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Does this happen? More questions from the newbie

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/30/2014 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
So of course i've been on pred at 30mg constant for about just over a month (was trying to get through exam period without any problems, but that backfired), however i have found my symptoms returning even at this constant dose. Does this happen? Is my body becoming to used to this strength, you see i'm not too sure if that is possible? At first i started to see small amounts of mucus, then about a week ago i saw a lot more when i had a terrible bm. Foods which i was fine with like a month ago are now causing me pain and cramps, and the food i eat is already bland as it is.

Now for the serious part, i just had the worse bm ever, i thought i was initially constipated so of course a lot came out, then i had some very BAD cramps which i never experienced before and then came the d with mucus and i think i saw blood also... Is this me flaring again? And agin i'm not eating anything different :/

Secondly, i did see my gp yesterday (ironically) and it was helpful to talk to him and he prescribed me some calcium and vit d(1 x2 a day) and alendronic acid (1 a week) for my bones and buscopan for the cramps. My sis (whose a nursing student) thinks that maybe all this new medication is causing it, I've only started taking everything today. Although i can't see vitamin tablets causing this kinda thing? Or does it? And i've taken buscopan before. I have also been using perdsol enemas for the last 2 weeks to see if that cleared things up but didn't so the gp decided to try me on colifoam, which i am to start tonight.

Thanks for reading, not too sure if it even makes sense, It's just i'm really scared and not understanding any of this
Posted 5/30/2014 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Just sounds like your flaring. Hopefully the pred enemas will help things.
Posted 5/30/2014 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
sherbear46, Ah, thanks for the insight, not looking forward to this...
Posted 5/30/2014 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Chesscab-
IMO, changes to meds including vitamins and supplements should be introduced one at a time. That way, problems with one or another would be more obvious.

I have to admit to being alarmed when I saw your age and the fact that you are on pred. IMHO, pred is prescribed way too much. It cures nothing and can cause serious issues in the future for users.
Have you looked into alternative ways to control UC?
I say this because I refused to take pred from the day I was diagnosed despite insistence from my first GI doc.
It took longer and meant that I had to accept diet and lifestyle changes, but now that's I have it under control, I don't regret making that decision.

Please consider alternatives to drugs with harmful side effects.
Many are discussed under the U.C. Resources tab.
My best wishes.
IAS :-)
Posted 5/30/2014 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks ItsAlwaysSomething, i'll think that through, think i'll stick to the calcium seeing as i don't have to take the other for another week. Yes, i do agree with that now after reading many post here about it, if i knew what i did now i would of rejected it. But of course in that state you just want anything to make myself better. Thats the thing, i don't know if i'm patient enough to search around and see if it works, just want my life back. I have been looking at alternatives, but it seems nothing works forever, although you did make me feel more open minded about it, thanks :) i will go look it up now
Posted 5/30/2014 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Why not mesalamine enemas?

I don't know anything about the alendronic acid, but I will share that calcium caused me to become constipated and I don't take it anymore. I make sure my vitamin D levels are in the normal range and I eat foods containing calcium as much as possible instead. Do you think the calcium caused you to have some stool backup? The "worst BM ever" sounds like a lot of spasms at the end of a large bowel movement. The passing of mucous and blood is pretty typical for UC.
Posted 5/30/2014 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
kazbern, i don't know, i've not been given that option yet, as i had to switch to the nhs i won't be able to get a gi appointment for like weeks. But i'll ring up and see about it on monday.

Would the calcium i was prescribed work that quick, fist time i took it was at 10am and i had this trouble at about 6pm. And i was taking 1200mg unprecribed before hand anyway without any problems. I probably did have stool backup but i stayed on the toilet because of the cramps and then the d came. This is the first time i've seen blood since mid march, do people see blood and mucus and think its normal? Does it not indicate a problem (sorry again newbie question).
Posted 5/30/2014 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
No, the blood and mucous aren't normal for people without UC, but it's not unusual for people WITH UC. And since you haven't seen blood since March it seems like your condition has taken a turn for the worse.

Can't you call your GI and ask for mesalamine enemas over the phone?
Posted 5/31/2014 5:43 AM (GMT 0)
kazbern, well yeah thats what i thought. Well i guess i'll try, but it's the weekend so i can't do anything anyway.

Another question, i have incredible bad aches and pains, couldn't sleep because of how much pain i'm in, i'm wondering if it's because i switched to colifoam from predsol just like that, but my gp said it would be fine?

Sorry and thanks again.
Posted 5/31/2014 7:43 AM (GMT 0)
When I was in the worse part of my flare, I'd extremely bad aches and pains too, especially (for me) in my hands & wrists - they got so bad, they were red & swollen and I could hardly get dressed. Now that my flare isn't so bad, I still get some pain & stiffness but they aren't quite as bad either.
I think the aches & pains are part of the flare you're in. When I went into my GI during the worst part, he asked if I had aches & pains without me mentioning it (I hadn't put them together yet), so I think it's just another symptom of this wonderful disease!
I hope you find some relief soon!
Posted 5/31/2014 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
Joint pain happens to about 25% of people with IBD. It was the worst part of my disease, frankly, until I got better control over the bowel inflammation and also added sulfazine to my meds.
Posted 5/31/2014 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Superblanks, that sounds horrible, I'm so sorry you had to go through that :( Ooh I'm glad there getting better. Think I got way to worked up about it, now starting to think it is a side affect from the alendronic acid, so i need to monitor that. Thanks though!

Kazbern, Oh no thats not good, can't imagine having pains for so long, sulfazine hmm, gotta look into that :o
Posted 6/1/2014 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
I was told recently by an endocrinologist that, in his experience, calcium supplements upset the bowel of his patients. Not been told that by a GI. so who knows who is right...
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