Flare or ulcer

Does anyone have a diagnosis of UC and ulcers? For about three weeks I have been having pain around my belly button sometimes accompanied by throbbing. I do have a diagnosis of GERD and have been on Prilosec for around 15 years.

Last summer when I had my colonoscopy, I was in a slight flare and there was some rectal inflammation. My GI had me increase my sulfasalazine to four pills a day and the use of a Canasa suppository for 14 days and then as needed. When I first got the throbbing pain I again upped my medication and used the suppository because I wasn't getting the heartburn I remembered when I had been diagnosed with H. pylori about 15 years ago. I haven't seen improvement in my belly button discomfort and am not sure if I am in a flare or not.

I do not have the UC where there is a lot of diarrhea and blood but tend to have difficult bowel movements - 1 or 2 a day. I have begun adding more Fiber and am considering using a stool softener for a couple of days. I am hoping that this will help with the pressure and bloating I have been experiencing as well as some excess gas.

I'm just looking for like experiences or suggestions of what to try. I was so hoping to be able to take care of this on my own because I hate to go to doctors and go through lots of tests. I also hate to miss work (I teach first graders).

I am having a similar issue but doc feels I have Gastritis. He did not want to do a scope but I did test negative for h pylori. Very frustrating..

Ive had a duodenal ulcer from Naproxen after back surgery. It's pretty obvious when you have one, nausea, horrific pain in the epigastrum (underneath the point of your breastbone, not your belly button), radiates to your back, pain, heartburn, loss of appetite, and usually makes your UC seem like a walk in the park. When you get scoped for your colon they can add on an upper scope with no problem.

The usual 'cure' for it is doubling (an am and pm) a double max dose of Protonix/Nexium or another PPI (Prilosec is really a weak one) twice a day for 5 days, and if it goes away..that's most likely it, or a bad case of gastritis. Easy way to check, and works really fast. Has nothing to do with your belly button location though, that sounds like Crohns or just referred pain form UC, or constipation which I get sometimes when in flare.

Hope this helps!

I called my GI today but he is out of the office. His nurse was going to message him and said she would get back to me this afternoon (not) or tomorrow morning on what I should try.

I sure hope it isn't Crohn's, Scott. I guess we'll see what he says tomorrow. I've worried a little about adhesions from a gall bladder surgery although it was done in the laproscopic way so that isn't usually as big of a problem. I also wonder if it is a partial obstruction.

My GI's nurse called back and the GI wants me to try entocort (if I can afford it) or prednisone if I can't. I've never taken either so I'm not sure of side effects or what I should expect. I will then go to see him in April to see if it makes a difference. She said to call if I have questions or it's not working. How long should I wait to see if it is working. Thanks for your support. I've had UC for a long time but never had a flare this long and with such different symptoms so I wasn't sure what I was looking at.