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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/20/2014 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
I only have about 20-25cm of colitis, diagnosed in November 2013.
I've been on Pentasa (mesalazine) 4g a day since mid November. Since starting treatment the evening of the colonoscopy I had, I've had no blood or mucus and my bowel movements have gone down a lot (on average, from 8 to 2).

But, my weight loss continues. I have lost loads, and although it has slowed down a little (I was losing 2-2.5lb a week and now I am only losing 1.5lb a week) I don't have much more to give up really and my gastroenterolist (who seems really good) said that this much weight loss is unusual in UC. She thinks there must be something else going on but she has done a full MRI of my abdomen and that was clear apart from the small area of colitis. She said that if it wasnt for me being young (32) she would order a full body CT scan, but she is reluctant to expose me to all that radiation.

I am eating plenty of calories; meat, carbs, vegetables, fruit, nuts.

Any ideas what else could be going on?
Posted 1/20/2014 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
I really can't say what is going on with you, but I can tell you my experience. With my last flare, we increased my meds and the D went away, but I continued to lose weight for a couple of months. I started to worry, but my doc didn't seem to be.

I'm thinking it just takes a while for your body to rebound from all of the nutrition you've lost. When you have D all the time, you aren't absorbing any nutrients from your food. Also, the stress it puts on your body takes its toll. I would recommend trying not to worry and just relax. My wait eventually started increasing again and I'm sure yours will too. :)
Posted 1/20/2014 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
How is your energy otherwise? Are you working out or exercising? You're really only having 2 bowel movements a day and you're eating 3-5 meals a day?
Posted 1/20/2014 5:58 PM (GMT 0)

SurfinColitis said...
How is your energy otherwise? Are you working out or exercising? You're really only having 2 bowel movements a day and you're eating 3-5 meals a day?

I have ME/CFS and Lyme disease as well so my energy is very low. But this also means that I do very little activity, so shouldn't need many calories to maintain weight. Before my colitis I was putting on weight consistently because I was taking in more than I was using. I am still eating the same amount.

I'm having on average 2 bowel movements a day eating 3 meals a day.
Posted 1/22/2014 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
I hope somebody can answer this for you, I suspect the ME/CFS and Lyme Disease are components of your problem, and I don't have a strong enough understanding of how those things might affect somebody with UC to give a good opinion on the matter :(
Posted 1/22/2014 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
I am still losing weight, though like you, at a slower pace. I've lost 30 pounds now...and was at the low end of my healthy weight to begin with. I'm underweight and looking sickly. I'm eating lots, pooping mostly normal but continue to lose weight. I don't have answers but...it's more common than your GI thinks I guess.
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