Posted 12/27/2011 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
Does Asocol help with urgency?
Posted 12/27/2011 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
Does Asocol help with urgency?
Posted 12/27/2011 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
I would think the Asacol would help with the gas (higher inflammation), not sure about the urgency. The enemas should help with the urgency, and especially the mucus and blood.
Posted 12/28/2011 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
Well you need to stop the D so take an Immodium and Bentyl. Keep drinking water so you don't get dehydrated, no alcohol.
Could you add a sig. so we can see your current meds and diagnosis and a little history?

Yes you need to see your GI ASAP, make sure the person on the phone knows how bad off you are. If your GI tells you to go to the ER then do it and maybe find another GI if you don't see them there. I know about denial but unless this came on very suddenly you should have been into your GI a week ago (I know it's the holidays...)

When you call ask for an Rx for Rowasa mesalamine enemas (I use the generic version) and Bentyl if you don't have either of these. Asacol (oral mesalamine) will not produce results right away but is the usual first med to take. Take it plus the enema, both needed.

For gas relief cut out dairy and as much sugar as possible including fruit until gas subsides.

Good luck.
Posted 12/28/2011 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
If Asacol helps, it can help to get you into remission. By Remission I mean, no symptoms of UC at all. Not everyone responds to Asacol. If you've been on it 3 weeks without results, it's probably time to try adding some other medications, whether it is rectal medication, another 5ASA or steroid of some sort.
Posted 12/28/2011 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
I should clarify something...the trips to the bathroom do NOT result in diahreah as I've experienced previously...what "comes out" is akin to...pardon the visual...a juicy fart with some spray.
Posted 12/28/2011 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
for me, worst case scenario was akin to having a heavy period out my butt.

Also, for me, in general, the only way to stop the bleeding is prednisone. I hate prednisone and I'm desperately trying to stay off it this time, but if it's a choice between prednisone and not leaving the house for 3 weeks, I'll take prednisone.
Posted 12/28/2011 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Also, just to add a note. A very common symptom of UC is "tenesmus" which is the feeling of not having completed a bowel movement. That's inflammation. It's not that you're constipated or that you need to "produce" more feces. So whatever you do, don't push. That will worsen the inflammation and give you hemorrhoids, so if by "I was actually able to produce some small stools" you mean you're straining in any way, stop.

Take a magazine with you into the bathroom and relax and just let happen what will happen. I find it helpful, before I leave the bathroom, to stand up and bend over a couple of times. Sometimes that produces more gas, and it's always good to get that out if you can, but really, the worst thing you can do for yourself is to strain.
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