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Clexane - my wonder drug

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/12/2016 8:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,
Just wanted to share my experience. I've had mild-moderate UC for the past 20 years since the age of 13. Two years ago I suffered a cerebellar stroke and was originally put on the anticoagulant Clexane (enoxaparin) while they started me on warfarin. During that time I noticed that my UC was really good, although it hadn't been too bad previously so I didn't pay much attention, although I noticed it just felt different, quieter. Then another time I was having trouble with my UC and my warfarin was also sub therapeutic so they put me on clexane injections again. Within 3 days I noticed my UC start to improve and then was solid enough that by the time I stopped it I was ok again.
Now about 1 week ago I started to experience a severe flare and went downhill rapidly, from 1-2 day to 10 or so, liquid, pain, having to get up during the night repeatedly to go to the bathroom etc. In desperation, and because warfarin interferes with every UC med I need to escalate to, I managed to convince my haematologist for me to stop the warfarin, start the clexane and then start my UC meds. I started the clexane three days ago while I wait for my UC meds to be made up and it's already started working. I slept right through the night last night, and only went to the bathroom once this morning, liquid but still. And then nothing since then and much less gas this afternoon. I know there are a lot of reports in the literature but it has honestly given me so much hope that this may be another treatment that I can use to turn it around when things get bad.
Posted 9/12/2016 11:31 AM (GMT 0)
That's interesting.
Here's a scientific study about it.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16669959

Since it acts as an anti-coagulant and reduces blood clots and deep vein thrombosis risk (known risks for UC) I wonder if that's why curcumin/turmeric works for my UC. Some mechanism of blood-thinning and anti-inflammation. Since it's an injection it goes into your bloodstream directly bypassing the gut, another interesting question.

What UC meds do you take?
Posted 9/12/2016 12:03 PM (GMT 0)
Well hope it works for you. I did injections for over a year and a half everyday and never had an impact on my disease.
Posted 9/12/2016 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
Oh that's a shame Duffle, I did see that in the small trials though that it seemed to be you either responded or didn't, I guess like most things with this infuriating disease.
Imagardener2, I have read into clexane a fair bit and it's also been hypothesized that it has an effect on the inflammatory cascade and also serves to strengthen gut barrier function. But truth be told I have no idea!
I usually manage my illness with mezavant (mesalazine), a powder probiotic called Entralive and VSL#3, although I still experience periods of being symptomatic, and then quite bad flares about twice a year or so which I have trouble managing as I can't take steroids and am extremely intolerant to mezavant. I used to do fecal transplants and they were the best thing I've ever tried but I lost my donor a while ago and haven't been able to find a suitable one. I also suffered a stroke two years ago after a HPI with a new donor and so it's made me scared to go there again. However, I've been having a quite bad flare for the past week or so and I was getting desperate so convinced my doctor after noticing the effect last time.
Posted 9/12/2016 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
Are you intolerant to mesalamine enemas also? Because they don't go through your gut and are topical on the inflamed area you might give them a try. I use them when things flare up although others use them weekly because there is no real limit to how often they can be used. Way better than suppositories in my opinion.

And since you've responded to clexane you might consider giving 95% curcumin/turmeric a try. Clinical studies show benefit for UC inflammation. My gut does not like the 95% curcumin type with pepper (piperine) but others here do well with it.
Posted 9/12/2016 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
I wish I had a good response to rectals as I know a lot of people swear by them on here but they seem to make things worse for me if anything. If my symptoms are bleeding and mucus they also add liquid diarrhea to the mix which just seems to send me further down hill and my frequency increases to about 10 per day. I'm trying the suppositories at the moment but to be honest they don't seem to be doing a thing, if anything they seem to upset it all a bit more.
Posted 9/12/2016 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
I'be also ordered some Nestle Modulun which I'm going to try. I stumbled upon that the other night during my research as I'd never heard of it before and some people seemed to swear by it, others couldn't tolerate it so we'll see which group I'm in. I would really like to get another donor sorted so I can have the fecal transplants again, so nice to know you have something that can turn you around easily when it gets like this and then I can store them in the freezer so I always have them on hand.
Posted 9/13/2016 7:12 AM (GMT 0)
WorriedUCer My son, while flaring did worse (seemingly) on the enemas. Once things cleared up, they seem to be keeping him in remission?? Hope.
Posted 9/13/2016 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi momhelping, thanks for the info and that's good to know. Although I would really love something that could pull me out of a flare. Seems I may have spoken too soon about the clexane, had an amazing day yesterday and thought if I improved the same way again today I'd be well on my way, but I've slid back downhill today although it was my first day back at work so that may have contributed.
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