Starting to think I don't have UC...

I know the term UC is fairly broad, but it seems like most are dealing with diarrhea, which I honestly wish I had at times.

For as long as I've had UC-type symptoms and a UC diagnosis from my GI doc, I have had either constipation or immense pain when trying to pass stools. The stool itself is a normal consistency, but (and I hate to be graphic here) it's like trying to push ground beef through a straw. It is obvious that my lower colon is narrower in diameter than it should be, which causes issues like straining, tenesmus, and post-BM feelings of chills and malaise.

Earlier this year I had a very bad upper respiratory infection, for which I was prescribed 3 different sets of antibiotics for a month duration. The last of the antibiotics was 800mg of Augmentin. After this series of ABs, my UC more or less with into remission. I was passing large, (sorry to be graphic again) "fluffy" stools that were thick in diameter and each BM was very complete. I cannot describe how wonderful it felt to really "clean house" and to only have to do it 1-2 times a day. There were no post-BM problems, either.

Yet, when I don't take my Lialda regularly (1.2g x 3 pills daily), I get cramping in the colon and just feel pretty much "raw" inside. I still have mucus in the stool and urgency.

For a while, Canasa was working but now seems to have no effect.

I want to tell my doctor I want to be better than I currently am, but it seems like any treatment I go on only works temporarily at best.

Dinky, have you ever had a painful/bloody flare? Ex: Pain, Blood, unformed bowels, mucus, 10-15 bm's a day?

From what you provided, it sounds like extreme constipation. How were you diagnosed? Colonoscopy? Is this how a doctor determined you needed meds?

The best advice is probably to make sure you're drinking eight 8oz glasses of water a day, not to be counted as coffee, soda or sports drink intake either. I would add insoluble fiber too.

Sources of insoluble fiber: whole wheat, whole grains, wheat bran, corn bran, seeds, nuts, barley, couscous, brown rice, bulgur, zucchini, celery, broccoli, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, green beans, dark leafy vegetables, raisins, grapes, fruit, and root vegetable skins.

www.webmd.com/diet/fiber-health-benefits-11/insoluble-soluble-fiber

But its important to be careful with fiber, it can act like scrub brush among your already inflamed intestines, if you consume too much.