Just want to talk to someone.

Please call your GI and ask for mesalamine retention enemas. They will cover more ground than the suppositories you're using.

Sorry you're having a down day. It's almost the weekend so hopefully things will look up!

A strong second to get on the mesalamine retention enemas asap. Don't waste the time with the suppositories. you can use them in conjunction with the enemas....enemas at night, supps in the day after major bms.

I don't think family and friends get what it's like to have a flare. Even an extremely mild flare has one feeling crappy because the butt is reacting non-stop even when not having bms.

I would also suggest that you ask the doc for an antispasmodic if you're having any gut or butt discomfort. It helps immensely....also can have an effect to help mellow one out a bit.

Call the doc, make your requests. Be proactive in your care...and express urgency in the fact that it's Christmas and you want to at least feel some improvement by then so that it's not a bad ending to the year.

Are you using probiotics as well?

I have a very mild flare at this time, and ticked about it. I also have a small fissure and external hemmie that I've neglected. While I'm dealing with the flare quickly, i'm still neglectful to not putting on external cream. I'm feeling the slight discomfort as a reminder that things are still fussy in there.

It's going to take a few weeks for this to settle down considering the time of year and my attitude about it.

For you...it is what it is, but you do have power to make requests and learn to step up the med regimen so that you can get back to feeling better. It'll take time, it's a learning process...but you will feel better.

If the mesalamine enemas don't make a dent as quickly, ask the doc for steroid suppositories to use during the day as well as the enemas at night.

Hang tough....keep us posted.

Oh, and complain as much as you need, allow yourself the down times....but still move forward.

q

Don't talk to me, I'm in a worse shape than you. Talk to soystud, he don't have any problems. heh


sniff sniff...

I'm sorry to hear that Mad Martha and completely feel for you. The only person who truly understands now is my fiance but prior to that was my late mother. All my other immediate members do not understand the pain and suffering I go through when flaring. For example, my father is trying to encou— force me more or less to get my colon removed because he believes it's a miracle cure. But I have been researching and it's not the best answer for everyone. Some say this surgery can cause cancer, then there's the possibility of the j-pouch and what not swelling, uh.

I'm currently in a mod/severe flare were I experience sharp pain around my belly button, bloody D's and overall crappy moods. Now I might even have a kidney or heart problem because my legs are retaining water. Sometimes I just want to cry but remember, remain positive and it should help a little bit!

(I'm actually going to start juicing tomorrow, have you ever considered this?)

You will retain them they dont come out that easy

Being newly diagnosed, I don't think it's really possible for people who don't have it to understand. I would have known someone was unhappy but never could have recognized what the emotional landscape looked like.

How to deal with that, I don't know. Support groups I guess. Maybe a diary. Inner peace can be an elusive thing to grasp at when there seems to be an obstacle.

I hope you feel better. In some ways I feel lucky to know what it feels like because I simply couldn't have imagined before. Compassion seems easier to come by when I can relate to a problem.

Mad Martha, sorry you're feeling down... and that you don't have more understanding people in your life.

What I can add to this post is that from my almost ten years experience with this disease, it's been much easier to treat a mild flare aggressively than to tame an aggressive flare in any manner.

The nightly enemas will be absorbed as time goes on in the night, the first 5-15 minutes is most difficult to hold them in. I would guess the first hour or so is the most important as far as retaining goes, in regards to effectiveness. If you get the enemas, just do your best with it. Ask your doctor/nurse what to do if you have it happen that you empty out of necessity before the enema is absorbed. Maybe they will say to wait, or to reapply. I'm not sure on that, but just sincerely be assertive with your healthcare professionals that you need treatments that work well, and advice on how to handle them given your situation (kids at night).

Good luck. There are understanding people everywhere in life; I hope you're able to find some in yours.