Many BM's per day even when well.

Are there any other conditions that could be hidden under the diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis that would cause a person to hit the pot (with a decent amount of stool each time) on the upwards of 8 times a day even when I'm doing well?

The amount I use the restroom is the one big issue I have. I used it five times within an hour this morning, twice during the afternoon and once this evening so far.

Friday I used the toilet two or three times in the morning and that was all... which was a rare occurrence.

My chiropractor (on Friday morning) said that the muscle between the large and small intestines could be too relaxed and let matter through too easily. He massaged the area some. Don't really have a clue if that made any difference.

I'm just looking for suggestions. I've had this disease 8 years now, and I know the difference between a flare up and feeling well. I feel good right now, with just slightly active symptoms of UC. If I could get my bowel movements down to 2 or so times a day it would feel like a miracle... lol.

There is no "normal" BM # because everyone is different. You say you're not in a flare but if your BM's are that frequent I question that it isn't a sign of inflammation. If you've always had this # then that is your "normal".

Before UC my normal # was half or less than UC-normal. I believe this is because my colon is not processing digestion as well.
Recently my UC-normal # has reduced also, a sign of healing I believe.

Thank you for your reply.

I have tried many medicines. I was on a high dose of 6mp (which helped for years), but was tested this summer and found it to not be effective at that dose... and we couldn't go higher without disturbing my liver. I've done mesalamine enemas before and had some success. This summer I switched pharmacies, and their version of the mesalamine (generic) made me sick as could be. I've been on asacol, colazal, lialda... and pentasa is always the one that comes back to the rescue for me. That being said, pentasa isn't any sort of miracle drug for me. I'm afraid to go on remicade as I feel healthy right now, except for these constant bowel movements.

I do take a medicine called something like diphenox**** I can't remember the name exactly... I think it's a generic form of lumidol if I remember right. I take that in the mornings... as it's supposed to help with diarrhea. I think it helps some, but I don't have D, so it's only partially helpful.

I was in a pretty bad flare for me this summer, but came out of most of the symptoms with a combination of prednisone, pentasa and vsl3 probiotics.

I am going to be getting my colonoscopy done next month (previous was a flex sig around a year and a half ago). They usually find that from my rectum up a ways I look fine, then around the upper left side of my colon they find signs of UC.

As far as my BM's... they are formed. They seem a little narrower than if I were only going 1-2 times a day... but they are formed. It really just seems like my body doesn't use as much food as a normal person's... or something along those lines.

I haven't been checked to see if I have C Diff right now... but judging from past experiences, I would say I do not have that right now. I'm not aware of what CMV or H. pylori are. Could you explain those?

I honestly have not had a time when I wasn't going at least 5 times a day in God knows how long... the closest I came was when I was still on a little prednisone, along with the pentasa and probiotics back in August. I almost felt like a normal person... which was amazing :)

Thanks again, I do really appreciate your reply.

The only suggestion I can make is to try slowing things down in your colon, giving it more time to process stuff.
Someone here uses Mebeverine or similar. Perhaps they will respond or you could do a search for that post.

Oh yeah I forgot the obvious colon slowdown is OTC Immodium. It used to be an RX so it must be good
I really think if you aren't bleeding and have no other symptoms you just need to work on slowing your colon down a little.

My doctor recently suggested the cause of multiple bm's per day w/out blood when not flaring could be IBS.  I am having very similiar problems to you right now.  Even though I was skeptical (and still am) I am looking around at IBS and it looks like a fairly miserable condition in its own right. 

However, my remission was just confirmed by colonoscopy so I don't have any active disease.   I guess you couldn't consider it seriously unless your remission was confirmed, but it is something to think about.

 

I am curious and I hope you don't mind me asking but your symptoms are very similar to mine, do you also have a lot of abdominal pain? (I do)

 

I hope your coming scope goes well.

Dietary changes, adding fiber and using the supplement l-glutamine - which helps heal the gut and can slow frequent BMs/treat diarrhea - are other options that might help.

Like said above we are all different. My normal movements are 2-3 times a day. When i am bulking (almost doubling my calorie intake and working out hard) i can go 5 times a day. This was all pre UP. So if 8 times is your norm than so be it.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this but have you tried some type of fiber ?  We added psyllium husk to our daughters diet and it helped with frequency & urgency almost immediately.  She went from 6-8 BM's a day down to 2-3 BM's and then eventually to 1 a day.  The stuff is miraculous.  We started with 1/2 tspn then upped it to 1 tspn a day.