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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/5/2014 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Help! How are you all?

So I feel well. Had normal stools this morning. Then following a minor stomach cramp that lasted 2 mins I find myself going to the toilet and seeing patches of mucus with no stool. First clear, then dark brown and now light brown. 3 times in one afternoon.

I've taken anal cream to stop my hemmies flaring up and I don't have diarrhoea or any pain. Just mucus.

What shall I do? Is this normal?

LondonRed

Mild colitis sufferer on Pentasa, mild flare but high FC score earlier this year. No other symptoms. Anxiety and hyperchondria.
Posted 10/5/2014 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Can you take more Pentasa for a while?
Posted 10/5/2014 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Mucous is not normal, I saw my GI on Monday and he explained that mucous means your intestines aren't happy (whether it be from IBD or IBS) he also suggested I see a nutritionist to aid with my diet in the hopes that it will get the mucous under control because although my crohn's colitis is healed I'm still having mucous and frequency (which leads him towards my IBS affecting me). So increasing meds might not necessarily do the trick with the mucous issues, so diet alterations may be the key.
Posted 10/5/2014 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
I'm starting to think tea on an empty stomach with milk does it. Cant think of anything else as I feel well.
Posted 10/5/2014 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
You could be lactose intolerant, they have test for that I took it and I'm glad I did, as painful as it was at least I found out I was severely lactose intolerant.
Posted 10/5/2014 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
Just went to the loo again. Saw a couple of specs of absolutely tiny red blood spots probably hemmies as I now have constipation. So constipation and mucus it is.

Neither of which I've had before!
Posted 10/5/2014 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
That's what I have too, but since my GI said my crohn's colitis has been healed by the Humira, he believes (as do I) that my issues are IBS not IBD, same thing as you though LondonRed, constipation like (I say "like" cuz I'm generally still able to pass stools, but they're a lot of work to get out and sometimes they are the classic little round turds of stool which is indicative to constipation stool) and mucous, though my mucous isn't as constant, more like here and there but sometimes more often than not.

You may be dealing with some IBS issues as well...which can sometimes be masked by IBD symptoms...regardless if it's IBS D or IBS C or alternating IBS with both D & C.
Posted 10/5/2014 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
I would definitely look at what I'm eating because mucus forms as a result of something we've consumed. If I have dairy, meat, gluten, alcohol or caffeine I expect mucus in my stools.
Posted 10/6/2014 12:58 AM (GMT 0)

warriorgirl said...
I would definitely look at what I'm eating because mucus forms as a result of something we've consumed. If I have dairy, meat, gluten, alcohol or caffeine I expect mucus in my stools.

Exactly warriorgirl, diet can irritate ones intestines and make them unhappy and in return cause excess mucous.
Posted 10/6/2014 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
PB4 and others thanks for the amazing advice. I guess my symptoms are exacerbated by me wanting to go to the toilet and push to see what comes out!

Had a BM just now early morning in UK and they were small bits of stool and were hard to push out. No D but soft stool with constipation.

Weird for me so must be IBS and something I've eaten.

Chamomile tea is helping.
Posted 10/6/2014 11:11 AM (GMT 0)
If you are flaring then mucus is common. Mucus is on your intestinal wall. The walls of your intestine are irritated and inflamed. When they are inflamed, they shed mucus. You are best to treat your uc and then the mucus will not be in your stool. How much pentsa are you taking a day, can you increase it? How about a rectal steroid suppository, foam, or enema?
Posted 10/6/2014 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
LondonRed, you're flare could be progressing too (so it could very well be your UC) although mucous can happen even without inflammation (like in the case of IBS) it might be a good idea to get a scope done to monitor your UC, if you still have inflammation then it may be that your UC is progressing since mucous is also common with IBD as well...it's just the description of the constipation you seem to be having and not having a ton of daily bm's kinda made me lean towards the IBS thing...I know the CDers can have issues with constipation as well but I don't know if that's the case with UCers too.

I would definitely get it checked out by your GI...glad the chamomile tea is helping, I drink it too especially when I'm having a lot of discomfort.
Posted 10/6/2014 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
LondonRed, if you can take oral mesalamine you can also take rectal mesalamine, which is the best way to treat the distal colon anyway. If you are seeing mucous and blood there is active inflammation.

In the absence of blood, mucous can be normal, but when it comes with pain and difficulty in passing even soft stool, I vote for inflammation every time.
Posted 10/6/2014 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I got my FC results back today and it was 48 and normal. Down from 918 four months ago. Amazing results from increased Pentasa. Thank God.

I had a Colonoscopy only 4 months ago showing mild to moderate inflammation. I don't have D or pain so I will put this down to IBS.

Thanks for the responses people you made me feel so much better.
Posted 10/6/2014 5:41 PM (GMT 0)

LondonRed said...
...Then following a minor stomach cramp that lasted 2 mins I find myself going to the toilet and seeing patches of mucus with no stool. First clear, then dark brown and now light brown. 3 times in one afternoon. ....

and then in a later post

LondonRed said...
...they were small bits of stool and were hard to push out. No D but soft stool with constipation.

I took these quotes to mean that you were struggling with some level of discomfort.

I would still advise a mesalamine enema just to be on the safe side. A normal FC test is good news. Not sure it's bullet proof tho.
Posted 10/10/2014 11:15 AM (GMT 0)

LondonRed said...
I'm starting to think tea on an empty stomach with milk does it. Cant think of anything else as I feel well.

I hardly ever post on this forum but when I saw your above quote, LondonRed, I HAD to!

I have (they think) proctitis (not ulcerative, to the best of my knowledge), I'm actually yet to get a full scope to check but I had a procto and my GP said he thinks it looks a little inflamed. I've so far received no treatment. No word yet on the rest of my colon etc.

Anyway when I drink tea, especially in the morning, I feel the urge to go to the bathroom almost immediately and I have mucous, blood and the same hard stool you speak of. I was starting to think it was in my head because I tried caffeine free and herbal and the same thing keeps happening regardless! I don't have any issues with dairy really, I can drink a full glass of milk and there doesn't seem to be any adverse affects, are you the same? Or have you noticed any difference with cutting dairy out? I'm totally fascinated that you've noticed this same thing and now I have to wonder what is going on, because doctors are acting as if I'm nuts!

Cheers!
Posted 10/10/2014 11:33 AM (GMT 0)
I thought being nuts was required to join this forum ?

welcome abroad GB :-)
Posted 12/25/2019 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
It’s funny how things repeat themselves. I’m having the same issues today 5 years later. Mucus and no blood. Feeling some stomach cramps and yes I had tea with milk today too. I think will stop the tea, add a suppository tonight and see how it goes. This forum is a God send.

@greyblazer : I think it might be caffeine plus milk that does it for me. Although Coke seems fine.
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