Is Gas a sign of a flare?

I have been in a flare since August and for the last few weeks have been getting significantly better but for the passed few days have been getting terrible pains from gas. Is this a sign of my condition worsening or another step in the healing process. I started using mesalamine enemas and thats what made the difference for me getting better. Are those causing more gas than usual?

     I don't believe gas in itself signifies a flare, however, when you pass mucus with the gas..to me that was a beginning of a flare.

I experienced gas pain and bloating after eating certain foods (carbs, beans, dairy, etc.). Have tried to cut them out of my diet.
I noticed that some of the supplements I'm taking can also cause gas if taken without food or in combination with others.
I think one said it may cause gas when you first start taking it.

I don't really know what constitutes a "flare" unless you mean the appearance of blood.
I know when something I've eaten irritates my colon because of the multiple trips to the bathroom.

When I was flaring I had BM movements about 8-10 a day with blood and mucus. Then I started the mesalamine enemas three weeks ago and within days the blood and mucus went away with only a few BM movements in the morning. Now I have the same symptons as I did last week which was when I was feeling good, then only difference is the gas.

The gas pains are right before a BM movement and are very painful. The only thing that relieves them is going to the bathroom. I get the pains as soon as I wake up and usually after every meal.

I havent changed my diet at all and my usual meals consist of chicken and rice with about five glasses of water throughout the day.

My ulcerative colitis is in the lower rectum so maybe that makes a difference?

I also make sure to squeeze the air out before I do the enemas

I guess it depends what type of gas. If it's gas you can safely release you are doing better. If it's gas you have to hold back, you're doing worse.

That's been the case with me. I'm so happy when I can pass gas without an accident :) Really lifts my spirits during a flare

I have gas, even when I'm in remission, but that's because I also have IBS--it is possible to have that on top of IBD.

You can change the tapering method of pred. It's been suggested by others to alternate.

5,5,5,5,5,5,4,5,4,5,4,5,4,5,4,4,4,4,4,,,,

3,4,3,4,3,4,3,4,3,3,3,3,3,3....

3,2,3,2,3,2,3,2,2,2,2,2,...

2,1,2,1,2,12,2,1,2,1.1.1.1.....

1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0...

The percentage drop at lower dosages should be smaller incriments..but you'll have to discuss it with the doc or put out another question regarding tapering for pred. I've never been on it, but I do know others who have done that method...some who have been on pred for over 5 years, that's a scary thing. but not for UC.

Yes, the mesalamine oral/rectal will be enough...just keep using the enemas nightly until you're off the pred.

When were you put on the pred?

Yes, in part it can be IBS...but not with bleeding. It's a slow process, and for me..I was once on the nightly enemas for 4 months. My doc said..."patience"...OK, I tried hard and it was worth it.

Were you always on the asacol since diagnosis?

When did you start the enemas.

I use dicyclomine antispasmodic...Bentyl in the US. (Bentylol in Canada). I started with 10mg dosage and by about year 17 I upped it to 20mg dosage.

q

Ive been on Prednisone since August and have had my symptons return everytime I got below 10 mg. This time around though Ive been doing the tapering process very slowly using that alternating method.

I've been taking asacal since I was diagnosed. I started the enemas about three weeks ago. Someone mentioned doing a canasa suppository in the morning as well. Should I try that before or after my breakfast?

I think it can be difficult if not impossible to pinpoint the gas's exact cause....it could be the sign of an oncomming flare for you, it could the first signs of lactose intolerance or even IBS....it's good to keep an eye on it and moderate it to see if you start to notice a pattern of something you've possibly changed.

Probably your main clue is the "skinny stool"-- a sign of inflammation, according to my gastro. That would explain your strong mealtime pains that lead to bms. When is your next gastro appointment? It may well be that the Pred taper is causing you a setback and you need a change or supplement to the 5-ASA meds. Have you ever used the steroid retention enemas? As Christine & GidHike commented above, the sure sign of flare gas is when it comes out with mucus, blood, and/or stool. / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

What other meds you can use successfully depends on the extent of your inflammation. If you have pancolitis and flare whenever you taper off Prednisone, then you probably need to discuss immunosuppressants with your gastro. (6-MP, Imuran) If you have inflammation limited to the left colon, the steroid retention enemas might help you to taper off Pred, but patients should not stay on them indefinitely, either, due to known long-term use side effects. (Their main virtue is a strong topical effect that shrinks the swollen inflamed colon tissue. The normal colon is shaped like a tunnel, but that tunnel narrows due to UC inflammation so the bms cannot pass thru easily, which explains why they come out looking "skinny".) Gastros who subspecialize in IBD treatment believe it is safer for patients to take immunosuppressants long-term (with proper monitoring) than it is to stay on steroids for years. So-- if 5-ASA meds alone do not help you achieve remission, that would be the next possible alternative for you to consider. Many UCers do well on a combination of 5-ASA meds with either 6-MP or Imuran. / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)