When is constipation just constipation?

I think I posted this same question with the exact same title for the post. So, I think I know what you may be going through. If you feel like you have to go but can't and you are straining, then the constipation you perceive is rectal inflammation. If you aren't going (a real bowel movement) and don't feel like you have to go, that is likely constipation.

What meds are you on? 

Thanks Ellen. Maybe that is why that title came to me...sorry to be a copy cat. I am on Lialda 2/day and Rowasa at night. (every night) This is def. why I am asking...I don't want to be in denial. In the past when I flared (I have proctosigmoiditis) I would feel like I have to go and only small amt of stool would come out w/ blood and mucus. Sometimes just blood and mucus alone. This time only pellets.....this is why I am unsure.

Thanks Levi, I also laughed when I woke up ! :) I would say it has been going on the last week or so and routine is the same. Frankly if I didn't have UC I really wouldn't think too much of it. I did however have a cold though for the last couple of weeks. Now I am always paranoid to "catch" a flare up early.

So right Levi. I def. pay close attention to my BM's now. (Although I do long for the days of just flushing and moving on lol!) If I see anything or this keeps happening I will add a steroid supp and see what happens. I just increased my fiber a little too to see if that helps. Hey if you keep helping me I am bound to dream about meeting you too lol!
Thanks,
B

LOL..wonder if we met at a restaurant..and what I looked like? too funny.


How long have you been on the enemas? when I first started out with the process and arrived at those symptoms I was soo frustrated and didn't know what to think. My doc explained it as a flare healing with low inflammation, not the kind that causes the rectal retching, but just mild inflammation. It means you're healing..just be patient and continue using them.

As well...make sure you're eating enough, stool softeners might help or fibre supplements and enough fluids.

As that improves, your stools will change.

Oh, and IBS can sometimes be part of the culprit. It was just Christmas, and if you celebrate, the planning, changes, visits., etc can add to the symptoms of IBS.

q

Well........ I've been staying close to home, since we had 16 inches of blowing, drifting snow (read: in some places the drifts were much higher.)
I'm sort of taking the week off - on call for emergencies - and received a call, had to run to the office yesterday - and there was a 5 foot drift blocking the front door! lol!!! So I went around to the back, and it had been shoveled, so I got in that way.

hateuc, my first years of proctitis were not eventful: I took sulfasalazine, it got better. But then when it flared again and had spread into UC - I spent almost 2 years dealing with it, too: took a medical leave from work and dealt with high doses of steroids, two hospitalizations, a lot of ups and downs....., realized I hated that job and eventually quit, re-evaluated and took two wonderful part-time jobs..... and ... maybe I've just been lucky, but it has never affected my life as badly since. I've been quicker to respond to flares, I've learned more.... Patience is the most difficult thing in this whole disease; we can't "take two pills and be better in the morning."

Sign me up for the Japanese! I'll see you all there at...... 7 pm? lol

hateuc - are the pellets hard? If so, judging by the Bristol Stool chart, sounds like you need to remember to drink more water in your holiday festivities (I know I went a few days of not doing that....) If the pellets are soft, well, then.... hmmm.

Wow, we're getting snow Thursday and Friday, but I saw and heard about other areas getting feet and feet of snow...I feel for you all! It's been good here, thankfully...we seem to be in a calmish area and that made the pre and post Christmas doings perfect.
New Years...that might be a different story.

Well, I'm 5'8", normal weight but a bit "maturish" in the mid area..lol.
I have short red/brown funkyish hair. What do you look like?

Japanese restaurant would be great and I'd love to meet you, songlady and Levi! I won't be able to make it to Australia, too hot!

I personally think you "could" up the Lialda for a short while to see if that helps. You can go back down after a few months. or separate them, take one in the morning, one at night.

Change the metamucil wafers for capsules...see if that helps. Yes, I know I rag you on the wafers. I don't think they're enough.

I remember now that you were on the enemas since March...I should keep a personal log so that I don't keep asking you all these questions..lol..as per the suspicion of journeytohealth a while back.

How much VSL...one daily? when do you take it?

I had some, but not a ton of goodies and some of my bms reflect that. ugh..but I expected it. So far, otherwise all is OK.

When you were tapering before, you did the steroid supp on the between nights?

q

LOL...ah, they say we are all the characters in our dreams. So, maybe that's why I was as such?
Yes, I'm a hairdresser...still learning a lot even after 36 years..
Your hairdresser sounds fab...it's a lot to keep up with long hair and hilights.


I don't know everyone story, but asking helps bring it back. I do now remember the lialda and you dropping part of the dosage. I think splitting it can help. It seems to have helped others who have tried it. Maybe Apriso could be on your list of next tries. Less mesalamine, seems better dispersal. Something to consider and discuss with your doc.

The steroid supps...were they used during the day and the 5ASA enemas at night? Or were you on them for a fw weeks then back onto the Rowasa? see, I don't remember, but I kind of do..
Then you got off the supps and continued with the enemas or switched back?

But, you've never had constipation at all ever that you remember since or before diagnosis? That's good actually...because you are on the mend.

When I had lots of ups and downs and new symptoms, my doc would intently listen (without emotion which played with my brain..ugh), then he'd give me information and a new plan of action. Eventually, once I "got it", he said...you're better at realising your symptoms, so I leave it up to you to increase and taper as you deem fit. Then when I see him, I tell him what I've done, where I am, etc.

But, if something is awry...then I see him eventually if things haven't gone as planned, etc.

One thing you might ask your doc for is an antispasmodic if you're feeling uncomfortable with the constipation. That will also relax the IBS aspect.
Increasing the fibre is always good anyway, I dom't think you're on enough...and upping the VSL seems reasonable to one.

Happy dreams...!!

q

I think you need more consistency in scheduling with the meds.

I use the caps because I can take them anywhere with me....and....there aren't any other "things" in them. I take them with meals. The powder...too much liquid to take with meals. But, when I had diarrhea, I took the Smooth (NOT the sugar-free), between meals..and it helped a lot. But, only half a glass of water without the water chaser.

q

Thanks guys. I admit I also like the taste of the wafers so I am taking fiber and enjoying it-- seems like I am eating a snack lol. However if it is not enough I may try those caps. What do you mean by splitting the dose? How many caps do they recommend w/ meals?
Thanks again... I have learned so much...makes me feel like I have at least control over something about this. I did not learn all of this good stuff at the Dr's.

Great that I can now put descriptions and faces (and hair!!) to the names....it's funny how my brain tries to imagine what you guys look like :) Now I know!!!
B

I've seen a picture of Q once and trust me, she doesn't do herself justice describing herself ;) She's an attractive lady but I can understand the misconception of trying to put a face to a personality on here. You try to picture how someone looks based on what you know and usually it turns out to be the opposite! :)

Wow, I would love to see a pic of you Q!!! Songlady has my curiosity going:):)
B