Inflammation but no blood-Quincy

Hi..well, the "orange" symptom could be hemorrhoids..either external or internal...you could take a look-see. If you're using the Canasa, you could use them more often during the day...up to 3 times.

You're sensitive to 5ASA meds...will you be getting the 2g or 4g dosage of Rowasa?

It's good you're not bleeding....

Dicyclomine, which is an antispasmodic, can help with that feeling...especially if the sphincter is overracting causing spasming...which could also give that feeling in the rectum.

If it is hemmies, foods that cause gas will put extra pressure in that area and you can't expell it as easily as when not flaring (it's kind of like a fart that's stuck..which is also another symptom for me to suspect inflammation of either hemmies or start of a flare).

Keep us posted as to how you do on the Rowasa....

Happy to hear you're improving.

quincy

If you're having the strong urge to have a poo and it kind of throbs/hurts while doing so..it's definitely a flare.

If it's continually consistent, i'd say it's a flare.

Mushy stools would probably mean it's the entire rectum and a bit above. If you progress into diarrhea, it'll be higher yet.

Lomotil is more of a gut imobiliser and antispasmodic...much stronger than dicyclomine. If one takes too much dicyclomine, it can cause constipation. I was totally "stoned" when I used the lomotil...of course, it was probably a high dosage. I didn't care about a darned thing, and it totally relaxed my body ... didn't have one pain. I only took it a few times, couldn't function.

Let me know how the enemas work out for you.

Fibre supplements could help bulk up the stool if you're having lots of trips. Bulking up the stool can help slow down the amount of trips to the toilet.

quincy

Hi...you're most welcome.  Hope what I suggest makes sense..and helps somewhat.

Make sure you're consistent with the meds. 5 pills...I read you're supposed to be on 4 daily. Take the split dosage with meals and the Canasa after your morning bm if you normally have one.

The stomach aches can be helped with Zantac...as well, low in the rectum inflammation seems to cause stomach discomfort. It may be something to do with the spasming/peristalsis, etc.

I'm happy you finally left your husband. I do remember how unsettling it's been for you. Bad situations don't improve unless intensive efforts are made with professional help and both involved want it to work successfully. No one should take abuse in any form.....it always eats away destroying one's spirit. Yours has survived...nurture it.

You can use Canasa for as long as you need it. I have an acquaintence who uses Pentasa 8 pills daily and Salofalk 4g enemas daily..it's been a year. She wants to continue doing them, her doc (same as mine) says if no side effects and you're OK with doing them...then do them. She won't do the big-gun meds and was already on pred....never again will she do it.

The trick with autoimmune is to be one step ahead. By keeping inflammation in check, the automatic reaction will evenually be less...the body does learn to not react as quickly or violently, especially if flares or inflammation is dealt with early.

As well, stress is our motivator and our destroyer....a balance is needed in order to function. Exercise, relaxation, good support structure with family and friends all helps. When we feel hopeful, our body seems to follow suit.

Some people are able to bounce back quicky, others not so much...depends on how much or how strong the reaction in the body itself. Some things we have control...others we don't. Meds only do so much, as well as relaxation and exercise. Sometimes the body goes into tilt mode and isn't able to be reconciled easily. Big gun meds for some are needed and for some they don't work at all.

That's why I stress to deal with stuff early as possible with first-line meds. I also feel that pred puts things out of whack for UC....no proof, however. I'm at a disadvantage because of my experiences. Patience is really the key.

It's possible the tiredness is something else. You should get your thyroid, vitamin D and vitamin B 12 checked out.

Are you eating enough?

quincy

I've had 10 BM a day for the last 5 years with no blood or mucus but my blood test constantly show inflammation.

Oral or rectal medicines have no effect.

I think I am in limbo (neither in a flare or in remission). It can happen...

G

Hi Linda....I live in Canada...north east of Michigan...

I'm pretty much in perpetual remission...but on maintenance meds..Asacol 6 daily and the enema every 4th night. I might go to every 5th night, I'll see how I'm feeling. I don't usually go beyond every 5th night.
I think the success I've had is that I use the meds consistently. Lower dosage orally and use the enemas to treat flares and decrease when feeling better. Maintenance is a good thing. It is what it is for me..

Too many milk products can cause discomfort, loose stool and cramping. Some protein products have artificial sweeteners...again, can cause the above. I've yet to find a protein drink that doesn't bother my gut..meaning gas/discomfort.

I save the milk product ingestion via coffee with milk or cream...and of course...ICE CREAM! Yes, I get gas...it's worth it.

It's good you're using both the sulfasalazine and rectal 5ASA. I know you're sensitive to 5ASA meds...but using the Canasa will help with the inflammation. You've already had improvement. That's good.

I don't get some doctors...

UC diagnosis is pretty much assumed that the rectum is involved no matter how high. It starts there, progresses upwards. If you have cecum involvement plus rectum, it may eventually go throughout. Having that combo is more difficult to treat especially if the cecum isn't being treated as well as the rectum. UC doesn't "usually" heal in skip pattern either...rectum first to inflame, last to heal.

It's difficult to know/understand why some people do better on certain meds and supplements regarding flares, etc. Don't you just love being enigmatic??

Hope you have improvement now at you have both ends covered...keep us posted as to how you're doing.

Fear definitely sucks. I can relate too often about some things. I do find that information/education helps...eventually I accept and the fear goes with it.

Hang tough...seems things are more brighter regarding your future.

quincy

Hi Linda,

 

I was hospitalized for ten days in May. Diagnosed in 1998 with UC.  My problem is rectal also and like you, considered MILD!!  Well, if this is mild, hate to see what severe is..probably one foot in the grave.  I'm still not out of the woods but considerably better.  My doctor switched me from Asacol to Colazal explaining that the Colazal treats the rectum far better than the Asacol.  I am also on 6MP (about 4 1/2 yrs now).  It doesn't keep me in remission and when I was first admitted to the hospital in May the GI doctor took me off of it because me pancreatic enzyme levels were off the wall.  However, toward the end of my hospitalization they had returned to normal and at my first GI appointment he put me BACK on the 6 MP but carefully monitors my blood work.  It has been fine.  I've also seen a colorectal surgeon and he said he didn't recommend surgery at this point.  It seems like surgery is a last ditch effort.  I refuse Remicade because I was exposed to the TB virus back in the 60's and know for a fact this can reactivate the virus with sometimes fatal results.  One more thing.  I am a bleeder.  I have bled with every bowel movement since April but the last two days I didn't see any blood...yipppeeee.  The urgency is gone too.  I try to watch my diet...no milk, fried or spicy foods.   But the other day I was BAD and did eat a meatball sandwich...and had a some French fries....BAD BAD BAD.  But they tasted soooo good.

Hi Quincy,

What is microscopic colitis? I was checked for chrons, negitive. You know when I'm on a empty stomach I feel fine then when I go to eat and swallow wait about 5-15 mins I can feel my rectum start to get inflammed. Didn't you say this is biofeedback? What is that again, you body just use to responding whether its inflammed or not? Heck of a deal. My GI is great at with the drugs, I can't get whatever I want without ever having to see her. I try to see her and it's a 2 months wait. If I start with a new GI they all want to scope first. It's terrible! I'm notice that I can handle canasa just fine but that retention enema makes me sick. All day yesterday I wanted to sleep and just feel weird and a little sick to my stomach. Aren't they the same thing..mesmaline? Today the bathroom was a lot better, but looked like slimy tan liquid (seemed lot plent) stuff was with the stool. Is that pus you think? I have the hardest time with the liquid in the colon. Should I try imodium do you think? Metamucil the mixture is ok, maybe i should try the wafers. Any thoughts? Thanks for emailing me back.

Christine- if you're mild and I'm mild never has 6mp been mentioned to me. I've done the asacol and colozal and pentasa so far the best for me is the sulfasalzadine it's been fine with no side effects. Seriously, I wished I would have been told about this first 3 years ago. I agree my heart and prayers go out to all of us, but especially those who are moderate to severe. We're stronger than we think, everyday shows us how strong we realy are!

Hi Linda...you're welcome regarding the email.

Here's a good info site on MC.

http://www.medicinenet.com/lymphocytic_colitis/article.htm

I would say if you can use Metamucil..use it.

Don't us imodium unless you're going somewhere and cannot use the bathrooms. 

Totally sucks regarding your doctor and not being able to get in to see her often. Maybe an appointment every 2 months for the year will help get you established with meds and less frustrated.

The other option is to call your GP, make an appointment and get referred to another GI. 

If you can use the suppositories..use them...up to 3 times a day..with the doc's OK tho.

Biofeedback is where the mind is used to control body symptoms such as pain, anxiety, stress, blood pressure..etc. 

After you eat, it'll trigger peristalsis and if there's anything in the sigmoid, it'll download to the rectum.   Normal...it's what I wait for every morning.

It's possible that what's coming out is mucus or pus or both...depending on how much inflammation you have in there or if you have an infection. 

You could ask your doctor if you could have stool samples done to make sure ... if it's persistent and your symptoms aren't improving.

It would be nice for you to start feeling better soon.

quincy