I don’t want to stop taking my meds! Help!

Ok, so first of all I just want to say thank you to all you UC angels that have contributed so much knowledge and all the experiences good and bad. I have been in the shadows for the last month playing connect the dots and I have found so much useful info-thank you!! I feel fortunate to have not had to deal with a lot pain and not had any of the hospital stays and surgery’s etc. Here is my back story: the last 8 years (I am 38) I have struggled with diarrhea, mouth ulcers, upset stomach, joint pain, cystic acne and an anal fissure. In those 8 years, I had two babies a wedding and house reno 🙃 I had sought out help with a g.I. for the diarrhea previous to the fissure. She told me to add fiber to my diet. Which fortunately I didn’t. We did a lactose test and I was neg. I did not make it back in for the other two breath tests. Well a couple of years later and bam- anal fissure from all the diarrhea.I saw a proctologist then who prescribed and ointment but then- I started to load up on Advil for the pain-yikes! I started having hives, red eyeballs (like pink eye), swollen gums and the most terrible joint pain I’ve ever experienced-I could hardly move out of bed. Back to the dr., full blood panel. Nothing. More years pass and now I’m seeing blood and mucus- finally I see a g.i. who wants to do a colonoscopy- bingo, UC diagnosis. She put me on mesalamine suppositories 1000 mg. for 30 day. I cleaned up my diet for the flare (which was already pretty clean) no gluten, dairy (beside yogurt), watching the veggies and fiber intake. but the last few days I had a little diarrhea and bloating and I only have a few meds left 😬 I feel like it’s too soon. Maybe I’m just worried because they worked so well. This is the first time I haven’t eaten immodium daily in so long. How long would you all continue to stay away from gluten, a.I.d veggies and all your trigger foods? Forever? Ugh. I hate playing this guessing game. I’m not supposed to meet with my g.I. until June! How do they measure to see if your flare is gone- is that through the fecal test? Oh man I’m just rambling..thanks for any insight.
-Taylor

Hi Quincy, thanks for the reply. I was given a sheet with the colonoscopy results after the procedure and that was it. I never heard for the dr again until the biopsy results confirmed UC- a voicemail from the nurse. The dr stated in the paperwork to take the suppositories for 30 days. No other form of treatment was discussed. The UC was only seen in the rectum.

I had thought about probiotics but have had mixed results in the past. I was reading about E. coli nissle-I think that’s right.

Anyway, yes it’s hard for me to separate the food/UC connection.
I had some upset with the small amount of bloating and one day of diarrhea- maybe 2 bms that day. I have had some joint pain still.

I will call the office today.
Thanks again.

Most UC-ers have to take medication for life. I know one person with a very mild case who doesn't need it since his first flare up, and a few people on this board can manage their symptoms with diet. But I would go into this with a view of potentially staying on meds very long term. (And maybe see a different GI if this one is not helpful)

Thanks everyone, Yeah she seems like a good doc but I wasn’t sure why she wasn’t wanting to follow up sooner. I left a message at her office just now and hope to hear back about what her intentions were/are. I have images of the colonoscopy and I am requesting my biopsy results as well. I really appreciate your time and feedback.

Let us know the outcome of your discussion with the GI. I'm happy you called.

q