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Posted 9/29/2015 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Everyone!

So I was recently diagnosed with Ulcerative Proctitis. I currently experience constipation, urgency to go, but cant, feels like I'm sitting on a rock most times, etc. My doctor said that my symptoms of constipation could switch at anytime to diarreah. Has this happened to anyone?

Also, I have been taking Canasa for almost three weeks with little relief. My doctor put me on Lialda last week to try and help more. How quickly did you notice relief from these?
Posted 9/29/2015 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
Have you tried adding a soluble fiber like psyllium husk for more consistency? Are you taking any probiotics?
Posted 9/29/2015 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor recommended that I take Citrucel every day. I am only taking one serving a day, maybe I should up that?

I am also taking two Phillips Colon Health probiotics a day. Is there something better for a probiotic?
Posted 9/29/2015 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
How many Lialda are you taking?

I take VSL#3 DS for my probiotic.
Posted 9/29/2015 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
I take Canasa one time at bedtime and Lialda three times a day. I will have to look into the probiotic that you mentioned.
Posted 9/29/2015 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Citrucel is okay, but you could try other fibers like chia, psyllium, flax and see if they work better for you. I think it's very individual.

How's your diet looking like? Wheat and dairy might be causing the constipation, so you could try eliminating those and see if that helps you.
Posted 9/29/2015 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
The reoccurring sensation of needing to empty your bowels (despite not having to poop, or only a tiny bit) is known as tenesmus. It's a common thing with rectal inflammation with ulcerative proctitis. It is reduced and even goes away as rectal inflammation is reduced.

Adding lialda can't hurt you, but it most likely will not reach your rectum. Have steroid foams or suppository been discussed? Those hit the problem area directly and therefore can improve things. It's a temporary thing to see if once the inflammation is reduced it stays so. Sometimes it does, other times you need stronger medications. Rectal inflammation can be really stubborn for some.
Posted 9/29/2015 3:58 PM (GMT 0)

Guardian7 said...
Citrucel is okay, but you could try other fibers like chia, psyllium, flax and see if they work better for you. I think it's very individual.

How's your diet looking like? Wheat and dairy might be causing the constipation, so you could try eliminating those and see if that helps you.

I will definitely look into how I can add those items to my diet and see if they work!

Two weeks ago I started going gluten free. My doctor tested me for Celiacs and the results came back normal. He also recommended that I take Lactaid whenever I eat dairy. I think I am going to continue eating gluten free and add in dairy free as well. I have been eating Activia Greek yogurt and then just taking lactaid tablets when I eat it.
Posted 9/29/2015 4:06 PM (GMT 0)

iPoop said...
The reoccurring sensation of needing to empty your bowels (despite not having to poop, or only a tiny bit) is known as tenesmus. It's a common thing with rectal inflammation with ulcerative proctitis. It is reduced and even goes away as rectal inflammation is reduced.

Adding lialda can't hurt you, but it most likely will not reach your rectum. Have steroid foams or suppository been discussed? Those hit the problem area directly and therefore can improve things. It's a temporary thing to see if once the inflammation is reduced it stays so. Sometimes it does, other times you need stronger medications. Rectal inflammation can be really stubborn for some.

The doctor added in Lialda because I had some inflammation by my small intestines as well as the rectal inflammation. I was on Canasa suppositories for 2 weeks and still wasn't feeling much relief so he wanted to add in the Lialda. He said I should have having a least one normal BM a day which I'm not. So now I am taking Canasa once a day and Lialda 3 times a day. I hope I can start getting some relief soon. I feel miserable with the bloating and not being able to have a BM.
Posted 9/29/2015 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Lialda is designed and supposed to be taken all at once, not three times per day. You should take high CFU and multi-strain probiotics, not store bought yogurt, which probably has one strain only plus some extra indgredients that may not be good for your UC. The Lialda reaches farther up and the Canasa reaches farther down, but enemas reach the middle area so you should be taking them as well.
Posted 9/29/2015 6:42 PM (GMT 0)

lpoehlei said...

Guardian7 said...
Citrucel is okay, but you could try other fibers like chia, psyllium, flax and see if they work better for you. I think it's very individual.

How's your diet looking like? Wheat and dairy might be causing the constipation, so you could try eliminating those and see if that helps you.

I will definitely look into how I can add those items to my diet and see if they work!

Two weeks ago I started going gluten free. My doctor tested me for Celiacs and the results came back normal. He also recommended that I take Lactaid whenever I eat dairy. I think I am going to continue eating gluten free and add in dairy free as well. I have been eating Activia Greek yogurt and then just taking lactaid tablets when I eat it.

Dairy like Activia can be particularly inflammatory if the colon is still patching up. I looked up the ingredients in it and the greek yogurt variety has carageenan in it. That ingredient is a no-no as far as UC is concerned. It is linked to many bowel issues, including UC.

If you do dairy, I would find an organic and sugar-free one. Fage, stoneyfield, Brown Cow all make decent ones without the unnecessary additives. Kefir is even better. Goat kefir is probably the best since the lactose is easily tolerable. You may not even need to take lactaid with goat dairy, as it is very digestible.

Best.
Posted 9/29/2015 7:38 PM (GMT 0)

Guardian7 said...

lpoehlei said...

Guardian7 said...
Citrucel is okay, but you could try other fibers like chia, psyllium, flax and see if they work better for you. I think it's very individual.

How's your diet looking like? Wheat and dairy might be causing the constipation, so you could try eliminating those and see if that helps you.

I will definitely look into how I can add those items to my diet and see if they work!

Two weeks ago I started going gluten free. My doctor tested me for Celiacs and the results came back normal. He also recommended that I take Lactaid whenever I eat dairy. I think I am going to continue eating gluten free and add in dairy free as well. I have been eating Activia Greek yogurt and then just taking lactaid tablets when I eat it.

Dairy like Activia can be particularly inflammatory if the colon is still patching up. I looked up the ingredients in it and the greek yogurt variety has carageenan in it. That ingredient is a no-no as far as UC is concerned. It is linked to many bowel issues, including UC.

If you do dairy, I would find an organic and sugar-free one. Fage, stoneyfield, Brown Cow all make decent ones without the unnecessary additives. Kefir is even better. Goat kefir is probably the best since the lactose is easily tolerable. You may not even need to take lactaid with goat dairy, as it is very digestible.

Best.

That is good to know!! thank you for the information. I just figured that they are helpful with the probiotics and digestive enzymes, etc. I am going cut them out and see how I do without them! So glad I have this forum. I learn so much that I didn't know before!
Posted 9/30/2015 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
My first symptom was constipation. It went on for a year before I began a horrendous flare that lasted for years, complete with the more traditional UC symptoms. It sounds like your doc is on the right track prescribing oral and rectal mesalamines. It takes most UC drugs (except prednisone, the miracle/poison med) at least several weeks to kick in, and even once that happens, it takes your colon longer to heal.

Your doctor will probably want you back in a few months for a flex sig or colonoscopy to see if the inflammation is healing. Unfortunately, finding a script that works is a long trial and error process. In the mean time, keep your doctor posted on your symptoms and notify him every single time they change or worsen. Things that seem unrelated to someone newly diagnosed, like fever, rashes, joint aches, can actually be flare symptoms.
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