Is this common?

I was diagnosed with Colitis in June.  I have been on Colazal ever since, 3 pills 3x daily.  I have been on a suspension enema for the past 4+ weeks and I feel wonderful.  Not completely in remission but its getting close.  about 3 days ago I was down to 2-3 BM's daily.  Today I am back up to 4, however, it is much more solid.  Has anyone experienced this and is it a sign of regression or progress? 

Just found some interesting info regarding the frequency of stools:

Myth # 4 Bowel Regularity: Bowel regularity means a bowel movement every day.

False - The frequency of bowel movements among normal, healthy people varies from three a day to three a week, and some perfectly healthy people fall outside both ends of this range. Nevertheless, even three bowel movements a day can be abnormal in someone who usually has one bowel movement a day. People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may have fluctuating numbers of stools each day as well as fluctuating consistency of their stools.

source: http://www.medicinenet.com/digestive_disease_myths_pictures_slideshow/article.htm

I thought the guage was more blood/mucus based? If I only hve one, but it is covered in blood/mucus, I don't consider myself in remission. ??

Meemers...I haven't bled in years with my flares, and I had a long period of 14 years no bleeding. No, it's not a point of reference to say one is in remission. It's a point of reference to say one is improving if bleeding is a symptom and one is on medication to treat the inflammation.

Inflammation comes in incriments...bleeding means that the tissue is very fragile.

q

For you, it's a clear step backwards, but once healed...there are symptoms that are easy to miss that indicate flare. I would NEVER wait for bleeding to start before I start the enemas.

Did you cut to half in one fell sweep? or taper down?

1200mg is difficult since it is a high jump.

q

Guategirl, My flares now are pretty much limited to the rectum to varying degrees. Mine would start out with excess gas, continual stomach pain, slight urgency, mucus.
The clincher within a day or two is rectal "wretching" and white-knuckling pain upon bms. I usually whimper upon having them...like it's some marathon poo session..lol..I'm pretty much "whew" when it's over.

I'll have nausea after a bm, rectal throbbing, and yes increasing bms.

I go back to nightly enemas for at least 3 weeks at that point.

What triggers mine are usually extreme stress/distress. and it's usually after a long session of being sick with a series of colds before and during a very busy time which is Christmas..ugh.

This past spring, I was sick with a cold, my cat was very sick and I had definitely caught some gi bug with extreme nausea, chills, cramping throughout my digestive tract and pain that Bentylol wouldn't touch (which is unusual).
I upped the probiotics, took Bentylol 4 x daily and added Gravol regular and Gravol ginger to the mix a few times a day. I upped the enemas because for sure I would have flared anyway..I improved a few days later, but kept up with the enemas for 2 weeks anyway.

I just got over a 2 week cold, no repercussions butt-wise. That was nice, and just got my flu shot yesterday. All is well.

Maintenance butt meds help a lot...

Basically, my flares get under control quickly, but I go through the process of using the enemas and taper to maintenance according to what my butt thinks is best. I'm pretty much "normal", my main complaints are discomfort from gas/IBS. I can control most of that through food intake and Bentylol.

q

Thanks for the insight into a new "normal'... haven't been able to kick this flare, though, so I don't know what my new "normal" will be :( Starting to have a few why me days...

But, enough about me, this isn't even my post. Thanks for the feedback though!

Meemers..So, you were only taking two Lialda daily? That's the dosage I'm taking in mg of Asacol...you shouldn't cut down further anyway.

If you were on 4 and cut down to 2...too much of a decrease. It should be gradual.

You're not on any recatal meds?? that is what you should be on as well.

I'm not understanding why you cut your meds down considering you have pancolitis.

q

^testng sig update..ugh..try again..I don't know why it won't update, shows as updated in my profile..?

calm-on-the-outside said...
Gosh, isn't it fun to count poops?  LOL

This shoud be added to the thread  "You know you have UC when..."

lol

Well, you have pancolitis. You might not be on enough oral nmeds, but at the very least, you need rectal meds...

The next steps are maybe prednisone...I'll never go on it.

Immunosuppressants...I'll never go on them...

So, I suggest you get on the right meds with the optimum amount if you can take the 5ASA still... I would say possibly to change from Lialda to maybe Asacol or another such as Pentasa.

And....Rowasa...ask for it. It comes in a 2 g dosage...that would be a good start.

Let me add that probiotics to keep the gut flora balanced and a fibre supplement helpful with softening/bulking the stool.

Anxiety from meds...yes, it's possible for sure. but it could be agitation causing some anxiety..etc.
But it's possible as well that you were on too high a dosage initially. but...maybe something like Asacol will give you more control to go in smaller incriments and split it twice daily rather than the higher dosage of Lialda.


Anyway..food for thought. Hope you feel better soon.
q