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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/26/2015 11:59 AM (GMT 0)
I have been flaring for the past 15 months and for the last 2 weeks, things started to improve. I even went to the gym and was able to work out. However, 5 days ago I started feeling really bloated and I attributed it to the increased water I was drinking and (safe) food I was eating. With this in mind, I went to the gym and worked out (including abs) which helped with the bloating.

However, the next day I had frequent, uncontrollable and bloody diarrhea. I chalked this up to going back to my normal routine too fast and not giving my colon a chance to heal. However, the day after and ever since, the symptoms have been different than my normal UC symptoms (which I have had for over 5 years).

For example:
- the lower left quadrant of my abdomen gurgles a lot with gas but no matter how many times I pass gas, it doesn't go away
- the whole of my abdomen (under my ribs) is tender and sore constantly. Doesn't matter if I empty out completely, eat a lot and am full, have passed gas, need to pass gas etc. It has been at the same rate of pain and tenderness for the past 5 days straight and shows no signs of stopping. This has never been a symptom of my UC in the whole 5 years I have had it.
- I pass a LOT of gas. More than I have ever passed before. We're talking litres upon litres despite me avoiding foods and drinks that contribute to gas and drinking lots of water
- Talking of water, I drink around 1 gallon a day and yet my mouth dries up constantly and I feel dehydrated
- When I do go to the toilet, I pass clear mucus (when I normally pass yellow/green mucus) as well as blood sometimes
- My rectum feels raw (which isn't that unusual but it's constantly noticable)
- When I pass stool, after the first few seconds, there feels like something is blocking the exit (not tenesmus)

Does anybody know what this could be? I haven't changed my diet and take Asacol, 6mp, Psyllium Seed Powder, VSL #3 and drink 1-2 mugs of chamomile tea a day which doesn't seem to be helping.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I appreciate any replies.
Posted 5/26/2015 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
You probably have rectal inflammation, which can lead to incomplete defecation and also all the gurgling.

Have you ever used rectal meds? If not, now is the time to start. If you have and stopped, then restart.
Posted 5/26/2015 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with the rectal inflammation as my colon should still be healing from the flare up so inflammation in the rectum will be the last to go. But I am certain that that is not what is causing these symptoms.

I have a new symptom today which is a stabbing pain in the stomach too. Any ideas?
Posted 5/26/2015 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
Rectal inflammation makes my stomach hurt.

If you are confident that your rectum is inflamed then you should get rectal meds and start today.
Posted 5/26/2015 2:04 PM (GMT 0)

kazbern said...
Rectal inflammation makes my stomach hurt.

If you are confident that your rectum is inflamed then you should get rectal meds and start today.



yeah
Posted 5/26/2015 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
I feel your pain with the gas, I've been hit with that terribly for two weeks now. It just keeps coming and coming no matter how much I get out. It comes on suddenly and it smells god awful.
Posted 5/26/2015 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
Ah I hope you feel better blksteeda!

Sorry guys, I forgot to mention I cannot tolerate rectal meds (unfortunately). I wish I could because they sound like a god send :(
Posted 5/26/2015 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
which rectal meds exactly?

q
Posted 5/26/2015 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Mesalamine enemas, prednisone enemas, any liquid or foaming and suppositories. Even when I was getting an enema done before my colonoscopy, I could only hold it in for 2 seconds before I had to rush to the loo (not for lack of trying).
Posted 5/26/2015 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
It's best to take your rectal meds (cortifoam is the only one that's ever worked for me) at at point when you know you're done visiting the toilet (I could only do mine just before bed) that way I knew I'd be able to hold it in longer...as far as your other NEW symptoms, they sound very IBS-like to me, I ended up getting IBS about 12 years in from already having crohn's colitis, I never had the bloating until then...when I was only sick with my crohn's colitis I wasn't any gassier than usual and I never got any bloating until IBS struck me (others are sure to disagree) but that's exactly how my IBS issues arose...I also became lactose intolerant after getting the IBS so my GI tested me for that and it came back positive (I could barely finish doing the blood work test after I drank the lactose drink the lab gave me for that test) knowing for sure that I had lactose intolerance and doing what I needed to get it taken care of did cut down some of the bloating and gas but not all of it, the rest came from the IBS I also developed. Just sharing my experiences.
Posted 5/26/2015 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi pb4, thanks for your input. IBS is an interesting theory. My bloating has gone away now though. Is it possible for IBS to develop overnight?

I'm starting to think that I might have eaten something that disagreed with me and it irritated my already irritated colon. Once I got the diarrhea on the Friday I took Imodium which I think may have kept all the bad bacteria in my colon and given it time to fester. Although, this is just a theory.

My last stool (1 hour ago) was pure dark brown liquid (which smelled as nice as it sounds) followed by mucus and some blood.

What does the liquid state of the stool suggest to you guys? For reference, I haven't eaten any food for the past 24 hours, only liquid.
Posted 5/26/2015 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
sounds like it's time for an anus attitude adjustment :-)

ya, it's not the most natural thing in the world - putting something IN the butt - how many attempts have you made ? did you talk kindly and softly to your holiest of holes before insertion ?

it's especially tough when you're flaring - a lot of times it's ..... a matter of ..... timing - what things have you tried to make his highness happy ?
Posted 5/26/2015 5:27 PM (GMT 0)

gavin92 said...
Hi pb4, thanks for your input. IBS is an interesting theory. My bloating has gone away now though. Is it possible for IBS to develop overnight?

I'm starting to think that I might have eaten something that disagreed with me and it irritated my already irritated colon. Once I got the diarrhea on the Friday I took Imodium which I think may have kept all the bad bacteria in my colon and given it time to fester. Although, this is just a theory.

My last stool (1 hour ago) was pure dark brown liquid (which smelled as nice as it sounds) followed by mucus and some blood.

What does the liquid state of the stool suggest to you guys? For reference, I haven't eaten any food for the past 24 hours, only liquid.

There's no rhyme or reason when it comes to either IBD or IBS, for some people either can hit them right out of the blue and for others, either can sneak on in and wreak havoc. Bowel issues are tough and it's so individual as well so it's really hard to say. I was just sharing how things went for me so you could use as a comparison, I have no idea if you've developed IBS or if it's just the way your UC is starting to flare, since IBD flares can vary for each one.

Liquid state of stool can suggest anything from roaring IBS or IBD or lactose intolerance (I have that as well) to simply eating something that strongly disagrees with your already sensitive system.
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