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Posted Today 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
Me again ... hoping for some insight whilst I await my nurses reply ..

I have noticed over this past week or so that I will pass a normal poop, but alongside it will be some small flat pieces also.

This is not normal for me from what I’ve looked at... and I’ve seriously looked at a lot of poop this year.

Is this inflammation arising. Getting worse.
I feel generally well, I have some left sided pain occasionally which I can only describe as a stitch like feeling.
Also I have had one or two episodes of tensmus. No urgency or diarrhea or blood.

I’m booked for an mri next week just to have a peak at the small instentines.
Will they be able to see anything sinister going on else where doing this?

Still taking salofalk granules daily, alongside 1g suppositories

Thanks for any input or advice

Kate
Posted Today 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Flat stool can definitely be a sign of inflammation, but I think it can also be general IBS. I've had flat stools occasionally through my remission, and its been going on a while. Tell your GI about it, though. If you get your yearly colonoscopy they can catch inflammation hopefully before it becomes a "symptomatic flare."
Posted 11/30/2018 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
How many times a day are you going?

q
Posted 11/30/2018 7:40 AM (GMT 0)
Just going once or twice a day @quincy.

Thank you Sam for your reply!
Posted 11/30/2018 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Flattened, skinny, pencil stools are usually a sign of rectal inflammation and an UC flare. Hit it with rectal medications, like mesalamine enemas.
Posted 11/30/2018 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
The nurse has sent me a sample pot to do before she will give me anything else or up my current dosage.
Hopefully that will get done quickly.
I will request enemas.
Can I do this alongside suppositories?
Or no point in both?

Thank
Posted 11/30/2018 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
Posters here have done both, some have done only one or the other. If you do both, separate the administering a while apart, for example enemas before bed and suppository in the mornings.
Enemas are typically 4,000 mg dosages. Suppositories are 500mg or 1,000mg dosages. So you are talking a much more potent medication with the enemas. Enemas treat the whole left-side, whereas suppositories just treat the rectum.
Posted 11/30/2018 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
I need enemas by the sounds of them! Thanks for all the answers as usual.
I’m hoping this doesn’t turn into anything I can’t get a hold of 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Posted 11/30/2018 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
How long were you on supps?
q
Posted 11/30/2018 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
Been on supps since March.. I’ve recently had to change brand due to some being discontinued. Which was a shame as I was getting along great with them.
Been on oral and supps combined since July I think.
Maybe it was the change in meds? Who knows 🤦🏼‍♀️
Posted 12/1/2018 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
Has the doc taken a look-see? If not, I suggest you request it. Sometimes a protrusion such as a large hemmie or hemmies will cause that.

I think you aren't on enough dosage of rectal meds.

q
Posted 12/1/2018 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
No and annoyingly I saw her about 3-4 weeks ago. I’m sure it would take a while to try and see her again but I will ask if I need to.

I suspect it could be a hemmie also as I’ve since passed normal looking stools with normal edges.

I will do the sample, go from there.
I would like to have some enemas to hand so I will request those and see how I go.

Can I ask do the ememas change the consistency of your first bm of the day (assuming you do it the evening before?)
Some days my first movement is softer than normal. And wondered whether it was the rectal meds?
Thanks very much for responding. I really value your opinion
Posted 12/1/2018 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, sometimes.....but I never see that as an issue....ever.

Food and intestinal activity will change consistency as well.

q
Posted 12/1/2018 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
I think this is a problem I have. I’ve been looking at the consistency to much.
And unless I have a perfect shaped and formed stool I assume something has gone wrong.

Although I do think this time something is brewing. But we’ll see.

But I must remember that the meds will change this now. I wouldn’t ever stop using my meds just for that reason: still figuring out my normal I think 👍🏻
Posted 12/2/2018 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
my usual response to most situations in life is more cowbell - but in this case, quincy is right - more rectal meds -
Posted 12/2/2018 8:00 AM (GMT 0)
Ha ha, not sure what cowbell is so I’ll have to try extra rectal meds for now anyway 😂
Posted 12/2/2018 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
More cowbell means more excitement or enthusiasm, I believe. While the rectal meds aren't in that category, they should be used, even though not exciting.
However.....the result could bring excitement in "the end"

q
Posted 12/2/2018 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
I’ve never heard such a saying!
I like it.. I may try and use it over here in the uk and confuse people much like myself.

It’s going to be a week or so before I can get any extra rectal meds such as enemas.
And that’s assuming my calprotectin levels are raised (which I think they will be)
If they aren’t they won’t give me anything extra. But I will beg and moan a fair bit so I’ll see what I can do.

In the interim do you think it would be of any benefit to use a suppositorie in the evening and in the morning?
Maybe that will give me some cowbell sooner rather than later ... feeling pretty cheesed off today for unknown reasons
Posted 12/2/2018 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
It's an expression from an old Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketch. It's on YouTube if you care to search (snl more cowbell). USA popculture from 20-ish years (or more) ago. A sketch of a classic song being recorded in studio and the producer keeps walking in repeatedly asking for more cow bell, until that's all you can hear (it overpowers all other instrumentals). Not my fav.
Posted 12/6/2018 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
So my calprotectin is really normal at 17 :-/

And I guess it is in line with symptoms to a degree..

They won’t give me enemas until mri results are back as they seemingly think I’m doing well on suppositories and granules daily.... huffff

Could these symptoms be ibs related and not really to do with my UC right now?

I would say I’m mildly constipated which is new for me. Usually a once or twice a day kind of girl. But struggling to go once these past few days
Haven’t changed my diet massively although I’m particularly rubbish at drinking fluids...

Any tips!??

Thanks

Post Edited (kloz31) : 12/6/2018 10:21:55 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/6/2018 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
I would say about 80% of the time I have flat stools. But I also have a jpouch. I think that's common for jpouchers. But don't think it's common for colon people's.
Posted 12/6/2018 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
I know very little of calprotectin levels, and I have read from others that it won't be able to pick up inflammation in the rectum...or mild inflammation for that matter. While many praise its use, its a lazy diagnostic in my perspective. It's not their money or their ass ffs.

Regarding not giving you an rx for enemas....that's being negligent and lazy. At the very LEAST.....one supp twice a day.

Keep us updated on the MRI.

q
Posted 12/6/2018 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
It's only IBS if endoscopy confirms there is no inflammation.
Posted 12/6/2018 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Ok thanks guys.

My calprotectin was over 600 when I first got diagnosed.
Then it when down and down since.

But I know I have/had active inflammation in at least the distal proportion of my colon in June.., with the same if not less symptoms than I currently have now.

Hence why I’m a bit pissed off.., seems as though my body is good at keeping things simmering without letting me know to much.
Feel like I’m sitting on a volcano....

I don’t want to disregard that I’m feeling generally well..... bloody hate that terminology!!
But some things have changed and are different for me.

Will wait for the mri results... and will start to use 2 supps per day.

Will keep you posted.

Thanks for replies as per 👌🏻
Posted 12/6/2018 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
Feeling generally well is subjective.....we all function subjectively. And others perceive it as such also.....they don't mesh many times.

You are flaring still, limited in rectum.....and it needs to be treated regardless. Unless your doc takes a look, you should be the one who makes the decisions about your own butt.
But in saying that, some don't have any symptoms other than stool changes.....and there could very well be other reasons for that....needing to wait till symptoms are more obvious. Some docs wait for bleeding.....horrors in my book of UCer 101.

My previous doc took a look when I was so mildly flaring that he said he could go either way. But when he touched the rectum, it went into immediate spasming. I do not have that feeling unless I'm flaring, and that's a feeling that makes me have extreme nausea as well, so he agreed the only way to go is increase the rectals till I deem otherwise.

Looking forward to your update.
q
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