UPDATE For the Combined Large BM-Spasms-Tailbone Pain-Blood Stripped Stool-Weight Loss & Fissure

Sorry this took so long to post but it took quite awhile to get things figured out.   Some of you may remember that for many months I was having trouble with very large BM's followed by terrible colon spasms that lasted up to 12 hrs, I was also getting blood stripping on my stool, tailbone pain and trouble with a fissure not to mention loosing way to much weight and having trouble gaining anything back and all at once! I was told by 2 of the best GI docs in the state that the spasms and large stool were severe IBS and the tailbone pain could be UC related and was given all kind of creams etc for the fissure. I was also told the blood could be my UC or hemmies but only by my current GI doc. Well having all these symptoms at once  (not to mention all the other health stuff I have to deal with) was a lot to handle, especially the severe spasms that would last for hours and hours and the fissure pain was intense from the giant stool. My doctors said they'd never seen anyone have all this at on time and were conflicted on how to treat it. Well I was feeling so bad and in so much pain that some days I thought death wouldn't be so bad, I prayed for a second chance as I couldn't imagine living like this everyday as I had for the last 7 mo's; one day I started getting thoughts in my head to make some specific changes and here’s what I did:   Giant Stool/Large BM's and Fissure : Since I was dx'd with UC (pancolits) in 2007 and having episodes of watery, bloody D I put myself on a very low residue diet and tried to limit the trips to the bathroom to as normal a number as possible, but what I did not do was when I went into remission I stayed on the low residue diet etc hoping to keep things normal. about 2 months ago I started adding fiber back into my new well balanced diet (even having salads again) and take two tablespoons of Benefiber every morning in my blueberry homemade smoothies (anyone wants the recipe let me know as they are UC friendly) I also gave these up shortly after getting dx’d in 2007. In addition I started to make sure I have 2 BM's a day, one a.m. and one p.m. rather than fighting the urge and hoping for a "normal' morning only BM. Guess what? The giant BMs are gone, as are the dreadful and painful spasms and the fissure! Apparently I was keeping things inside me too long and when they finally came out it was huge (I eat a lot) and the low residue diet when in remission also added fuel to the fire. My rectum and anus took a terrible beating month after month as the giant super firm stool was ripping me open...it was also causing the spasms in my colon as it pushed through during these enormous BM's!   A.M. Urgency: This has greatly improved by having 2 BMs per day (one a.m. and one p.m.) vs. just one in the morning.   Weight Loss: I am so thankful to report I’ve gained all my weight back! This turned out to be due to my elimination of sugars and carbs hoping I had a fungal issue etc; once I knew eliminating the sugars etc made no change (I tried it for months) I started eating sweets again but only those made with real cane sugar…no fructose, sorbitol, corn syrup etc and sadly no dark chocolate yet just because chocolate can be so hard on the digestive track.   Tailbone Pain : I thought this too could be from UC but I cannot say that for sure as after just one Medrol dose pack of pred and waiting a couple of months, my tailbone pain is about 85% better…I also stopped wearing jean with a thick inseams which really helped too. I’m also certain that my now healthy weight added some desperately needed cushion to my butt.     Hemmies : Still have these and they turned out to be causing the blood stripping of my stool I was getting on and off which I used to think was from a UC flair!   I was able to positively know this because I found an excellent old school colorectal doc that would do a short scope sigmoidoscopy whenever I noticed the blood stripping of my stool…some days he took me in with little to no prep and immediately gave me my answer…he is wonderful! My GI insisted on doing another colonoscopy even after I just had one well less than a year ago. In the past when I reported stripped blood my other GI docs said you’re in a flair and wanted me on pred or even stronger! Ironically I only took the stuff once (medrol dose pack) for my tailbone pain…boy that stuff really makes you feel like 21 again, none of my spinal issues bothered me one bit for about two weeks.   Well guys that’s about it. I still have UC but I was able to get some very painful and distressing issues corrected by taking charge of my health perhaps with some guidance or prodding from above…I gave the docs a chance to figure things out and when they couldn’t then I took over. I am soo thankful to be/feel healthier again I could almost cry!   I hope this post helps some of those that may be having the large BM’s/spasms/weight loss/fissure and tailbone pai n syndrome.

Thanks Q.

I just need to get these internal hemmies under control as they are causing quite a bit of blood stripping...my colorectal doc wants me to use cortisone suppositories but I am afraid of skin thinning as I already use cortifoam for the UC...What do you think?

Thanks

Thanks again.

When I use my cortifoam I lube it well and make sure it goes up as far as possible as my last scope showed mild to minimal colits about 25cm up (kinda in no man's land between where the rectal meds work and the oral stuff stops). I will look into the proctocedyl; my colorectal guy wants me to continue on the anucort 25mg suppositories and I'm not sure how strong these are but would love something non steriodal especially in the anal area due to the possibiltiy of the aforementioned skin thinning. I think I may add some colace back into the mix as my p.m. BM have been very firm and very hard...yea, I know, hard firm stool... a UC'ers dream

Thanks Q.

I started taking Benefiber again which helped with all the issues in the orginal post and I will start some Colace again (needed this when the fissure was ragging). I will ask about the protocedyl for sure and I'm calling the lab that makes the anucort hc supp's.

Thanks again Q.

I'm so happy you have it figured out and are feeling better! :)

Thanks Red34 and Fruitgirl.

amk77...the scope hurt a little and was done in this colorectal docs office but he is an old school doc and doesn't own/or is affiliated with an outpaitent surgery center so he isn't pushing people to go to one to have it done. I would try and find a good colorectal doc and see if he/she can accommodate you in theri office...you'll be asked to do 2 fleet enemas prior to. Formed stool is a good sign but I have had mild colitis even with them... hope its just the hemmies causing the blood : )