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Feel so backwards from other UC patients

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Posted 7/27/2012 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
I am really glad to have this forum with people who know what this disease is like, but I feel like backwards from most of you. When I flare, I begin and end with constipation. Diarrhea doesn't come until it gets REALLY bad. Most, people seem to be helped by anti anxiety or anti depressants so that the nerves and stress don't cause flares. But they make me so constipated that I need laxatives and then I start to having mucus. I don't know if it's the meds or the constipation or the laxatives but something keeps causing me to start flaring. And when I flare, I gain weight! Then I take pred and gain more weight that is so hard to get off. Even when I'm healthy I struggle to keep my weight down and am still considered over weight for my size. I feel ssooo much better on the anti anxiety meds and think I really need them but don't know how to stop this cycle. Does anyone else struggle with constipation with this disease other than of course when its an extreme flare? Anyone know or have suggestions of which thing is triggering my flare or how to help it? A better remedy for the constipation? I've tried eating more fiber, taking more fiber, less fiber, drinking salt water and laxatives. Please, any advice or experience could make me feel so much better!
Posted 7/27/2012 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
Have you tried Miralax? I have read a number of posts by people with colonic inertia that find it very helpful. Have you asked your gi?
Posted 7/27/2012 7:09 AM (GMT 0)
So, once again....it's a process of where the inflammation is and the degree of that inflammation . Think of a thermometer, goes up and down.

Starts and ends in the rectum...higher up (when the inflammation goes higher it can cause looser stool/diarrhea. Once that starts to heal, it recedes and once again, formed stool and eventually constipation.

Mixed up messages being sent to the colon..."hold back, I can't deal with too much going through my inflamed butt".

If you're not dealing with the inflammation rectally, adding Miralax will only make it a bit easier to pass things through.  It won't  help the inflammation.

Adding fibre supplements will at least keep the peristalsis happening, it'll fluff the stool making it a bit easier to pass.

Rectal meds...are you on any? if yes, which ones?  If not, please ask your GI.  I would initially suggest the mesalamine retention enemas.
q
Posted 7/27/2012 11:49 AM (GMT 0)
My very first flare started with constipation. I couldn't use the restroom for like a week or so, my belly was very round already. I got some laxative and this is when I got diarrhea which wouldn't stop. I think the constipation was the beginning of the flare already. Aww man I feel sad thinking about this. I just came out of school and I was 17 years old cry
Posted 7/27/2012 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
My circumstances are a little different than yours. I've had Uc for 20 years and I was a "typical" case, diarrhea, bleeding, cramping etc. But about 3 years ago I started experiencing constipation. My GI even seemed confused because that was so unlike me. On occasion I would have to take Miralax so I could go. I was on rectal meds, oral meds, diet modification, tried the no fiber, than high fiber (big mistake). Nothing really seemed to work.

It wasn't until recently that I found out that I have diverticulosis - that is where my constipation was coming from - I have a pocket on the left and one on the right (which is unusual). Now, even tho I am in remission I still have some issues here or there - blips. But my first sign that things are going downhill is constipation. In my opinion, constipation is way worse than diarrhea.

In my case, when C hits I alter my diet and things go back to normal. But I just wanted you to know that, even tho the circumstances are different, I can totally relate to the constipation thing.
Posted 7/27/2012 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
I am similar (currently going on). I was DX this year and am either fighting my second flare or my first one never ended. I have swelling, which I can feel, that does not allow normal bowel movements. Stools are loose but not a lot comes out most of the time.

I am currently on 40 mg of pred (been for a week) and have actually gotten worse. I tried enemas and suppositores and they stay up...just don't work. I am currently waiting to get my Remicade treatment scheduled.

Since i knew i would be working from home today i decided to take Dulcolax and some Miralax to keep things moving (I hate the consitpation feeling). Its working I am just making frequent trips to bathroom; better home than work.

Wish I had more to help with other than I sound very similary to you. Good luck...you are not alone.
Posted 7/27/2012 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
come to think of it, 2 out of 3 of my flares were because of chronic constipation and bleeding. my first doc got me addicted to miralax saying that i could take as much as i wanted. well, i did and it was really hard to get off of it. it literally takes the place of your own colon doing it's job so be very careful if you get a script for it. he also gave me rowasa which did nothing. the only thing that helped me was becoming a vegetarian. that got me regular and i was flare free for 4 years with no meds.
Posted 7/27/2012 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
I have consitpation issues now especially when in a flare but also when I'm in remission. When I first was diagnosed 19 or so years ago, I had the typical diarrhea and bleeding with my first flare and each little flare after that.  Then had 'normal' BMs for the most part when I got into my 10 year remission. But about 3-4 years ago I started getting constipated quite a bit. GI also suggested Miralax which I took but it would take days to work and then when it did I'd be going 5 times/day.  Now that I'm back in a flare I seem to have consitpation even during the flare - my new GI said that is a sign of a flare (colon is so inflamed it can't push stool through).  I now take Metamucil twice a day - he suggested I take more than a teaspoon with each dose so I double that. It seems to be helping.  Eating fiber does nothing for me other than give me horrible gas which just make me feel worse - especially if I'm already bloated from being constipated!
Posted 7/28/2012 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
I don't think you are "backwards" compared to others here on the forum. Many of us have to deal with C at times. It depends on how much water the colon absorbs. When it absorbs little or no water from passing waste, we get D. Then when it absorbs more & more water, we get C. (Also likely if we're perspiring a lot.) The most helpful thing to do, in my experience, is to drink PLAIN water throughout the day. Also, give steamed veggies a try; I found that sweet potato steamed 'til very soft & moist helps get rid of C. Natural yogurt (Brown Cow nonfat vanilla) with ripe banana in a homemade smoothie together with a few blueberries solved a C-problem for me 2 hrs after drinking it. Then I felt fine. Are you still on generic Colazal? / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 7/28/2012 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
I remember reading some studies saying that many UC flares START with constipation.
Got no idea why though!
Posted 7/28/2012 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Described that in my above post. Remember that most people are less affected by constipation than diarrhea....unless there's bleeding attached, many doctors don't even consider it a flare.

q
Posted 7/30/2012 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, thanks so much for all of your replies! I feel better knowing Im not backwards at least. I'm on pred right now for the flare and taking fiber supplements has helped to bulk the stool enough to pass it at least, all be it very little at a time... I think a part of my problem is that I had IBS symptoms that made me "go" usually and when the anti-anxiety meds slowed that down my body just doesn't know how to keep "going". Like people can get dependent on laxatives, I was dependent on IBS. Now I'm hoping and praying after treating this flare I can continue the new meds and not flare again.......Does this sound like a possibility to you?
Posted 7/30/2012 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
And no, I am not taking generic colozal anymore. It wouldn't keep me in remission so I switched to Lialda. And Lialda has kept me symptom free until I tried introducing new meds. Hoping I can get it straightened out!
Posted 7/30/2012 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
What exactly are your new meds? and are you on any rectal meds?

q
Posted 7/30/2012 8:02 AM (GMT 0)
Ive now figured that constipation is a sign things arent great for me. Up until now i always thought constipation was just how things were for me - nothing too bad just very hard and not regular. Now my im more regular than ive ever been.
Posted 7/30/2012 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
I was 20 years old when I was first DXs. I was hospitalized for 6 days because my dr thought it was just a "stomach bug". I can't take any kind of fiber, eat any kind of cereal or eat fruits or veges. And I love them. I think I would like to b in your shoes for a while. I am in a bad flare-up now. I usually take clonazapam for anxiety. The other night I took it and when I woke up I was soooo dizzy I couldn't hold my head up and almost puked 2 or 3 times. My wieght bounces around 10lbs up or down all the time. When I'm in a flare my wieght goes down then because I'm starving, when I get better I pig out. Then of course, I get sick again. It's like a REALLY scary roller coaster ride I can't get off of!! I feel some of your pain.
Posted 8/3/2012 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Update: So, the SSRI's make me feel so much better but even on birth control pills to control the bleeding I still am having crazy periods from them and even while taking prednisone I still am having mucus.....so cannot take them. Now I have to withdraw from the SSRI and get my flare under control. Then I don't know what I will do. Any suggestions? Thinking of trying Wellbutrin since it doesn't affect serotonin but it does have a history of causing break through bleeding and constipation.... Looked into St. Johns Wort and 5-htp for natural serotonin mood enhancers but if its the serotonin causing the flare then it doesn't matter the source of the serotonin does it? I didn't realize that most serotonin is located in the gut until recently, I thought it was a brain chemical so that's interesting. Maybe something that doesn't affect the gut will be better. Still don't know if it is the serotonin or constipation causing flare But I don't feel like it is constipation since I have had small issues with that before with no flare. I really think its the serotonin. What do you think?
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