Are these symptoms of UC?

Hi..are you not on any oral 5ASA such as Asacol? that might help...to keep things above the rectum clearer.

ARe you having diarrhea? how many times a day are you having bms.?

What dosage of pred are you on at this time?


For the spasming, ask the doc for dicyclomine...it will help lessen that feeling a bit as well as the aching.

Continue the suppositories...I would suggest you use them at least twice a day.
Once the strong urgency has started to ease over a period of time, start using the enemas again.

Welcome to the forum,
quincy

Yes I am always taking Lialda, doesn't seem to help much. Currently off Prednisone because it didn't help. The past two weeks (remission from Anucort), I went 2 times per day but the past 2 days when I wake up I go at least three times in the first hour. I don't know if its technically diarrhea, its usually either soft but solid, or only liquid, "crumbs", or nothing, despite feeling like there is something.

"For the spasming, ask the doc for dicyclomine...it will help lessen that feeling a bit as well as the aching."

I actually asked for that before the suppositories but he refused, saying its not generally given for UC. I think I need a new GI

"Continue the suppositories...I would suggest you use them at least twice a day. Once the strong urgency has started to ease over a period of time, start using the enemas again.
Welcome to the forum,
quincy"

Thanks.

Post Edited (Medz) : 5/22/2010 1:18:34 PM (GMT-6)

"When you say your Doc "took a look" - did you see a GI? UC can only be definitively confirmed through the testing of biopsies which are taken during a colonoscopy."

The colonoscopy was done back when I was diagnosed, this last time was a sigmoidoscopy, all by GI

"There are those of us who stay away from fiber during a flare, and others, myself included, who find fiber very helpful. I take Metamucil, have for more than 2 decades, and my GI had recommended it to counteract those rectal spasms and involuntary straining episodes. Soluble fiber, as in the various fiber products around, is for many of us easier on our systems than insoluble fiber."

Mine recommended psyllium, but since I find that the less I go (and the less there is), the better, I stopped all fiber.

"You also might consider probiotics.... I'm just trying to think of things you might try to help yourself while you and your doctor try to come to an agreement about what is causing this."

Ive been taking VSL3 and others. I seem to digest ok, it's just what happens when I'm ready to go that is the problem.

"Whether or not this is UC (or UP, ulcerative proctitis) it does sound as if your rectum is inflamed. Hmmm. How many times a day are you going, and it is formed or unformed....? Any blood or mucus...?"

Mostly formed but soft. Blood and mucous not during the Anucort, but yes before and now after.

"As an aside, I share that when I first started having symptoms (in my case, urgency and bleeding and that straining/spasming thing) my regular GP performed a sigmoidoscopy in his office and said he couldn't find any inflammation. When my complaints continued, he eventually referred me to a GI who looked and said the inflammation had been so close to the very bottom of the rectum that the GP probably had gone right past it without seeing it!

I hope you feel better soon!"

Thanks. During the last Sigmoidoscope, I almost jumped off the table, very sensitive.

quincy said...
When you say you were in remission from the anucort....you stopped them abruptly? or were you still on them when you got an increase of symptoms

I didn't take it at night for the first time, and the next morning the problems started (going multiple times after I woke up)

quincy said...
When were you using the enemas.,..nightly or during the day?

One Rowasa night, for one week, that was over a year ago. I tried hydrocortisone enemas at night, but they didn't help (when I could hold them).

quincy said...
How many Lialda are you on?

2. Besides the VSL I am taking some drugstore probiotics. I stopped all vitamins/mineral supplements, although I started again (multi, calcium, D3) right before I went off the Anucort. I will stop them too.

I know exactly how you feel. You are describing my symptoms of ulcerative proctitis. I have pressure in the rectum just about constantly now. You may ask your doctor to prescribe Colazal (name brand) or the generic Balsalazide, which is what I have been taking for years and I believe it has kept my ulcerations confined to the rectal area. I've suffered with this disease since 1998 and am now awaiting surgery on June 28th. Hope your disease doesn't reach this point.
I don't believe eating eggs would make your symptoms worse, as long as they aren't fried. Soft boiled is fine. Salmon is extremely gut friendly and is what I basically live on along with baked chicken. Baked sweet potatoes are excellent but don't eat the skin. For vegetables, cooked carrots or string beans but make sure they are soft. I eat Activia yogurt for lunch.
Hope you feel better soon.

What I would strongly suggest you do.....get a copy of both reports from the scopes.

q

Christine1946 said...
You may ask your doctor to prescribe Colazal (name brand) or the generic Balsalazide

Is that in addition to Mesalamine, or instead of?