Curious what is you GI point of view on oral 5-ASA

Some have read my previous post about my trying to get a RX for oral 5-ASA.

Any of you have GI that does not seem inclined to prescribe oral 5-ASA when the inflammation is mostly located lower ( rectal-sigmoide) ?

My inflammation is rectal sigmoide and sometimes only at the beginning of the descendent colon.

I know people wit only procticis that have oral 5-ASA ?

There are many GI's who don't use oral 5ASA's when your known problems are not up high enough where those meds release, but, many GI's do. Personally, it is my opinion that GI's make a mistake by not giving the oral mesalamines in these cases because UC usually effects the whole colon at some point and you want to be pro-active in treatment rather than reactive. By the time you react to something you have already failed to stop the disease in it's tracks and it has already gotten a head start. Damage to the colon does not heal easily so you want to stop it from happening before it happens instead of waiting until afterward. I can't tell you how many people have posted here who had UC Proctitus and were not treated by their GI's with oral mesalamines and then wound up having further damage because the disease was not cut off at the pass and are then treating Pancolits because the UC had spread. If I remember your case correctly from the other thread, it sounds to me like yours has spread up further and you need to get on the oral meds ASAP before the damage gets worse. If I were your GI I would put you on those meds now as they are extremely safe and then scope you on the next appointment.

Gary hit the nail right on the head. They certainly wont hurt you and will probably help slow the spread of the disease, in addition to helping prevent colon cancer.

That information will help me when speaking with my GI next Tuesday. I work with a girl and her husband is being treated only for procticis and he has supositiries and oral 5-ASA. He does not even have enmas but he has oral meds. His GI is from the same hospital as mine. So I guest even in one single place you may have different ways of seeing UC treatment approaches.

Now it is clear it is more a matter of point of view. I will tell mine I get she sees things one way and it is correct but in my point of view I prefer the other approche for treating UC. Well I'm the patient and it should be up to me. I am not requesting something that is unusual or controversial here.

I've used only 5ASA oral/rectal for 26 years. So, I'd say my original GI for 26 years has an obvious view of it as well as my new GI. But, I've had no problems with it and have learned to use it effectively.

q

Gary is right on. I have proctosigmoiditis and my GI gave me oral lialda and rectal mesalamine enemas. She said the oral were to "keep it where it is."