How long does it take you to have a formed stool after a flare NO MEDS

Curious how long it takes you guys to pass normal stools again after a stool if you're not on medications.

Whether or not you are taking meds doesnt affect the consistency of stool; its simply the inflammation status that matters. But not being on meds will mean itll take longer for you to heal and that you will flare again sooner and that the stubbornness and severity of the disease will increase.

If you are even considering not being on meds, your disease up until this point obviously isint very bad or stubborn. As someone with a very very stubborn case of UC (5.5 years and never seen improvement let alone remission), I HIGHLY recommend you dont take the "simplicity" of your case for granted....

I highly recommend getting on uc medications.

hah, i wouldn't ever have a formed stool with out medicine.

From the time my UC started rearing its ugly head in 2001 until I got my second dose of Remicade in 2006 I never had a formed stool. If I'm more than a week late for my remi my stools start losing their form.

UC is a chronic disease and needs chronic treatment; without it your colon is becoming progressively inflamed and damaged, possibly leading to much more serious problems.

you don't.

mcfarl73 said...
Yeah I'm confused. Do you mean no meds like no prednisone or no meds like absolutely nothing? Because most of us are on meds for the rest of our lives. Even if you're not flaring it's important to use maintenance meds. I can tell you if I went off remicade right now I'd never have a formed stool again.

I meant like no meds except for say over the counter probiotics or and maybe maybe some fiber supplement. I'm still being investigated. No colonoscopy as of yet. I'll have a day maybe two of loose stool, but not full on diarrhea, where I'll have 3-4 BM, but then for the next 2-3 weeks Ill get normal stools or just be constipated. So I was wondering if other people experience this as well. I don't get any bleeding either. My symptoms are very confusing.

mcfarl73 said...
That sounds more like IBS to me. Or could be some sort of intolerance to a food you're eating that you don't realize. I'd start a food journal and see. Most people with UC don't just have a day or 2 of symptoms that go away on their own. At least no one I've heard. Most people have symptoms for weeks, months, or even years that only go away with medication, if it goes away at all. Talk to your doctor for sure.

Thanks for replying. It definitely seems like seems to "flare" with certain foods, or stress, and then go away after 3-4 days. After which i'll be okay for a week or two. At the moment I'm doing the fodmap diet, but im getting tired of not being able to have veggies. Even veggie juice seems to flare it at the moment which is odd.

DMC2011 said...
5.5years?? How the heck do you deal Marauder? That's so long.

:-(

Not easily believe me. But apparently there are people on here who have been in flares even longer than I. That being said, Im not sure if they are in bad flares >7-8 BMs/day or if they are mostly under control with only minimal side effects for that amount of time, but regardless it is a long time to be dealing with any of it.

But its because of this that it makes me angry to hear about people taking their disease too lightly and thinking they can get away without meds. I want to let the new people know how stubborn this disease can get and that they need to deal with it properly before it becomes unmanageable.

badgenome said...
I'm still being investigated. No colonoscopy as of yet.

Any plans to see a gastroenterologist specialist and have tests done? I am not sure you have ulcerative colitis at this point. If you have occasional loose stools, then try adding some fiber like Metamucil to your diet. It might provide more consistent bms for you.

iPoop said...

badgenome said...
I'm still being investigated. No colonoscopy as of yet.

Any plans to see a gastroenterologist specialist and have tests done? I am not sure you have ulcerative colitis at this point. If you have occasional loose stools, then try adding some fiber like Metamucil to your diet. It might provide more consistent bms for you.

Yes if course. I have a regular gastro, but I'm in canada and without the regular warning signs like blood it will be a while till I see him. I was diagnosed with IBS before, but just in the last 2 months my symptoms have changed from IBS C to more D and more pain/cramping/tiredness which is why i am concerned. Sorry if I'm asking silly questions on here just trying to learn as much as possible before the appointment that way I'll know what to ask the doc if I do have colitis.

mcfarl73 said...
Some people have both kinds of IBS. A lot of people tend to just have one or the other, but there are people who go between the 2. Just because yours has changed doesn't mean you have a new disease. Honestly I wouldn't be too concerned, especially since you've already been diagnosed with IBS. I'd check the IBS forum on here, they might be able to help you as well.

Thanks for the input, you guys have been pretty awesome. You're all so helpful and nice.