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How much pain is normal

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/1/2012 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Im about 4 days into the worst flare I have ever experienced.  I have the worst gas buildup pain which is causing major body aches.  I've been hunched over since it started and cannot stand straight.  My stomach hurts with even the slightest touch.  Then there is there is the rectal bleeding, mucus, diarrhea.  The list goes on.  I called the on call GI doctor this weekend and was prescribed steriods, so im only on day two of them.  I guess my question is...do i just wait this out, go to the er, etc....Is this type of pain normal for bad flares??  I've had uc for 5 years now, but have never experienced it this bad.  Any advice/input would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

Im currently taking 2 Lialda 1 day

Canasa nightly

Probiotics

Apple Cider vinegar + honey

*Started steriods(Prednisone) 2 days ago.

 

Posted 4/1/2012 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
i get really bad cramps everytime i flare. a heating pad can help as well as deep breathing. i put my thumb on one nostril, mouth closed, and breathe in through that nostril then exhale through the opposite nostril while pressing my pointer finger on the nostril.
Posted 4/1/2012 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
An antispasmodic can help, as well as some food choices you make to lessen gas/cramping and discomfort.

What exactly are your symptoms of this flare?

Where exactly is your UC located...limited or throughout?

Why are you not on retention enemas instead of just Canasa?

Welcome to the forum.
q
Posted 4/1/2012 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for your responses! Im very new to this b/c, to be honest although I was diagnosed with UC, it was always very mild. I'd have a little blood and mucus in my stools from time to time but that was it. I stopped eating gluten and seemed to be doing just fine. 4 days ago I suffered a miscarriage. Im not sure if it's the stress of it or the hormones but, in addition to that, I started this huge flare. I guess im just curious if this type of pain seems normal to you guys. I really had no idea UC could be this bad. Only after reading though the forums am I seeing that this can all be very norm-the aches pains all over, diarreah, the pressure from gas, urgency to use the bathroom, so much blood, pain to touch my stomach, cramps, etc.... I didnt know if i needed to run to the ER but after reading others stories, I guess this is what it really feels like.

Im so sorry that this disease is so awful for so many. I really had no idea. Thank you for the drug/medicine recommendations. I will be sure to ask my doctor tomorrow. Monday really cant come soon enough.
Posted 4/1/2012 8:46 PM (GMT 0)

JessLaw said...
Im about 4 days into the worst flare I have ever experienced. I have the worst gas buildup pain which is causing major body aches. I've been hunched over since it started and cannot stand straight. My stomach hurts with even the slightest touch. Then there is there is the rectal bleeding, mucus, diarrhea. The list goes on. I called the on call GI doctor this weekend and was prescribed steriods, so im only on day two of them. I guess my question is...do i just wait this out, go to the er, etc....Is this type of pain normal for bad flares?? I've had uc for 5 years now, but have never experienced it this bad. Any advice/input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Im currently taking 2 Lialda 1 day
Canasa nightly
Probiotics
Apple Cider vinegar + honey

*Started steriods(Prednisone) 2 days ago.

What kind of probiotics are you on? You may want to think about putting cleanses/detoxes on hold while you're in the middle of a flare. I went htrough the same 15 days of hell pre-diagnosis and meds, the only thing that saved me during the worst flares of pain was Forever Aloe Vera Juice, the minute I took a 1ozshot glass of the stuff it stopped the spasms and stomach pain enough to go back to sleep, I really recommend it during the middle of a flare.

Think about getting some loose leaf herbs like Slippery Elm, which coats the stomach and can restore that mucus lining. L-Glutamine supplements are really really helpful during a flare also, as a natural amino acid that rebuilds muscle tissue and again coats the stomach, could help you out!
Posted 4/1/2012 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, Thank you! I went and bought everything you mentioned. Hope it eases some discomfort here!
Posted 4/1/2012 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
JessLaw, I'm so sorry to hear about your miscarriage. Those of us who've been pregnant with IBD have experienced the post-partum flare, so perhaps that's what's happening to you, too. Certainly the end of a pregnancy involves a very complicated set of changes in your body. I hope that as your hormones normalize your flare will be easier to resolve.
Posted 4/2/2012 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
peptobismol helped me get through some real bad cramps in my last flare. I take the dose on the bottle every 6-8 hours. The steroid enemas and oral should help you in the next couple of days. Feel better!
Posted 4/2/2012 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear about your miscarriage. It can be a very stressful time in your life. I also had a UC flare after a miscarriage. Almost all of my flares have been related to pregnancy, breastfeeding or miscarriage. I have 2 wonderful kids now and I breastfed them both. I hope that you are getting emotional support for the loss of your pregnancy. I remember it was a difficult time for myself and my husband. We both grieved very differently over the loss. When your hormones readjust you may start to feel better.

After I had the miscarriage and D&C I had painful gas and bloating and could not have my stomach examined. I went to the ER because the pain was so bad. When they heard I had UC and had a D&C from the miscarriage they immediately starting investigating whether I had a fistula. I had really great insurance at the time so I ended up having 2 pelvic examinations, an ultrasound and a barium enema. After all of that they sent me home still in pain with no meds. I finally took some Gas-X and almost immediately felt better! I saw my GI a few days later and started on some rectal meds.

Hope your flare clears up quickly.
Posted 4/2/2012 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Do you have a treadmill at home? I find if I can move around a little bit it can make the gas go and lesson the pain.
If you don't maybe try walking around your yard for a bit and see if that helps.

I'm sorry for your loss too.
Paula
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