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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/11/2011 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
Is Diarrhea a first sign that something is not quite right?

 

My hubby was doing great with formed poops, no urgency, blood, cramps etc

a day or 2 ago he started noticng poops were softer and today diarrhea-although he has only gone once today it was diarrhea.

 

I told him to start Rowasa... is that the right thing to do?

2 times a day or 1 ?

 

Thanks

Posted 11/12/2011 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
The signs are a bit different for everyone, but diarrhea can certainly be one of them! It's hard to say because there are so many causes for diarrhea... I can't really tell you if the Rowasa is the "right" thing to do (although I don't think it could hurt), I'd probably contact my doctor if I were you to see what they say or recommend.
Posted 11/12/2011 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
It's a symptom that could mean the inflammation isn't finished, could be mild, however.

If he has Rowasa, he should be doing them anyway...
so yes...he should start them now.

Nightly is all he would need. What oral med is he on?

Is he on probiotics as well?

Lots of ups and downs....good no urgency.,

What exactly was the diagnosis as to location?

q
Posted 11/12/2011 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
My first sign was blood on the TP but not in the bowl. Later when my proctitis progressed, I saw lots of blood, had D, cramping...

Now a days, I will notice looseness, mucous, gas.

Posted 11/13/2011 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Quincy he is on Asacol 2 pills 3 Xday- was using Rowasa nightly, changed to Canasa nightly and was doing good for about a week and then bam he went from formed poop to totally loose poops- no blood or urgency though.

He is now doing Rowasa in the night and Canasa in the morning but it hasn't quite turned around yet.
Yes he is on VSL#3
Posted 11/13/2011 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
How much VSL?

Would you mind to make another signature for your husband? at least I won't keep asking for how long, etc.

How many times a day is he going?

Anything else change such as supplements or food intake?

q
Posted 11/13/2011 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
He is taking 1/2-1 packet a day of VSL.
He is going 2-3 times a day

I am going to tell him to do Rowasa every night and Canasa in the morning.

His Dr wrote back that he should do Rowasa every night for 1 more month and then Asacol alone should be enough.

How do I tell her that it is a good idea to always use Rowasa?
Posted 11/13/2011 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
I would just tell her that when you stop Rowasa you notice the symptoms returning.

I know how frustrating it is when the doctor thinks they know best but their plan doesn't physically work for you. My GI is all for using rectal meds longterm if necessary but she's always trying to get me to decrease the amount of Asacol I take and everytime I do so, I begin to flare & have to increase.
Posted 11/13/2011 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
I told my doctor that I had joined a forum with alot of other people who have had this disease alot longer than me and had offered suggestions. I told her I wanted to use the Rowasa as a maintenance drug and that it seems to be working well for me at the moment. She agreed that it is a great medicine and happily wrote out the script. (I had used it when I was first diagnosed but didn't unless I was flaring...big mistake) You can't be afraid to tell your doctor what you want to do to help yourself. I seemed to have a harder time when my doctor was a male...my female GI is great and I don't feel thats its as hard to tell her specifics. :) You have to remember they have heard it all and nothing should surprise them and heck if it does than guess what...they learned something new that day. LOL
Posted 11/13/2011 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
I totally agree with nssg and sb. And suggest that he would like to taper the Rowasa to every second night for another month and them to every third to see how that goes.

I highly suggest that NOT only depending on Asacol is the way to go....since it's a good dosage "forever" and using the rectals to treat and then taper to maintenance...he has a good prospect for his future.

Have him ask the doctor if he has a problem with that process...and for him to say "I'm willing to do the commitment"....etc.

Oh, he may only need the suppositories for maintenance...another process to taper to those, and use the enemas for flares and the supps for support/in conjunction treatment..taper to maintenance, etc.

Yes, it's a process, but it's self-directed and he will always have the feeling of being in control. If the doc will write the prescriptions and he goes for appointments at least twice a year...I'm sure the doc will go along.

Who really wants to do enemas??? no one. But, I can say with 100% assurity that as I look back while approaching my 23rd year since diagnosis, I'm so happy I never got the OTHER doc who would have put me on pred first thing...whew!

q
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