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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/27/2012 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
So, short bio, diagnosed w/ UC 2005, only a couple of very minor flares that were handled w/ a few days of canasa supps.  Until this past year.  I think I've been mildly flaring since last Dec.  Had a bout w/ diverticulitis April 2011 and did two rounds cipro/flagyl.  Started VSL#3 and had several months of the most normal bm's I've had maybe ever.  Always been on generic Colazal and it's been fine. Original diagnosis up/uc just left sided.  I think the UP is the bigger issue. 

Right now, seeing a little blood and mucus, but the urgency is less.  BUT-now having cramps and rectal discomfort, thinking it's time for a bm, and then not a lot happens.  This will happen a few times and then eventually I'll  have a fairly formed bm.  Even thought the urgency is actually less, the feeling will "pass", I'm starting to worry about my long commute and I"m going to put together an "emergency" bag w/ those just in case sorts of things in the event of an accident.  I'm not going loads and loads nor is it really diarrhea, so I realize that it's not nearly at a level of severity that it could be. 

I'm on generic colazal x 12 (the max dose from my doc) and canasa supps once every night.  Yet I still feel like I'm flaring or maybe heading into a worse flare.   What would be next?  My GI doesn't want to do oral steroids but mentioned once that rectal he would consider.  Would that be next?  I think there's a problem w/ steroids if you've had diverticulitis?  I don't know.  I have an appt. with him 11/8, so I hope he'll be able to help me come up w/ a plan that gets this under control before it's out of control.  It seemed to get worse so suddenly as I'd been doing pretty well. 

The thing is---I know it's at least in part stress.  My husband was laid off 15 months ago.  We're eeking by on my salary as a teacher and his freelance work and our savings.  But it worries me and NOW I'm worried that I could get so sick that I can't work, which would be a nightmare.  I know I shouldn't be borrowing trouble and worry from the future, but I can't help it.

I don't even know what I'm hoping to accomplish w/ this post, maybe just a vent to people who understand.

Chinamom

Posted 10/27/2012 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe it's time to up the ante and use rectal mesalamine. There's more medicine in there and it will cover more of the distal colon.

Sorry about the life stress and I hope you feel better soon.
Posted 10/27/2012 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
How about adding Rowasa enemas (they have more med in them than the Canasa-so add Rowasa at night, Canasa in the morning. Another option..adding a steroid supp (Anucort hc) in the mix (meaning Canasa at day, steroid at night). I think this would be the next things I would try.

If that doesn't cut it...can try Cortifoam (steroid foam) and than finally I would try steroid enemas. So that would be my course of action- probaby in that kind of order. Let us know how you end up proceeding.
B
Posted 10/27/2012 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
Stress used to be labeled a big factor in UC. Now they disagree with that. Even though I don't think stress is the technical cause of UC it can almost certainly be a trigger. My UC came about during a time of extremely major stress. I wish I could tell you to just not be stressed but I've been there, done that. What is your diet like and how much VSL do you take? There's not really that many things in the doctor's medical bag so you should investigate them and decide for yourself which avenues you feel better about instead of just letting him decide. The doctors just don't have any magic pills. All they can be is a used car mechanic trying to fix a used car. They try this and try that until they finally hit on something that fixes the problem. They may get it right the first time or it may be the fifth thing they try. They really don't know which treatment will work on you so you should look at the pros and cons of everything and kind of decide for yourself. Good luck.
Posted 10/27/2012 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies!  Very informative--I've learned (from this forum) about all the different suppositories and enemas out there, but wasn't really sure the hows/whens of each. 

I'm only doing 2 VSL#3 per day.  Before, I felt like if I did more I'd get cloggy, and I want to avoid getting cloggy almost as much as I want to avoid diarrhea.  I've also tried Renew Life Ultimate Flora and actually felt like that did somehting.  Maybe I'll try that again as I just ran out of VSL#3.  Or maybe up the VSL?  Or alternate the two?

Again thanks for the input.  So very nice to have this forum.  Sometimes I love the interwebs.

Chinamom

Posted 10/27/2012 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck Chinamom. I learned way more on this forum than at any Dr. I don't know what I would have done w/out this place--good for some med. knowledge, sympathetic ears and even a good laugh at some of the funnier posts. Keep us posted on how you are doing.
B
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