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Little blood no mucus -is it a flare up?

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Posted 2/28/2018 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi guys,

I'm new to this whole UC thing and wanted to ask you if your flares differ or are they usually the same? I have strange symptoms this time meaning no mucus, formed stools and only a little blood on stool ...can this be a flare? I'll add that I feel really well, all happy, full of energy and optimistic...Sometimes abdominal cramps and rectal pain (kinda as if sb put a needle into my anus). WHat do you think guys.

Thanks,
Tom
Posted 2/28/2018 6:06 AM (GMT 0)
I say yes, but sometimes, it can be from internal hemmies or fissure as stool passes over the area.

Are you on meds?

q
Posted 2/28/2018 7:32 AM (GMT 0)
Could be the start of one, just give your doc a call.. better to catch it early!
Posted 2/28/2018 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
A flare is consistent worsening of your symptoms that persists for a week or more and no two flares are exactly alike (there's nothing at all predictable about an UC). We can have fun-sized flares that last weeks and are easily beat by temporarily increasing our doses, moderate flares that last months and require prednisone, and hell-incarnate flares that take a year or more to beat and involve an escalation to much stronger medications.

You're best to catch a flare early on while it is still a small ember glowing rather than weight until you have a raging inferno. I'd call your gasteroenteroligist, mention your new symptoms and he/she can investigate with some diagnostic tests (FCP stool test, CRP blood test, or endoscopy).

What you're describing is a very mild flare, and it could be an easy one to beat.
Posted 3/1/2018 6:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

Well, it started two weeks ago. I was on holiday and increased the dose of mesalazine to 3grams per day... That's what my doctor advised... I came back home, changed diet and things have been kids improving let's say, meaning little blood and no mucus... On some days there is little blood on stool, on others none... No mucus... Went to GI so he said I should decrease the dose of medicine to 2.5 grams per day... Doesn't make sense to me but what the he'll I'm not a doc. What do you think about this?

Thanks,
Tom
Posted 3/1/2018 7:13 AM (GMT 0)
Ps. How long does it usually take to recover from a mild flare.. I mean I'm taking an increased dose of meds already for two weeks.. Can I continue longer than that really, like a few months. My doc seems to be afraid of me using the meds this long as he always tries to reduce a dose on everything... Maybe that's a good thing, I don't know:/?

Cheers,
Tom
Posted 3/1/2018 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
I would hold at the 3-gram high dosage for 2-months before reducing it. You want to make sure your body is fully healed before reducing the medication, and usually a 2-month window is recommended to make sure it is a deep-healing situation. Mesalazine at 3-grams per day is perfectly safe for long term usage, some stay on that dosage for many years. There's nothing to worry about it.

How long do mild flares last? Highly variable and there's no real answer to that with any accuracy. Could be weeks, a month or two; there's no knowing in advance.
Posted 3/1/2018 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
It IS a flare, not the start of one. Eventually you will recognise symptoms earlier and treat sooner.

Rectal meds.....retention mesalamine asap.

Blood is far from an only determiner of flaring.

q
Posted 3/2/2018 6:13 AM (GMT 0)
Thx a lot Everyone!!! This forum is much more useful than my GI...

Cheers,
Tom
Posted 3/3/2018 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
One last qs;)

I'm planning to take the mesalazine supps (IF I manage to get them here- I live in China and you wont believe but the hospital I go to which is considered one of the best in town has 1 brand of mesalazine only! :/). But, I have a question, how do you take them, meaning dosage bearing in mind 3grams of mesalazine orally I'm already on. I'll ask my doc of course but as I said, he seems to have an approach like, 'OK if mesalazine didn't work for two weeks, let's give you steroid:/'

Thanks for all your help,

Tom
Posted 3/3/2018 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Tom - definitely feel your pain! Most of us have been there/done that trying to figure out what is what. I'm constantly confused as to whether it's a hemmi acting up or a flare coming on. Usually now, at the first sign of blood I start with a hemmi cream. If I feel any discomfort in my colon (usually the descending final part of it) I up my meds (canasa usually) but as everyone has said - no flares are the same.
Posted 3/3/2018 11:13 AM (GMT 0)
I've taken 4.8 grams orally and 8 grams rectally (two, 4.0 gram enemas) of mesalazine/mesalamine for a grand total of 12.8 grams daily. Mesalazine is very difficult to overdose on with UC doses. It's just a topical anti-inflammatory med.

Suppositories often come in 500mgs and 1000mg sizes. I've heard people here using two suppositories a day without issues.
Posted 3/3/2018 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
i was given a steroid (prednisone) along with mesalamine (both oral and rectal)when i was first DX'd - so it's not unheard of - no 2 situations are thee same - my docs approach was to reduce inflammation and symptoms quickly, so i could get back to living and to give the mesalamine a chance to do it's thing -

it really is your decision to make tho - but for now my suggestion would be to stay with the increased mesalazine dose + the rectal meds until you feel ok backing off - steroids you wanna kick to the curb soon - the others, not so much -

good luck -
Posted 3/3/2018 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
My flares have typically been the same but most recently I've had one with no mucus and an absolutely tiny bit of blood. So yes definitely in answer to your first question.
Best way to tell if you are flaring is a calprotectin test - can your hospital or doctor organise this for you?
Posted 3/7/2018 7:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks a lot guys! I am feeling better now... Still taking 3gr per day without repositories for the time being AS in a couple of days i have docs appointment so will tell him about that... Besides i asked in the pharmacies here and they do not have it:/ anyways, no bleeding now no pain just occasional sharp pain in the rectum but it's getting better not worsesmile

Thanks again,
Tom
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