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Tonnes of mucus... Normal?

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Posted 3/12/2011 10:37 AM (GMT 0)
I've been getting so much mucus with this flare up. Usually blood is my main problem, this time I'm having equal amounts of mucus with my blood. I just had a BM that I would say had nearly a handful of mucus in it. Is this normal?

I started a steroid enema last night (Entocort). It's my first time using a steroid enema. Would this explain it?
Posted 3/12/2011 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone?

Also, is it possible for a steroid enema to make symptoms worse? Should I continue taking it? The flare up basically got much worse around the time I took the enema. I'm not sure if it's related.
Posted 3/12/2011 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
not 100%sure about the steroid enema but the mesalamine enema if not completely absorbed, can look a lot like mucus on the stool! maybe that is what you are seeing??
Posted 3/12/2011 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks but I doubt it. The steroid enemas are apple juice coloured (or urine coloured) and the enemas I was taking before that were Pentasa and they were clear.

In the past I took many Salofalk enemas and those always came out looking white, however I could always tell the residue was enema related and not colon related. It was definitely mucous.

Posted 3/12/2011 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
Mucous production is a good thing from my perspective...it means at least the mucosal layer is still functioning. But, it is an indication of increased activity from inflammation or agitation)

I would think that when your flare improves, the mucous production will lessen.

I personally wouldn't worry about it, just note what's happening.

Are you having lots of urgency too?...how many times for  bms during the day?
q

Posted 3/13/2011 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Well, BEFORE I started taking these Entocort enemas, I was having 2-3 BMs per day. Sometimes they would be well formed with streaks of blood in the feces or the feces would be clearly malformed to the extent where I could see all the food I ate. I had blood but no pain other than a dull pressure coming from my left colon. It was slowly getting better on the Pentasa enemas/suppositories however since I didn't have much of a supply (they only gave me ten), I would sometimes skip the suppositories to stretch out the supply and when I did this I would start having anywhere from mild to moderate symptoms again (mucous/blood/gas but no urgency).

AFTER I started taking Entocort enemas (I'm on the second day), I started having much higher mucous production from my rectum and the frequency of BMs has increased. It feels like the Entocort enemas just piss my colon off. I still have fully formed BMs (that seem to begin dissolving after a few minutes) but I had those before I went on Entocort. There seems to be a lot more of everything since taking Entocort = more mucous, more blood and more BMs.

I'll stay on them for a few more days to see if things improve. If not, I might go back to the doctor and get a prescription for a large dosage of Pentasa enemas/suppositories.

The only thing about suppositories is that while you're supposed to take them three times a day and I have no idea how this is possible for anyone. While I can take a suppository at work, I can't lay down for an hour for it to take effect.

Anyway, any advice is appreciated.

Post Edited (Wavefunction) : 3/12/2011 5:06:05 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/13/2011 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Excessive mucous in/with your BMs is not normal and a potential sign of either an ibd or ibs flare, many here have both ibd and ibs.
Posted 3/13/2011 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
My sister has both UC and IBS. Wouldn't surprise me. :(

Doesn't IBS have lots of cramping and stomach problems, though? I don't have those. I do have a lot of mucous and it is almost equal to the amount of blood that I have. It has been this way in the last couple of flare ups.
Posted 3/13/2011 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Not all ibs manifests with all the symptoms and when you add UC into the mix one can get a nice potpourri of goodies. Stomach/ab pain is also a UC symptom as well, the main differences differentiating ibd from ibs is blood, low grade temps, nocturnal D and weight loss. Feel well soon
Posted 3/13/2011 8:35 AM (GMT 0)
One good thing to do is get refills in the prescriptions. I think you should give it a good shot for at least another week.

The supps...can be taken up to 3 times a day, but that's not the usual prescribed process since the enemas are used as well. With the enemas at night, the supps would usually be used in the morning or maybe one other time if multiple bms has caused it to expel after a short time.

q
Posted 3/13/2011 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
I just finished my second day on Entocort. No improvement at all, in fact this is the worst I've been all month. It pretty much feels like I'm taking nothing at all. I'll stick with it until Wednesday but then I'm going back to change to something else, maybe even prednisone :(
Posted 3/13/2011 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Entocort caused more irritation to my rectum and usually made my flares worse. Rowasa was better for me.
Posted 3/13/2011 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
I tend to have a lot of mucus when I flare, then it becomes more blood as it progresses, or a mixture. Anucort (cortisone suppositories) never helped and in fact I got worse when I used them. I think you need the mesalamine (rowasa) retention enemas.
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