How many of you have extreme urgency!

With treatment, my bowel movements have gone from 20 a day to (on average) 1-4, which is a HUGE improvement. However, I am still having an urgency problem...as soon as I realize that I have to go, I HAVE TO GO!! I've had accidents just trying to make it from my bed to the bathroom (like 10 feet away). I'm on maternity leave right now (bub is 4 mo. old), but when I go back to teaching in August there is no way I will be able to exist in the classroom if my urgency remains this bad.

My diagnosis is pancolitis, but my inflammation is definitely at its worst at my rectum. I take Rowasa enemas every night, and all my meds are listed in my signature. A doc I saw today for a flex sig recommended Canasa suppositories to really deliver meds right to my rectum, and I will start those tomorrow.

For those of you with extreme urgency, what med/supplement seemed to help you the most? I have not tried hydrocortisone enemas or cortifoam, but wondering if that would help...

Also, do any of you take Pepto/Immodium/Lomotil every day to help control symptoms? Does it help?

Ta and thanks,
Lisa

Urgency is the last symptom to subside for me when I'm coming out of a flare. I can't call it "extreme" right now, but it's pretty close, and yet it's basically the only symptom left. Well, stool is still kind of loose, but really not a huge issue. Urgency is, though.

I guess this is not really what you were hoping for, but I feel like, if your experience is like mine and you've seen a lot of improvement recently, the urgency will ease up, too, eventually, and I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll be doing well come August.

Slippery elm bark powder mixed in juice has helped with urgency.
I take it before bedtime mixed with probiotics and I also take it during the day if I know I'm going to eat out.

I have urgency when I am in flare
I have had a flare for a year because I cant take imuran/ 6mp

I am also a teacher and it is NOT an easy job to have with this disease and urgency issues. Canasa suppositories help me as well as anti-anxiety meds when I'm having a really bad morning. Also it will really ease your mind to have a plan of action in place for if/when you ever will have to dash for the bathroom. The teacher next door to me knows of my condition and twice this year I have had to ask her to watch over my class while I "take care of something." I also have a change of clothes with me at all times (for peace of mind--never had to use knock on wood!)

Luckily you have plenty of time to get healthy before going back. Good luck and enjoy your little one!

I have problems with urgency when I am not feeling well. I've had some urgency the past few days and I forgot how awful it is. I was having a convo with someone today and I had to bolt unexpectedly. I don't think anyone noticed but still, it's awkward. I get it very easily and it takes a LONG time to go away.

Yep, never can hold it!!! I had to go so bad and urgent one time that I cut in front of a girl at a bar, slammed my head into the paper towel holder, crapped my pants and had to walk out of the bar smelling like crap! I had the hugest welt on my head, could have knocked myself out! It was so fricken terrible and I pray no one has to go through this ever!

CoLah,

Maybe step up the Rowasa enemas to every other night until you start feeling better???

I wish there was some miracle cure for urgency. It has to be one of the worst symptoms of UC to deal with on a daily basis. It is unpredictable, inconvenient and unnerving! Hang in there :)

Hi Lisa,

I add 1 tbsp of L-glutamine to almond milk first thing in the morning. I prefer the vanilla almond milk but some find it too sweet. After breakfast, around mid-morning, I make a cup of tea. First I add 1 tbsp of chia seeds to the boiling water and stir for 1 minute. This allows the seeds to form a gel. Then I add the tea bag and a spoon of honey and let sit for 5 minutes. You need to stir it occasionally so it does not form one big clump. The chia seeds have omega 3s and fiber.

Recently I just starting taking the L-glutamine with a little bit of water and drinking it like a shot. I am so busy with the kids in the morning that I am able to take it quickly and then get going with the rest of my routine. Some say taking it like this on an empty stomach helps with D. Hope this helps you and keep us posted :)

How is the Psyllium Seed Powder working for you???

Oh, yeah, I can relate to the urgency issues!  When the urgency hits (and it has been this way for YEARS), I cannot make it from bed to bath.  While in graduate school and 45 minutes from home, I left college, stopped at Arbies, left the undies, washed out the jeans, and drove home sitting on a satin coat to prevent the seat from getting too stained, YUK!!!!   Then, while teaching, I ran down the hall only to find the faculty restroom locked. Finally, just went into the student restroom, "a big NO NO," and dribbled all the way; (this happened twice to me AT SCHOOL).  It was hilarious later but not at the time, to think back to that day when the principal walked by and said, "SHEW! God! Who didn't make it?"  He was so surprised to hear a teacher's voice in the student restroom,

 demanding him to get another female teacher to come help.  She brought my purse, and jacket to tie around me, sat with my class till a sub could come, and I drove home that way, AGAIN!  Yeah, the urgency things SUCKS! 

   Contemplating trying the slippery elm and L-Glutamine!  Hope those help!  The canasa suppositories help a little and fiber one helps bulk up the stool creating less urgency on good days.  However, when the flares are the worst, nothing seems to decrease the urgency.