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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/27/2010 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
So I've been doing better than I was in August (I think moving and beginning of grad school upset my bowels). But I've still been having more loose stools than normal. Usually, I can trace back loose bowels to certain foods, but these haven't been associated with anything. I'm taking fiber and two probiotics. Any other suggestions to bulk up the stools?

My GI wants to do a c-scope to check for inflammation and/or move up Remicade to every 6 weeks because of the loose stools and chronic fatigue. I HATE c-scopes (or rather the prep)! And I don't like the idea of moving up Remicade. I really really hope it's not inflammation. All this time my doctors have been telling me that fatigue is not related to my colon and that I'm in remission...

Posted 10/27/2010 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
I am tired too. I hope you can find a natural solution. It doesn't sound like you're doing too badly, maybe you should give yourself some time and try to eat healthy - working out could help with energy (I say that but I am too exhausted to do it).
Posted 10/28/2010 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds as if you're doing the right things.... one thing I do is double or triple my probiotics when I'm in an iffy state, and that seems to help (at this point, anyhow...)
Sometimes I've also added an extra dose of fiber.

Keep us posted! You certainly sound as if you've got plenty going on to contribute to fatigue, so.... let's hope for the best! I hope you feel better soon.
Posted 10/28/2010 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Do you eat plain boiled rice, either white or brown? That really bulks things up for me. Also, it's not unusual to feel fatigued even in remission. Are you getting enough sleep in grad school? The gastro should cooperate by not scoping you during the semester, my take on academics. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 10/28/2010 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
Try psyllium husk. Really bulks up the stool.
Posted 10/28/2010 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I eat white rice a couple times a week. My iron and protein was a little low, so I need to increase my greens and meat.

I'm definitely getting enough sleep...in fact, that's the issue. Because I'm so fatigued and need a lot of sleep, all I have energy is for school work; I barely have any energy for a social life or work.

Yeah, I told her my GI that I'll get my scope over winter break with my "home" GI. I need my parents to take care of me :)

I've been having nausea every morning this week. I think it might be migraines/headaches instead of UC...either way it sucks. And I guess I need to see a neurologist as well.

Posted 10/28/2010 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Do you have an appointment already set up for your C-scope? If not, make sure you do that.

Maybe add a bit of fibre supplement to your meals...that might help bulk the stool a bit.

How many times a day are you going?

Are rectal meds not on your agenda?

How much asacol....and are you taking it religiously?

It could be that VSL is too strong for you or causing some looser stool...how much are you taking? Is that what you increased lately?

q
Posted 10/28/2010 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
Quincy,

I'm working on getting my c-scope scheduled (did I mention how much I hate the prep?).

I take 1/3 of a spoon of Benefiber daily; perhaps I should increase it more.

I'm going on average 3 times a day.

Hee, I knew you'd ask about rectal meds! I asked my GI about it and she said that since there was no bleeding and not much urgency, she didn't think rectal meds would help.

I take my Asacol religiously as always. But I'm switiching to Lialda, in case Asacol has been causing hair loss.

I've been taking 1 VSL capsule daily for a while now. When I was having the bowel issues in August, I started Culturelle daily and drinking DanActive every other day as well.

I think I might try the Remicade at 6 weeks, just in case and especially since I have some exams and projects due before Thanksgiving (when I'm due for my next infusion).

Posted 10/28/2010 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
I'm new to all this, but last week I was having looser stools - no blood and no urgency except for my one morning bm at the same time everyday - but i upped my rowasa enema to every night because I wasn't sure if the looser stools was a sign of something. I can tell you that my bm's have been more formed this week and I do think it is because of the enemas.
Posted 10/29/2010 11:48 AM (GMT 0)
Well, this morning I have nausea unrelated to a headache, yesterday my appetite wasn't all the great, bad gas has started, and loose stools are still coming...I think it's a flare.

Should I just double up on the probiotics I'm taking now or add a new one? I'll have to find my leftover Canasa, too.

I still have a month and a half until winter break and have so much school stuff to do before then. Just wonderful (sarcasm). Thanks for nothing stupid body and Remicade! mad shakehead

Posted 10/29/2010 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi...You do need rectal meds, ask the doctor for them...PLEASE!!
Have you ever been on the retention enemas?

q
Posted 1/5/2011 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Bumping this back up...I think I mentioned in another thread that my c-scope showed everything was healed, no inflammation. Yay!

However, I'm having loose stools all the time. My GI gave me the answer of "it's probably stress" and ran off. Um, I have not been stressed out even though I've been in school. And I was certainly not stressed out during break, yet I have loose stools. I've also had a couple bouts of diarrhea in the past month as well. My butt is so sore from wiping.

Should I try different probiotics? Is psyllium husk in Benefiber, or do I need to try something else?

I saw another PCP for my fatigue and he just told me to take iron since my hemoglobin and ferritin were on the low end of normal. I've also been regularly exercising, which I've been told should help my energy...it does not.

Posted 1/6/2011 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
That is wonderful that the colonoscopy showed no inflammation. My GI always thinks my problem is IBS, last time I had a flex sig because she figured it was IBS but the sig showed some mild inflammation. I hate how they always say it's stress or IBS. I am finally having normalish movements. I am not using probiotics or fiber but I've heard they can help. What probiotics are you taking? Maybe you're eating something that causes loose stool?
Posted 1/6/2011 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
If you are sick and having diarrhea, rest and fluids is important -- not strenuous exercise and dehydration.
Posted 1/6/2011 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
I'm taking VSL #3 and Culturelle. It doesn't matter what I eat--I end up getting loose stools, even from "safe" foods like white rice.

I'm not doing strenuous exercise--just yoga and some pilates.

So frustrating. I should be feeling great, but I'm not.
Posted 1/6/2011 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Should I try different probiotics? Is psyllium husk in Benefiber, or do I need to try something else?

Perhaps your colon is just not working at 100% and moving food through too fast. Immodium will slow the process. They are making the pills smaller now but I still can break it in half and find it useful every now and then (for me) to sloooow things up. Of course you need to keep an eye out for C but that doesn't sound like your problem right now.

Immodium used to be an Rx and I think we unjustly downgrade some OTC drugs when they are no longer Rx. It is a useful tool to have in our medicine cabinet (just don't overdo it).

I also take fiber pills every day (Citrucel) so your adding fiber sounds good too.

I'm also trying out Florastor in addition to the VSL#3 probiotic I've been taking for quite a while.
Here's something I didn't know: Florastor is a yeast not a bacteria (which is what most probiotics are) so it does something different but beneficial. I'm only 1 pill in so will LYK in a couple weeks how Florastor does with me. I am not very receptive to supplements so I choose them very carefully. :-)
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