HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

What tells you you're "beginning a flare"?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/7/2011 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
I've likely read the entire contents of the archives on this forum. Thanks for all the information!!

I've gone back in time and have been able to come up with many times in my life I've had bad d and a 10lb weight loss...all have been stress related. I've had tummy troubles my whole life, but I think it seems the commonality is likely stress/anxiety related. My doc doesn't think it's stress or food related and has assured me I didn't do this to my self.

Right now the meds are working, but I have to wonder what I should look for in the future? I'm currently tapering off the prednisone.

What is your fist sign? Is it the d comes back or the bleeding or something else?

Thank you!
Posted 5/7/2011 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
For me, it is usually gas, bloating, noise from my gut. Usually a few days later I may see blood or notice looser stools and increased frequency. I think these are the main warning signs.
Posted 5/7/2011 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Its the same for me noisy gut, bloating, gas, few more trips to the toilet in the morning and an overall run down feeling.  I immediately start the enemas and closely watch what I'm eating to stop things before I start to see blood. 

 If I can catch the early warning signs I can usually control things alot faster now a days.  Years ago I would of let things go until the point of no return, I simply ignored any sign and continued on and by that time it was to late.  My flares would go on for many months and up to a year.  You need to listen to your body.

Posted 5/7/2011 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
 

The first sign for me was always bleeding.  That seems to be the point when you realize that your really flaring and don't just have a "bug". 

Posted 5/7/2011 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
Usually for me the first sign is mucus. I tend towards c, though so I maybe a bit different.
Posted 5/8/2011 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Urgency...that is also the worst sign of a flare.
Posted 5/9/2011 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Mucus is definitely the first sign for me.
Posted 5/9/2011 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
When my energy levels plummet and I just don't "feel right." I haven't had enough flares to be able to pick up on it right away but that was what happened when my last two flares happened.
Posted 5/9/2011 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Random Bleeding and/or Urgency for more than a day or two. Sucks.
Posted 5/9/2011 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
really painful gas and increased urgency to go...last time i had a flare ended up in the er, couldnt keep anything down
Posted 5/9/2011 7:04 AM (GMT 0)
For me, gas and diarrhea could just be due to something I ate. If it lasts more than 24 hours, then it could be a sign that my symptoms might worsen and I might go into another flare. Urgency and bleeding are signs that I'm flaring. I stop bleeding when I go into remission. Urgency might take longer to go away because it takes awhile for the colon to heal. The worse the flare was, the more time needed.
Posted 5/9/2011 12:39 PM (GMT 0)
Mucus that is white. Clear to "clearish" mucus seems pretty normal, but if I see it white, I get pretty anxious.
Posted 5/9/2011 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
I call it that "ooey gooey" feeling in my gut - it's probably just cramping. Plus I get a left sided pain before the blood starts. I also get D, but with me I have to wait a couple days to see if D is from my IBS, Diverticulosis or my Uc.
Posted 5/9/2011 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
My first sign is the feeling of tiny gas bubbles developing in my colon. To me it has the same sensation as pouring a can of seven up into a glass and placing your face near the glass. I experience the same fizzing sensation in my colon. The bleeding usually starts within a couple of days. The trigger of my flares over the past few years seems to have been severe back pain.
Posted 5/9/2011 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
For me, it's extra gas, especially mucus-y smelling gas.... then mucus.... then more stools than usual.... then blood.
Posted 5/9/2011 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
For me it's cramps, mucus in stool, followed a few days later by blood. It always happens the same way, and usually stress related each time. I do not handle stress very well.
Posted 5/10/2011 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
Wow! Thanks all!!

I think I've been flaring for 3 years! I think the meds are making me better, but still have some minor issues. Good to know what to look for and to watch what goes away.

Thanks again :-)
Posted 5/12/2011 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
For me the first signs are joint pain especially in my ankles, sometimes I get an eye infection, and then fatigue. The absolute last sign before blood is loud digestive noises and bloating. Ugh the bloating. Glad your meds are working : )
Posted 5/12/2011 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
I get tired and then start to bleed.
Posted 5/12/2011 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
Pain and cramping in LLQ and more frequent trips to bathroom seem to be signs for me also. Sometimes a small amount of blood in stool a day or two before also.
Posted 5/13/2011 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Gas, noise in the bowel, very bad back pain and then frequency for me.
Posted 5/13/2011 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
Usually increasing smelly gas, gradually softening stool, cramps, mucous which gradually starts to contain more blood.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply