Remission Since December

tommytutone

I wonder if adding the psyllium seed powder would help because you are having mild sxs. I know you are doing Metamucil but maybe the seed is softer? I have it here but have yet to try it. Worried it will increase bleeding, but it may help me too. I'm undecided

Peter

I'm confused by your post to InSoFla. Looks like she is just giving her input which is consistant with what worked for her. I guess that is what we all do really. She also stopped putting her long protocol up and has suggested people email her for it. I for one really love anyone who gives me in detail responses even if they are the same. Hope we can all learn from each other :)

Tommy, what did your GI say yesterday at your appointment?

therearemiracles said...
Hi Tommy,

I can't do fiber at all, metamucil is a no no for me! I would just do a very bland diet for a couple of days to see if that helps.

Have you been on probiotics at all during your remission period?

I'm really terrified of anything that I don't know about, and "may" cause symptoms to worsen. The doctor did tell me to add 1 cup of yogurt each morning to my eating schedule. I mentioned the prescription probiotics and he told me that they can be very expensive. Try the yogurt first is what I'm thinking. I did not take any probiotics during my remission, no.

fruitgirl said...
Tommy, what did your GI say yesterday at your appointment?

I asked my doctor about the rectal meds and he shot me right down. He said that since my inflammation was throughout my colon, and rectal meds worked only on the descending colon, they would not benefit me.

From the research I've done I believe I may be experiencing rectal tenesmus. At this stage in my flare the only thing REALLY bothering me is pressure and discomfort in my rectal area - feeling like I need to have a bm, or pass gas, but nothing is produced. Everything else (excluding the blood and mucus) is very manageable at this time.

I'm still really not sure about my doctor. I'm uninsured, so its likely he may be trying everything possible to help me to afford the treatment, or he believes that the regiment he's put me on should work in my case(I can barely afford, and almost not afford, the Asacol atm). I really have no idea how to evaluate him since I've never had to deal with anything like this before. To make matters worse, he is a really kind man and seems to genuinely care about my treatment and well being...

Post Edited (tommy tutone) : 4/25/2012 9:28:37 PM (GMT-6)

My symptoms have progressively gotten worse over the past few days. I upped my Asacol dosage to 800mg 3x a day, up from 400mg 3x a day, and have been following the diet my doc suggested.

I've always wondered in the back of my mind if the Asacol is making my sypmtoms worse at 800mg, or if the flare is just getting worse since I first started noticing symptoms. While taking 400mg 3x a day during remission, I was in good shape. I started to notice the symptoms(slight symptoms at best), saw my doc, upped my dosage, and now I'm in a full on flare, one week after starting the 800mg x 3. I sometimes wonder if the Asacol isn't responsible for the increase in symptoms.

Has anyone else had any experiences like this? Am I right in seeing some kind of connection here?

tommy tutone,

What diet did your doc put you on, specifically?

Also, some people do develop an intolerance to the mesalamines and their symptoms get worse as a result. Could that be at play here?

***?!?! Milk of Magnesia? For a UCer who has diarrhea already? Also, that's a lot of fiber, and fiber can make things worse for some UCers. All it did to me was make me poop larger volumes - it did nothing to slow things down.

You definitely need to switch doctors. If you bring all of your records, including a report from the c-scope, there is no reason to do another one so soon.

My thoughts on the high fiber/milkofmag was to purposely keep the colon emptying to promote healing - this is the only thing I could come up with as to why he would prescribe such a treatment.

I could also be a bit impatient since I've only really been sick a little more than a week now, but I can't help questioning his methods.

Thanks for the replies.

InSoFla said...
Tommy,


High fiber cereal once a day, 4 servings veggies per day, Milk of Magnesia twice a week, Metamucil 2 times a day, 8 x 8 ounce water per day.



IMO, what a recipe for disaster: high fiber cereal, all those veggies + milk of magnesia + metamucil, and on top of it no script for rectal meds?



I would be looking for a new doctor pronto.

I've laid off it for the past 3 days and feel much better, further reinforcing my dislike for my current doctor.

Still taking the Asacol, cut the metamucil, and veggie servings for 3 days and things are taking a turn for the better.

Sad thing is, I've already paid this a-hole way too much money for little to no treatment. Gotta learn somehow, I guess.

quincy said...
Keep the metamucil...which one are you using?

q

I think I agree with this. Since I've stopped it things have been a bit more loose... Starting it again today.

I use the powder.

Yes, the unflavoured metamucil would be better than the flavoured ones....but the capsules are very handy to use/start with.

q

sheilasuperstar said...
but my one of my worst symptoms is my butt pain n pressure and pain right in that area

This, for me, is one of the worst things to deal with. I've been spending so much time in the hot bath and sitting on heating pads its crazy. If it weren't for the rectal discomfort/pain, I would maybe be at about 65% :(

fruitgirl said...
Are you using a flavored one? If so, you might want to get an unflavored one instead, as all the flavored ones have artificial sweetners.

I still think you need to find a GI, or even a GP who will Rx enemas.

Thanks a ton for this tip. I HAVE been using the flavored never knowing it had that artificial sweetener in it.