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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/9/2019 5:12 AM (GMT 0)
Scope three weeks ago showed no inflammation. Blood and stool tests in range but I am still experiencing mushy stools.
1 bm in the morning (no pain, no urgency), generally very abundant (sorry for being graphic): the first part is normal but the more I empty my bowel the mushier it becomes. I have tried psyllium husk and initially it worked like magic but after a few days my stool became super hard. Is anybody else experiencing the same? Any ideas? Thanks
Posted 9/9/2019 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats on having no inflammation! That's like winning the UC lottery.

Even in a remission, my stool vary a lot from barely formed (mushy with ragged edges) to fully formed (very rare), and that's normal and expected. I'd try and not worry about it! I remember asking my gasteroenteroligist "would I ever have normal stools again?" and his answer was "some UC patients do, and other UC patients do not."

Certainly adding Psyllium will help, maybe you need a bit more. That and/or add more leafy greens to your diet. Not sure what a typical meal is for you, and whether you are eating a lot of vegetables or not. That's the only trick I know.
Posted 9/9/2019 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Scope visual was no inflammation....things can change in 3 weeks. Do you have the results of your biopsies yet?

When did you start the psyllium and how much and when per day?

What is your food intake like?

What meds?

For stools to go from one extreme to another, it's usually from food intake changes, stress, limited fluid intake, back pain, meds, inflammation, etc.

What meds are you on?
q
Posted 9/9/2019 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
iPoop/quincy,
thanks for your replies.

The thing is I have been experiencing this issue for more than a year now and I thought to be still flaring just because of this. During this period my stools consistency has varied from mushy to super hard and all the shades in between.

- Psyllium husk: I take 5 g a day and what happens is that for a few days my stools are perfect than they become super hard so I need to stop. Then for a few days they go back to normal and then they start to soften then after a couple of weeks or less mushy again. This is the pattern I have noticed during this year. Maybe I need a lower psyllium dose? I will try it;
- Drugs: Asacol tablets 2.4 mg day and Pentasa suppository 1 g every other day;
- Diet is almost the same every day: eggs, chicken, a lot of green salad, XV olive oil, 70/80 grams of nuts, salmon or tuna; oats and a bit of milk; bluberries and pomegranate and yogurt. Occasionally a bit of dark chocolate.
- I do have a sore lower back, did all the tests but nothing came back so they said it is a muscle thing as I tend to go to the gym regularly.

I appreciate buggers can't be choosers the fact is that in 20+ years of illness since last flare up a year ago my stools have gone crazy. Probably another gift from the illness that never stops giving (crap).
Posted 9/9/2019 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
>>I thought to be still flaring just because of this
But you are not flaring, you have zero inflammation. So, what you are experiencing is normal for you. No worries at all!

Rarely, I have one of those trophy-poops that look like long before my diagnosis. I stop and stare in awe, and wonder if this is a true Kodak-moment, realize that's totally crazy. Flush. Instant-regret.

Years before my diagnosis, I used to have those dense poops that were total butt-splasher. I hope to never have those again! Try and laugh a little there may be pros to those mushy poops, as they pass easy and don't splash you!
Posted 9/10/2019 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
iPoop, you had me LOL.

I am happy to know that I am not the only one who contemplates his own bowel production! I have a personal top 3 list which unfortunately has not been updated for a while now. I was travelling in Peru' three years ago and the city of Puno will always have a special place in my heart as the place where number 1 on the list was created...gosh I still weep with joy at the thought.

And how could I forget the dreadful "Poseidon Kiss" of the pre-diagnosis stools??!!! As a Kid I remember hating it LOL

Anyway thanks for you message, you made me laugh.
Posted 9/15/2019 9:19 AM (GMT 0)
iPoop nailed it.
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