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Severe colitis-yet constipation?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/22/2013 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
I truly dont get it. Had a flex sig and was told an 8 in section was bleeding with mucous. Why am i getting constipation episodes? Its worse than diarrhea. Will the rectals improve this? Just found out no humira antibodies.

Thanks.
Posted 12/22/2013 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, b/c rectal inflammation will cause constipation. I think it is something to do w/ rectum screwing up signals to the colon and inflammation causing things to slow down. Something like that . However rectals are your best bet for this.
Posted 12/22/2013 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for ur reply. How long until you think i notice a difference?
Posted 12/22/2013 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
That was my first sign of colitis severe constipation. NOTHING would move them but numerous warm water enemas. I really think I made my colitis worse with numerous laxatives
Posted 12/22/2013 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
i get constipation, too. i only go every 2 days lately. my main area of inflammation is around my appendix. i have backwash ileitis, too. all my poop gets stuck there and it can hurt a lot sometimes. i have to take magnesium citrate to keep things flowing. i hate the feeling of rocks in my belly. diarrhea is easier because it all comes out.
Posted 12/22/2013 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
It's hard to say how long it will take. Everyone is different, but I would start w/ the rectals asap.
B
Posted 12/22/2013 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Exactly what bananagirl said. In the latter years of my disease, things slowed down a lot. Sometimes they would seize up altogether, other times I was going several times a day but usually only passing tiny amounts of stool. I went through a period of taking Miralax regularly, because I was terrified of faecal impaction (from previous experience).

Unfortunately none of it was related to my colitis getting better, because it had actually got worse. Although it seems counterintuitive, constipation can be a part of colitis. Sometimes people don't recognise it as such because they're still getting spasms which send them running to the toilet many times a day - but they just pass tiny bits of stool, blood or mucus each time.
Posted 12/23/2013 5:58 AM (GMT 0)
I just feel like its so hard to function either way. Its been so draining on me. The active bleeding and mucous must be making me fatigued? I dont want to rely on laxatives either. Crazy constipation can be a sign of colitis ughh. Im doing the rectals. Is there anything else the doctor can do or prescribe to help?
Thanks for your replies.
Posted 12/27/2013 8:22 AM (GMT 0)
I have had uc for 13 1/2 years now and the majority of the time when I am in an extremely bad flare and in hospital I find my self getting constipated and end up with fecal impaction. I find now I have had it so long all my symptoms change when I am in a flare and once my flare is under control I then get ibs so I am never symptom free which really sucks I go from ibd to ibs back to ibd...
Posted 12/27/2013 10:44 AM (GMT 0)
Kix, I dont know if your up for using natural supplements but flax seed is really good for constipation, I used to add a tbs to my smoothoes or cereal in the morning and by the later part of the day no more constipation, everything would be coming out very smoothly, you can find it at any health food store. I hope the best for you and God bless!
Posted 12/27/2013 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for ur continued replies! Spoke with the doctor on monday. He said i should not be having constipation with the level of colitis he saw. That no doubt severe active inflammation is present. He was thinking maybe some irritable bowel going on ugh i hate when they say that!! Anyway i have to continue with the rectals and call back on monday. I think i have some flax seed i can try!
Posted 12/27/2013 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
I totally agree about the constipation worse than diarrhea...

It doesn't matter what the doc said about your level of inflammation...the fact is that you are having issues. While it could be IBS kicking in, I believe it's the mixed signals from the inflammation that's limited in the rectum, and it's slowing things down. Since he's saying continue the rectal meds...you have inflammation.

I'd suggest adding a fibre supplement (I use Metamucil capsules) but starting slowly one capsule with one meal.

Are you on all the meds in your signature?

This is a bad part of healing...it's also a good indicator of things starting if all has been good for a long while.

Hang tough...this can take a while to get figured out. It was a hard and frustrating part for me many years ago.

q
Posted 12/27/2013 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks quincy! I am on all those meds..ugh. I was taking citrucel at one point because they believed I may have been backed up with all the rectal inflammation. However, on Monday, he suggested I discontinue it since it was making me bloat all night. He said to take miralax if i have any issues-hate miralax. Over Christmas I had an outbreak of those erythema nodosum nods on my legs but the pred seemed to calm them down. I also recently was upped on the imuran to 75mg. They are also considering switching me to vedolizumab when it becomes available but not sure how I feel about it..like if its going to make a difference.
Posted 12/27/2013 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Kix, I can relate to the constipation too. Doesn't make sense, but have had it for months now, and the recent scope shows I am healing on the remicade. Doc says he thinks the constipation is due to hemmies and ibs. He wants me to continue to take Miralax and add prune juice. I think docs say it is ibs when they really do not know what to say. Constipation and occasional bleeding were my primary symptoms before I was diagnosed. I only got the d when I took the Apriso.

What helped me to some degree was a very in depth clean out before the scope - 3 nights of duclolax, 2 days of liquids then the suprep. I still had stool in colon for the scope. I have taken ducolax a few times since scope and the miralax daily. Be careful not to strain and get the hemmies too as these are really really miserable.

I sure do feel bad for you. This disease is very frustrating and it does not seem as if it is the same for any two people or that any two docs view it the same way either. It is just so confusing. Hang in there.
Posted 12/27/2013 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
I am super frustrated. This is not how I pictured life at 24-even though I've been battling since i was 16. I put grad school on hold to take a year off to heal and I seem to be in a rut-both physically and emotionally-haven't registered for and GRE or gotten my recco letters yet. To add insult to injury my disease has seemed to move to my lower colon and rectum? Now this constipation business? I'm supposed to check in with the doctor on Monday, but its like what's the point? Nothing seems to change-like I always improve a little but hit a plateau. Sometimes I think I just need to accept it, realizing things could be a lot worse (i have avoided surgery) and move on with my life. Do you ever feel like this?
Posted 12/28/2013 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Kix  I really feel for you, but you have to keep a good attitude.  A cure or significant relief could be just around the corner. 

At your age I was battling a different (not quite as bad) autoimmune disease- endometriosis.  I went through several surgeries, many painful tests, some potent drugs with terrible side effects - all for some temporary relief from the constant pain (and sometimes constipation or d).  I finally opted for surgery and wished I had done it sooner.  But I did manage to have a really good time and make the best of my life when things were good.

You should be having the time of your life right now, and having a horrible disease such as UC just isn't fair.  The best you can do is cherish the good times you do have and learn as much as possible about this disease so you can control it as much as possible.  You must be pretty special to have dealt with it already for the past 8 years. 

If humira isn't working, then maybe remicade will, or simponi, or the new drug about to come out.   

Posted 12/28/2013 6:03 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the encouragement happyday. I guess sometimes i feel like when it rains it pours. I've always been a hard worker and it pains me at times that something out of my control sometimes holds me back. I tend to compare myself a lot to my peers which is wrong. I did have some bright spots this year including finishing my degree with honors and getting engaged. Hoping 2014 is brighter and better for all!!
Posted 12/28/2013 6:26 AM (GMT 0)
Kix Congratulations on your accomplishments this year - your engagement and your graduation. 2014 has to be brighter for all of us!
Posted 12/28/2013 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
I started getting severe constipation just before September then I developed a rectovaginal fistula (don't know if one has anything to do with the other or if it's just coincidence) regardless, I stared eating pear or apple sauce and drinking prune juice daily (and smoking mj) and the pear and prune juice has helped tremendously with my severe constipation issues, so I'm still eating/drinking them.
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