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Do symptoms correlate with disease severity?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/6/2020 6:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone- I’m due for colonoscopy this month. I’m feeling ambivalent about going into a hospital setting for a screening while still in covid Shelter in place.

I’ve had a flare since late April. I’m not sure what to make of it. I’m not bleeding a lot, maybe quarter size blood on TP but 5-6 bathroom trips a day and urgency. Stools can be loose or formed. A little nausea off and on. It varies. Some days bleeding more and some days not much. I’m on Canasa and use Imodium if I’m needing to sometimes for work.Not sure if getting better?

I’m thinking about pushing off the screening? It seems like not horrible symptoms. I’m thinking maybe okay to wait? Not sure. I’ve been lucky so far and usually can get remission within a month that lasts a couple years. I feel like stress has triggered this...

I’m just kind of worried about going into a germy hospital in covid times.Also not sure if symptoms correlate with extent of disease. What is your experience? Thanks!
Posted 6/6/2020 7:40 AM (GMT 0)
I would not delay colonoscopy because if you have severe inflammation it reduces your ability to fight infections, in other words puts you at higher risk of covid complications and hence it's better to treat your inflammation. I had many flares, all with different symptoms. I had severe proctitis for a long time and there I didn't see blood and had mostly formed stools but terrible urgency and pain, and yes I would go maybe 6x a day.
Posted 6/6/2020 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
I went for a colonoscopy two weeks ago and everything went fine. They were very cautious. I have also been flaring since april, and I think it’s due to stress. My doctor prescribed mesalamine enemas and they seem to be helping. I agree that getting the inflammation down is important. I had been having only two bm a day, with pain and some blood once or twice a week. The symptoms were not terrible and the colonoscopy showed mild activity. Getting this inflammation down is my top priority.
Posted 6/7/2020 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Don't put it off. Call and ask what exactly is the process...then you have that info.

q
Posted 6/8/2020 5:00 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the friendly advice! I will call tomorrow to set something up.
Posted 6/8/2020 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
imo, symptoms usually go along with severity - but obviously, not always -

i'd be more concerned with your flare than with the scope - when was your last one ?

so you are not on oral meds ? has your flare gotten better or worse since april ?

me, id' hold off - but then again, i'm an idiot when it comes to giving advice regarding colonoscopies !


TT
Posted 6/8/2020 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
@ Troubled-My last major (persistent) flare was 3 years ago. Typically if I get a flare, I can knock it out fairly quickly with meds and getting enough sleep, avoiding certain foods, etc.Last scope was 6+ years ago. I don’t take oral meds because they make me nauseated and sometimes vomiting. I tried asacol and colazol and it was horrible. Years ago I also tried Rowasa and that didn’t help. What works for me is canasa Sup. I am fortunate in that I typically can get remission in a short time. Typically a month or maybe two. The longest flare was 6 mos. But right now part of the problem is the stress I am under. I am working 11 hours a day and it’s not possible to cut back on my hours. So I’m just doing my best. I think I will just schedule the scope because it’s a screening. It wasn’t scheduled because I have a flare, it was just time to do again.

Post Edited (backinthesaddle) : 6/8/2020 10:32:07 AM (GMT-6)

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