started meds. how long til they work

if you are doing worse, it could be your meds. i got much worse on mesalamine medications. also, colonoscopies mess up your gut in general so it could just be from that.

if you are having more frequent stools and loose, adding fiber is the opposite of what you want to do. typically, low fiber is best.

I thought it could be the colonoscopy.if it is from that how long before symptoms subside usually?

Thank you, I will put a call out to the Dr. tomorrow. this forum has been a God send. I have no one to talk with about any of this.
Seems alot of you are on the VSL#3 is this probiotic better than the ones you get from health food stores or over the counter? Also, if the addition of supplements makes the difference why would anyone stay on meds. that all have side effects?

Thanks cita. I feel like i am missing something here. My Dr. has not told me much at all. in fact when I called the office after picking up my meds to ask questions. The nurse answered for him. I asked about a followup appt. and was told he would be sending me a letter in 10 to 14 days with the biopsy results and it would say in the letter when he wanted to see me. Just feels like if you give someone this news and meds while still out of it from the colonoscopy you would have them come in. Feels like a real disconnect. Has anyone else felt this way?
I also have a husband who was there when told this and he has not said a word. In fact he gets angry that I am crying and concerned about in his words. NoThing to worry about. How do you explain this disease to family?

Thank you so much Cita,
You have helped me alot. I was thinking I needed a second opinion even though this group is suppose to be tops. I did not know if I could go somewhere else without the results. And felt like i was not giving him a chance. But as my head clears I realize this is about me and not him. Just do not want to make another bad decision.I was feeling I needed someone who listened to me and would connect. Which is funny since the reason I went to a GI is 6 months ago when I went to my primary for this. She sent me for blood work and a mammogram! So I took matters into my own hands and after research found him. he seemed easy to talk to and concerned as he had me in for the colonscopy in 2 days. Was hoping I had found the right doc. However, the place I had the procedure felt like a assembly line.

I switched from my first GI to the one I'm seeing now, even though they are in the same office.
I had to be pushy to get a second opinion but it was worth it to get a better doc.

My first one did a sigmoidoscopy, told me I had UC without explaining what that meant AT ALL and told me what pills he'd be prescribing me.

I have no idea what UC is, so I'm thinking pills like a course of antibiotics or something and he basically laughed at me. Told him I was going to do some research before I started taking anything. He never said a thing about it being a life long disease and just let me go on my way.

Fortunately I have a friend who has UC as well as crohn's and the first thing she said was to get a 2nd opinion.
If this is something we have to deal with for many years to come, we need a great doc who is on your team and who can communicate and is open to all of your questions.

I'm on the big island, so my choice is limited to 3 docs, all who are in the same practice. Good thing the second one is good! We (over here) always think of Oahu as having better docs in general, but you never know!

Some people "get it" with this disease, or at least make an effort to, and other people just never will.
We had some friends who, before they moved away, were practically family. Yet they would constantly suggest we meet somewhere to hang out, have lunch etc. at places with no toilet anywhere in the vicinity. Seriously? I have to remind you about the necessity of a bathroom again??

I don't know what I would do if I couldn't talk to my DH about it, though. That would be tough.

Prayerful,
YOU have inspired me. Woke up this morning and the UC is the worst it's been in months...now lots of blood with clots. My husband and I had a big discussion about this last night. He's not happy with my doc either. He recommended a doc in Chicago (we live in the suburbs) that he went to 20 years ago..a brilliant doc with a wonderful bedside manner. Well, our talk + your posts inspired me. I just got off the phone and have an appt with him next Monday! I then called my old GI and I am going over this morning to sign a release and get all of my medical records. That simple. I was in shock. I am going to do more to get better!

Hekela helped too! She's right...this is a journey and we must be satisfied with our care giver. I am going to spend this week combing over this sight to articulate questions for my doc....a lot about medication but many about diet, etc. My old doc only said, "Avoid spicy food, eat bland chicken". Really, that's all she's got? I HAD TO ASK about PROBIOTICS! She just wanted to put me on Imuran right away. Now, maybe I'll have to..but not unless I've exhausted all other remedies! I will ask the new doc about natural remedies too!

Anyway, off to the old doc to get my records! Try and have a great day! Thanks to all of you for helping me ...it isn't about the doc's feelings (that's what my husband didn't get..she's really nice and I feel comfortable with her scoping my butt)..and my husband kept saying, "but she doesn't listen to you, she's too fast to put you on really serious drugs. Why are you such a lioness about our kids' health and not yours'"? So, I am going to practice what I preach and get the 2nd opinion. Prayerful, I hope you do too!!

Julie,

As far as finding a good doc, how about checking with the CCFA and seeing as to recommendations they might make?

Many doctors unfortunately don't believe in the diet-disease connection.

My GI told me I could eat whatever I wanted as long as it wasn't spicy, ha.

He also told me he didn't believe in probiotics, but agreed to giving them to me (after some pleading on my part).

But I have to share with you that I have found many things to be very helpful:

1) probiotics - VSL #3 is great, but if you can get your doc to write you script for VSL #3DS it might be covered by your insurance with a small copay

2) has your doc checked your vit. d3 levels? I bet they are low

3) supplements that are very helpful: L-Glutamine amino acid powder, slippery elm powder

4) diet modification - especially gluten and dairy free - can make a huge difference for many of us

5) start a food journal

6) are you on any rectal meds?

There are things IMO that you can control, which will have a direct impact on your disease, the symptoms you experience and their severity.

I was able to control my UC into remission through various supplements, probiotics, diet modification, and LDN , low dose naltrexone.

For more info on the protocol which has put me into remission, please go to this link: https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1666318 , and look at the 11th post.

I hope you feel better and let us know how we can help you.

IMO, you should definitely have a blood serum on vit. d3 done.

There's a strong correlation between low vit. d 3 and IBD.

No, it's not the usual. But doctors come in all sizes and shapes,haha.

As far as the bleeding is concerned, I was bleeding for a good 1 1/2 years before getting it under control. And my saving grace was LDN, low dose naltrexone (cheap and virtually no side effects).

I would recommend you look into it.

Let me know how else I can help you.