HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

A few Questions about UC

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/24/2013 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnose with UC about 10-12 years ago. My symptoms were cramping, 3-4 bowl movements with some blood. I was given suppositories and used them for a few months until things went back to normal. Occasionally I get a little cramping usually under stressful situations. This typically results in my need to find a restroom in the next 30 minutes. No blood. Almost always in the morning and rarely multiple times a day. I just assumed that was what UC is all about and what we all live with.

My concern is two days ago I had 3-4 bowl movements with some minor blood. It reminded me of the disease and that I should probably see a DR at least for a follow up since it's been almost 10 years. I found this forum and it appears EVERYONE is taking Meds for this disease? Is there any risk of long term effects by not taking any medication? It rarely effects my day to day living. I've never thought twice about taking off hiking or boating and the possibility of needing a bathroom. I also read you need to have a colonoscopy in 10 years cause cancer is a high risk? I have an appointment to see a DR in a month but was hoping to get some questions answered online while I wait.
Posted 1/24/2013 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
John, welcome to the forum.

You should realize that the people who come here are self-selected and are likely to have worse disease than the average UCer. It's great to hear that you've been essentially disease free for all these years, and I'm sorry to hear that you've had a bit of a relapse. I will get ahead of the crowd here and say that yes, you should probably take maintanence meds (perhaps a weekly suppository is enough) even when you're not having bloody stool. And yes, urgency is considered a symptom. And yes, untreated rectal inflammation does raise your life-time risk of cancer in the rectum or sigmoid colon.

It is good that you have an appointment and I think you will be scheduling a colonoscopy just to make sure your disease hasn't changed. I would not panic about cancer - while it is a risk it is not remarkably higher for you than someone without UC, especially since its only been 10 years since your diagnosis. Is there a history of colon cancer in your family?
Posted 1/24/2013 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
So the urgency's are flares? I occasionally will get them in the AM especially if I'm under a lot of stress. Never worried about not making it, usually I can go 30+ minutes. Can you be in remission and have these urgency situations one or two times a month? I rarely have to go more then twice a day ever. 2 days ago I had cramps and went 3-4 times. Freaked me out, especially when i found this website. However yesterday i didn't need to go and today I went once but it was normal.
Posted 1/24/2013 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not aware of any colon cancer in my family.
Posted 1/24/2013 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
You are doing much better than most. It is time for a check up and colonscopy. What you are doing seems to be working pretty well so I would just tweek it a little and maybe do once a week suppositories while in remission and more during times of stress because that seems to be an automatic trigger. Do you have the same UC doc as you did 10 years ago?
Posted 1/24/2013 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
No, I only saw my first doc only a few times that first year. I had no clue what I had except it was some sort of ulcer and I had to take some pills until it went away. Maybe 6 years ago I saw a new DR who replaced the old one. At the time I didn't know why they were bothering me, I was fine and figured it was gone. That is when I learned what exactly it was. Then 2 days ago I called to find out that DR is gone and made the appointment for next month.
Posted 1/24/2013 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
John,

Welcome to the forum.

You got some sound advice.

Definitely get a colonoscopy.

You've handled this disease pretty well in the last 10 years.

My take on this disease is a little different, because I can't tolerate the mesalamines, and refuse to do the biologics.

In my experience, what's worked for me is a combination of diet modification (as in going gluten and dairy free) - basically PALEO, and some supplements: l-glutamine, slippery elm, probiotics, and LDN.

BTW, did you have your blood serum vitamin d3 checked recently?  It might be quite low which is why you may be flaring now?

Are you on any probiotics?

Any special diet?

Anyway, if you are interested,  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.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply