Mild but persistent inflammation

I have been having mild symptoms that don’t 100% improve and it’s driving me insane. I have been on the maximun dose of oral Salofalk since may 11th and also on enemas nightly. I understand that I probably shouldn’t complain, since I have only one bm a day, but with some pain and discomfort. The thing is, I know what remission feels like, and that’s not remission. I’m feeling quite depressed and anxious, because I have been dealing with this mild inflammation for a year now. My energy is also quite low. I don’t really know how to get out of this funk. I doubt that my GI would recommend any stronger meds at this point but I am also desperate to feel better. Did anyone go trough a situation like this before? I have had pretty severe flare ups in the past and I also have been in remission for long periods but right now I feel like I’m in between and I really don’t know what to do.

My symptoms are pain and lose stools. I started oral salofalk on may 11th and the enemas on may 23th. The medication helped decreased the inflammation, since I have no more blood and the pain is a lot less, but it’s still bothersome. I guess I am just depressed and tired of obsessing over this disease. I know it’s not that bad but I also know that I am not in complete remission.

Thank you quincy!

I went from 3 bm a day to 1. My bm are soft because of the enemas, when I don’t use them, they are formed. I guess i’m still too inflammed to fully absorb it. I will follow your advice and be patient. Patience is definitely not my strong suit! I have a follow up appointment in two weeks so I will be able to discuss this with my GI.

Lili...the enema isnt fully absorbed. The medication is topical...whether healthy colon or not.

The idea of asking for steroid enema is worth a try...as addition to or separately (then get back on the mesalamine).

q

Thanks for your answers
I will ask about a steroid enema and try to be patient in the meantime!

quincy said...

garyi said...
I've had mild/moderate inflammation, only in my rectum, for about two years.Tried enemas and suppositories, but no help.

My GI said, since my symptoms are mild, just continue with Lialda, twice a day.

Makes no sense to allow simmering inflammation to just continue just because it's mild. Oral mesalamine won't treat it...worth a rethink.

q

Thanks, Q. That's just what I told her seval days ago, during our (cool) zoom appointment. She said give it a few more months. But then what?? I would need a scoping to know the inflammation has subsided.

I'm very tempted to go back on Rowasa enemas every evening.

Lili-
I can sort of relate. I’m not sure if I have mild inflammation, my last scope or was completely clear a year ago and I don’t think I’m having flare symptoms but I do over focus on UC and am also tired of obsessing over ‘symptoms’.

1 bm and looser stools on days using an enema sounds really promising to me. In fact, that sounds like me and I think I’m still in remission.

Like Quincy said I would just continue using the enemas for at least another month and see. Then taper to maintenance.

Garyi- what are your symptoms of the mild inflammation that you GI says to wait it out?

kweeks said...
Lili-

Garyi- what are your symptoms of the mild inflammation that you GI says to wait it out?

Two or three BM's per day, no pain, no blood or mucus, constant low grade urge to go (tenesmus), results on toilet takes some time, some gas and streaking. Nothing much when compared to a real flair.

May start back on Rowasa, after the holiday weekend.

Thanks for the reply garyi. I agree, get back on the enemas. They are so very helpful.