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I think I'm flaring again or maybe it's a blip

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Posted 5/28/2008 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
You ever get to the point that you are absolutely sick and tired of calling your doctor??? I am at the point right now.  I am so sick of calling my doctors - well I'm tired of seeing doctors in general.  I think I'm headed for a flare but not quite sure because my body has done this to me in the past.  But it started last weekend when I was on vacation.  I went to the bathroom (once) and had a quite a bit of blood and rectal stinging.  I'm thinking hmm well ok, maybe it's my hemmie.  Which I suppose it could be because the blood was bright red and it dripped in the toilet.  So then the next day comes and no more dripping blood (it was the racing stripe variety this time) but still rectal pain and spasms when I had a bm (3 times that day).  Then the next day, less blood but more bms becoming looser in nature (still about 3-4 times).  Fast forward to today.  I have already been to the bathroom 5 times with pure D, yellow/green bile liquid stuff again and minor bleeding.  But I also had the white knucklers and the chills when I went.  Like I said, I have had this in the past and it seemed to resolve itself within a few days and I would go back into remission.  So I'm thinking that maybe I am near my menstrual cycle which could account for some of my Uc symptoms and the fact that my hips are starting to hurt as well.  My hips would always be so sore around that time of the month so that is sort of an indication that maybe it would be my TOM.  So I have a question for the ladies that have hormone related flares.  At what point do you call your doctor?  Do you just wait it out for about a week to see if it resolves itself? I've been fairly lucky and haven't had these flare type symptoms in quite a while so that is why I'm thrown for a loop because I don't know what to do.  Now mind you, if I do call the doc - I know that he is going to have me start the steroid enemas because I can not tolerate any other rectal med.  And I am not quite sure I am the stage in which I would need a steroid. 
Posted 5/28/2008 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
I'm right there with you, Red! I'm so sick of doctors!!!
What would tell you you're in the steriod enema stage?

I don't think I have TOM flares, because I've been flaring almost constantly for 3 years!

Personally, I call the doctor when I've tried everything I can and it's not working. Then, like today, I go in with my own agenda about what I'd like to use to try to induce remission. (Today, I'm asking about Cipro/antibiotics, cortifoam and food allergy tests- all in an attempt to find something other than pred that works!)

Good luck!
Posted 5/28/2008 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
I am sick of going to the Dr's. too!

I got my period and flare start on the same day on vaca 5/13, never had that happen before.......never had pan-colitis before. Same as you, small amt. then more and more, etc.

I started the hydrocortisone e's and that has been helping though I skipped two nights (beating myself up over that now) and got a little worse, now back to it again as of last night.

I'd check out getting some e's to help.
Posted 5/28/2008 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Red...definitely a flare, regardless of it's near your period or not. You should start the steroid enemas.

Yeah I agree about the doctors...it's also part of the feeling "oh crap...now what....I would just like a break already!! ".

You could start a fibre supplement if you're not taking one to help bulk things up a bit.
Could you have a fissure as well?

Call the doc considering the weekend is nigh ;-)

Keep us posted as to how you're feeling..

quincy xx
Posted 5/28/2008 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, sorry to hear you are feeling crummy.  I have major issues right around my period.  It starts with the biley, really thin poop (my GI thinks that is because your uterus gets bigger and pushes on your colon, therefore the smaller poop), then I get really naseaus and sick to my tummy, and then I get the D.  Oh yeah and the cramping....the god awful cramping!!  I actually just started today and am feeling a bit better.  I think my UC is completely dependant on my hormones.  The only flares I have had were either when I was pregnant or when I tried to go on birth control.  I went on the pill for 5 days last July and I am just now starting to get back to "normal".  However normal you can be with UC.  Those hormones are wicked.  My GI will always tell me to wait a couple of days and call him if it doesn't get better.  I sure hope you feel better soon.   It sucks enough to either have UC or have to put up with the once a month hormone roller coaster, but to have both is the double whammy!

Posted 5/28/2008 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Ha! Maybe I'm queen of denial - I just don't WANT this to be a flare if you know what I mean. I am extremely tired, my back is really hurting today (I finally have an appt to see a neurologist on 6-10), my hips are burning, my butt is burning lol - I feel like I'm a wreck. I think for me, the indication to start the steroid enemas is that all consuming abdominal cramping/pain with blood and D. I know I know, sounds like I'm there already but like I said, I'm in denial! I still have 3 boxes of steroid enemas here already so I might just go ahead and start them again tonight and call my doc tomorrow. He might want me to come in and have my blood checked again to see how I'm metabolizing the 6mp. I may still be on the low end - don't know. Haven't had it checked in a while.

But yeah, doctor visits seem to be my life lately! I am sooooo very tired. I have been to 3 specialists already in the past 6 months for my back, 1 for GYN issues, 1 for accupuncture treatments, my GI for my routine visit and bloodwork and now I'm seeing a neuroligist in June. I'm starting to feel like a bug under glass as well as a pin cushion!

Q, I've tried various fiber supplements in the past and I don't think my body likes them much. When I start them I end up having massive amounts of D. I have yet to find one that my body likes. Some of the ones you mentioned to me earlier, I couldn't find them here in the states. I can't remember what they were. Or maybe it was Pb that had mentioned them? Could be a fissure - don't know. I've never had one so I don't know what they feel like.
Posted 5/28/2008 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Red,

So sorry...I know what you mean about being a pin cushion and being REALLY sick of doctors. My UC is just one of the things that have allowed me to fill the pockets of the doctors in my life, and sometimes you just want to ignore it. I think that we have to allow ourselves the luxury of denial for a little while. But...you know your body better than anyone, and you know in your gut (pardon the pun) what you should do.

I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago, but still have my ovaries. My ovulation has always been a source of all kinds of random symptoms including many that fit into the category of UC. (even long before I was diagnosed with it) So I do think that our lovely female monthly stuff can heighten symptoms of a flare.

There have been some posts lately endorsing spinach and turmeric...those might be worth a try. (I personally have had good luck with turmeric, although I am drinking a drink that contains it. If I were just going to use the spice, I'd probably use quite a bit per day.)

Hang in there and thanks for being honest.
Posted 5/28/2008 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
I usually have some loose bowels around my periods - start the week before and continue through the period. Because it is relatively consistent every month, I wait until my period is over to see if it continues. If it goes on and gets steadily worse after the period ends, I know I am headed into a flare.

My TOM symptoms are always just loose bowels, though - never any blood, chills, pain, etc. I am with Quincy on this one... I think you could be flaring. I would call the doc.
Posted 5/28/2008 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
You've been under a lot of stress lately with your issues and with Gma's issues. I'm sure you're body is beginning to rebel! The steroid enemas should nip things in the butt. Maybe if you start them now, you won't need them as long???

Thinking of you and hoping you're back to feeling well soon!
Posted 5/28/2008 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hang in there Sherry, maybe it is just a blip. Keep and eye on it and if it don't get better in a few days, maybe then call your doctor. Take care and feel better
Posted 5/28/2008 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, heck no! With all the other stuff you've got going on, a flare right now is so not fair! I'm sorry your colon decided to join in on the fun, Sherry. Hopefully it will be just a short blip and it'll get back in order.
Posted 5/28/2008 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
I do get TOM flares, regularly, & I just wait them out- they never get worse, it's a couple of days of horrendously painful, very soft bm's with blood on them. Not the "dripping into the bowl" variety, just streaks on the tp. And the mucous, gas, etc. But then I get my period & magically go back into my version of remissin. I hate to say it, but it does sound like a flare- I hope things get better! Get those enemas!

Posted 5/28/2008 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone......y'all are so sweet! :) Me and spinach don't get along - blech! Just the thought of that vile stuff makes me want to throw up! lol No, I don't like spinach at all!

Okie dokie then, the enemas it shall be. Lordy do I HATE those things though :(
Posted 5/28/2008 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
Aw Sherry; I'm sorry you aren't feeling well. I hope the enemas help out and that you are feeling better soon.

Posted 5/28/2008 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
So sorry that you aren't feeling well. Sounds like more than a blip to me, but then again I'm not a doctor. I usually get D or loose bms around my TOM and it can last 2 - 3 days, but there is never any blood. It sounds like you need to do something now rather than later, you don't want to be in a full blown flare. I hope the enemas work quickly for you. Good Luck Sherry
Posted 5/29/2008 12:21 PM (GMT 0)
Wow what a difference a day makes! I did the enema last night and boy was I tender in there. But I woke up this morning and didn't have any bleeding nor pain. I made sure to spread some of the med inside the rectal area. 'Cause I figured if my hemmie is bothering me that the steroid could help that in addition. I still have that "heavy" feeling in my gut but it's not roiling around on me anymore.

Yes, I do believe that stress was catching up on me. I've been under a lot of pressure lately but I just didn't realize it. I've always had that problem of internalizing my problems so I guess it caught up to me. I'm still going to call my GI today to see what he wants me to do.

Thanks for all your input ladies (and gents?).
Posted 5/29/2008 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you are feeling better!!
Posted 5/29/2008 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear you found some relief!!!
Posted 5/29/2008 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, glad to hear that the enema worked so fast for you! That's awesome!
Posted 5/29/2008 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks :) I've always responded fairly fast to steroid enemas - unless I am flaring badly. I still had the D today but only twice and I still get the occasional cramp. But not like it was yesterday. So maybe I got it early before it got out of control.
Posted 5/29/2008 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Update - oh joy, I get to be on these lovely steroid enemas for 3 weeks per my GI's instructions. And I have to see him in 2 weeks. Well at least I will (or hope to be) feeling good for my vacation. We are leaving to Missouri on June 13th and coming back on June 21st. We went there 2 years ago and I was flaring then too hmm I'm starting to see a pattern - maybe I should just stop going to Missouri huh? :)
Posted 5/29/2008 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherry...hope the enemas have you feeling better daily. Maybe you won't have any flaring issues during your trip since you're dealing with it now.

quincy
Posted 5/30/2008 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
3 weeks on the steroid enemas will hopefully put you back in remission. It sounds like your gastro is being properly attentive to your situation. Good luck & take care. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
Posted 5/30/2008 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you are feeling better, and have a great vacation.

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