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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/27/2020 7:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone,

I am currently 30 weeks pregnant.
My symptoms started at around 15 weeks pregnant. Symptoms include loose/bloody stools, feeling, of still needing to go for a couple of hours after bowel movement, leaking bloody mucus. This then got worse over weeks and every time I went toilet there was pure blood with clots in the toilet.
I was told for months that it is just due to hemmoroids being pregnant.Finally had a sigmoidoscopy last week and they confirmed there is a lot of inflammation in that area - probably protitis.
I have been put on Salofalk suppositories however not much more they can do until after delivery of baby.
I am already seeing less bleeding and less leaking.
My concern is I never experienced any sort of symptoms before my pregnancy (this is my third) does anyone know if pregnancy can trigger symptoms?
Also finding it hard to pin point what foods make it worse - I have good and bad days. No stomach Pain at all.
I was original prescribed movicol by my gp to bulk my stool which did somewhat help. I am still taking this but don’t know if I should or not as it is a fibre supplement. Is it true finer can aggravate it?
Feeing fed up and at a loss really as no one is willing to help while I am pregnant. I was hoping it was just a symptom of the pregnancy but have now been told it’s not
Posted 7/27/2020 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
The tough part of UC is that being pregnant can make some folks worse and other folks better. If you just have UP, the salofalk supps should work. If they don’t you can ask for oral 5-ASA and see if that helps. You might get better postpartum but you might also get much worse, hormones and UC aren’t always a good mix. I hate the thought that you are suffering while pregnant, because goodness knows being pregnant isn’t a walk in the park especially if you already have children to take care of. Don’t be afraid to ask for all your options. I didn’t develop UC until my youngest was 3.5, but many of the women on here have dealt with pregnancy and UC and have been on far more meds than just suppositories. It also depends on where you live, I have noticed folks in Europe are offered fewer options than folks in the US.
Posted 7/27/2020 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Yes the annoying thing is they won’t really do too much more for me as all they keep saying is they will investigate when baby is here.
Definitely just bad timing getting it whilst pregnant, has really sucked the fun out of the whole thing.
I’m finding that other than the suppositories, I have been given no advise on what can and can’t make symptoms worse so really feel at a loss with what to do. I don’t want to alter my diet too much whilst pregnant.
I definitely feel like the US give more options than here!
Posted 7/27/2020 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
There is absolutely NO reason for them to not put you on oral mesalamine and rectal enemas while pregnant.

Shocks me.

Once you have your baby, search for another GI.


q
Posted 7/27/2020 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
I hope you will get better soon!
My UC symptoms started while I was pregnant, but unfortunately, I was diagnosed after giving birth to my son, and it was too late, the inflammation was spread all over the colon.

When I tried to get pregnant again, my GI adviced me to see a high risk pregnancy specialist, to monitor the pregnancy while taking medications.
Maybe you would Like to consider Seeing such a specialist !
Posted 7/27/2020 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe your GI doesn’t want to take responsibility of prescribing more meds since your are pregnant, consult with your OBYGN, maybe both of them can agree on something!
Posted 7/29/2020 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
Statically, there's no higher odds of flaring during pregnancy versus not. Flares can happen during pregnancy and any needed medicine should be added including Prednisone, oral mesalamine, even biologics if needed. It's safe. Why? Mom flaring severely during pregnancy can drop her weight, malnourish, and cause complications with the baby (preterm birth or miscarriage). So getting and keeping mom stable is essential. Given your flare sounds pretty mild, and not at risk of those things at this point. But flares do get exponentially worse when not treated fully. So keep an eye on it and do escalate meds if/when it becomes needed.
Posted 7/31/2020 11:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

Congratulations on your third.

I’m so sorry you are suffering. I also have 3 children. I was diagnosed though before any pregnancy. All my pregnancies were with UC. I flared mildly with my first and very mildly (although doctor still says hemorrhoids) with my second and no flare with the third.

During all these pregnancies I stayed on my maintenance meds of oral Saloflak which is mesalamine. It is safe in pregnancies. Very safe. I was not at all Worried. I also used the suppositories of Salofalk at some points.

You could do back and ask for the oral now. It takes a little while to get to full effect and I would ask your doc to start now if I were you. Seems you handle the mesalamine.

Also, as soon as I had my babies I slowly re gained remission. I think staying on the rectal meds ( I now use Salofalk enemas twice a week and oral daily) and oral are the best way to do that.

Let us know how you are.
Posted 8/2/2020 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
How long generally do the Salofalk suppositories take to improve symptoms? I know probably different for everyone but I can’t work out if they are working
Posted 8/2/2020 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
"Can't work out if they are working"...please clarify.
q
Posted 8/2/2020 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
The first few days of using them my symptoms seemed to ease but over the last few days they have gradually been coming back.
Also been getting stomach cramps which I wasn’t experiencing before; don’t know if that is just a side effect.
Posted 8/2/2020 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I would say they aren’t working well enough. Ask for oral salofalk, it are safe to take while pregnant. That in combination with the rectal meds should help you start to feel better in 2/3 weeks. Hang in there.
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