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ulceritive colitis

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/30/2010 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

My husband was diagnosed with ulceritive colitis in April 2010.  My question is that he

has been having terrible joint pain and at times eye inflamation.  I am wondering if these

symptoms go along with the colitis.  His Doctor has diagnosed him with vasculits back in

2001.  I am wondering if he has that at all or if it is all due to the collits?  I am also wondering what meds you are all on.  He is on 6 tablets of sulfasalazine daily and tapers

of prednisone often, seems like he just gets off of the prednisone and then back on it he goes.  He is still having pain in his intestinal but only has to use the bathroom a couple times a day, and then having alot of joint pain and fatigue.  I am also wondering about

all of you working.  He is so tired he cant hardley make it to work.  I am just trying to get

some other views.  Thank you so much.

Posted 8/30/2010 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome.

Yes, joint and eye inflammation plus numerous other inflammation problems are related to colitis...usually when the UC is out of control the other problems will be more noticeable as well.

If he can't stay off the pred it sounds as though me may be dependant on it and perhaps should try something else. 

Pred can cause a whole host of side effects and that could be causing some of his other problems as well.  I've never been on it myself but several people here have and I'm sure they can give you more insight on that.

You can see in my signature what I take.  Has he ever tried an oral 5ASA in conjunction with a rectal?  If he has and pred is not helping as much as it should be, you really may need to look into other meds.

Best of luck!

Posted 8/30/2010 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi -
Eye and joint issues definitely can be part of UC.... I'm not sure about the vasculitis. You might check some of the info from the Crohns and Colitis Foundation (ccfa.org) - they have some fact sheets and that kind of thing, just learn more about it.

I'm sorry he's on the prednisone so much. Has he ever tried the rectal meds? There are enemas, small bottles that one administers at bedtime and the medication works all night and in the US they are available in 5-ASA (like the sulfasalazine, without the sulfa) and steroid forms.... even if he had to do the steroid enemas, they wouldn't give him the side effects that the prednisone does.

Whatever pills we take, it seems as if they lose their oomph before they get to the bottom of the system, so that's why a lot of us here talk about "treating from both ends" as it were.
Posted 8/30/2010 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hey been tired is big part of this illness. I'm 27 use to run marathons and everything before I got this last year some days are better than others but Im always tired hope he is ok
Posted 8/30/2010 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
I tried the rectal steroids before the oral, but they didn't work for me. joint pain is common while on prednisone. especially if you have been on high dose for a long time. it can ruin cartilage. best of luck! and def try to get off the roids asap if you can. they are bad long term.
Posted 8/31/2010 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
At the start of heavy bleeding my Dr. starts my Prednezone at 12 tablets tapering down, if no results after down to 9 I have to restart at 15 to actually stop the bleeding. You didn't say what oral drug he is using but best using enema as well, attack from both ends to stop it. Long term use of Prednezone is very hard on bones etc. use higher dose at the beginning taper down and try and get off of it.
Posted 8/31/2010 5:14 AM (GMT 0)
If I eat to much high fiber grains and to much sugar it seems to make my colitis and joint pain worse. It may or may not affect your husband the same.
Posted 8/31/2010 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your information. This is so hard to deal with. Keep your heads high.
Gods blessings.
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