New comer with question !

Hey guys Im a 22yr old male and was recenetly diagnosed with UC about 4 weeks ago. Im currentley on Prednisone 20mg 2x a day and Asacol 2 pills 3 times a day. So bascailly I feel like im getting better my stool is starting to clump and is becoming less diharrea like but it is sometimes painful to use the restroom and i can see clear water coming out in my stool. What could this be? 

Welcome to the forum Rumdada. I'm glad you're being treated with medications and that they are helping.

Since most UC patients have inflammation in the rectum and sigmoid colon, I think it is important to have rectal meds to treat that area most effectively. The prednisone is a systemic medication and will help relieve inflammation all over your body, but the oral mesalamine will only really treat the colon up to the sigmoid. The rectum and distal colon is only effectively treated with retention enemas or systemic medications.

Prednisone is a very strong medicine that you may need in case of a significant flare. It is not something that you want to take unless you really need it since it has serious side effects. So I advise you to talk to your DR about maintaining your remission with both oral mesalamine and rectal mesalamine.

Some DRs are reluctant to talk about rectal mesalamine. I don't know why; I suspect they find the topic embarrassing, which is ridiculous but I can't think of any other explanation. So if your DR has not brought it up, please ask him/her for rectal mesalamine at your next visit. You should start using it as soon as possible to get to remission even more quickly.

Welcome to the forum. I agree with Kazbern regarding the rectal meds. They could really help with the urgency issues too. If your not seeing your GI for awhile I would put a call in and see about the rectal meds. Have your trips to the bathroom at least decreased even if your still getting up at night? How long have you been on your meds? 4 weeks?

@sherbear46 Yes this will be the 4th week on Prednisone now ( Only been on asacol for 2 weeks) . I seen my GI last week and im not scheduled to see him again until december 14th he wants to do another colonoscopy to confirm its UC and not chromes. I did mention to him at night is when i use the restroom the most he told me its going to take time for the meds to work their course

let's all hope it's not chromes -

another scope ! hmmmmm, that don't seem right - i would certainly ask for clarification - he's telling you to give the meds time but then he wants another look up your hooter ?

i dunno, maybe i'm wrong ------ just ask him -

OK, so if he confirmed it was UC last month it's not going to change with a new scope. Perhaps you misheard him and he just said he'll want to scope you next year or something.

Yeah you definetely don't need another scope. I was diagnosed over 3 years ago and my doctor is just now asking for another scope. Some people do get scoped more frequently but after only a month or two is ridiculous. I would still call and ask for some rectal meds. ASAP Don't wait till the 14th.

Rumdada, didn't they do a biopsy to diagnose you? I don't remember exactly, but I think they sent a biopsy off to a lab to confirm "consistent with UC" for me....

Let's be clear. Your appointment on 12/14 is to see the DR, not to have another scope? If you are not clear on this you should call the office to make sure you understand what you're supposed to be doing on 12/14.

And yes, you should be using rectal meds along with the oral mesalamine and the oral steroid.

One of the great things about this forum is that it gives you an opportunity to compare your treatment plan to a fairly large group of people with the same illness as you. If your DR's program differs significantly from the majority then I think it is an alert to you that either your DR is not following protocol, or your DR is completely outside the parameters of accepted levels of care, or your illness is somehow unique in such a way that alternate procedures are warranted. If I were you I would be concerned that you are scheduled for an invasive procedure without a good understanding of the benefits you might get from it, especially given that others in similar circumstances have not had this kind of treatment.

Scopes always seem to make my symptoms worse... dunno- I was diagnosed almost 15 years ago and only had 2 colonoscopes. (sp?) Ive had several flex sigmoidoscopes (sp?).

Carlie

I'm now a little concerned about this. I did ignore my initial symptoms for a long time before I was in so much pain I went to the ER. They had me on all types of antibiotics and steroids when I was in the hospital for 3 days. They were also considering a blood transfusion but decided I didn't need that. I'm guessing because I was still kind of inflamed they couldn't get a good look? All I know is I am feeling a lot better than I was before I was admitted to the hospital. I use to not have energy for anything and couldn't stomach any food (I lost 30lbs). I just want to try and trust his judgement but I'm glad you all are giving me this input because my goal is to get better and hear from people that are going or have gone through what I have. I also have a doctors appointment with my primary care doctor who I also met in the hospital so he is aware of the condition I shall ask him why on Monday. Also should I bring up the rectal meds to my GI or would my primary be able to prescribe them?

Nope I'm in the USA , you guys are making me wonder if I need to change doctors......