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Constipation in UC?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/21/2015 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
My son is starting to get constipated now - previously he would have pretty regular BM. But since start of this year he has had 3 periods of 3+ days constipation, it is becoming the norm after start of flare in Jan. Is constipation common with UC, I thought it was multiple BMs that was the common symptom.

Anyone have constipation with UC? What is the safest supplement to use - I start on Miralax if he is C for 2 days. It takes 2 doses to get BM. Looking for a safe and regular option.
Posted 2/21/2015 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
I personally haven't been constipated since diagnosed with UC that I can recall. Maybe once or twice. But I do know a lady who gets constipated now that she's had UC for 20 years or so. I don't think it's super common, especially in a flare, but it does happen. When we're not flaring we're just like people without UC and they get constipated. Maybe have him include more fiber in his diet. Shredded wheat has some good fiber. Also fiber one bars are yummy. BUT if he's gonna eat fiber one bars start out SLOW. It says it's 30% or something of your daily fiber needs but he should not by any means eat 3 of them or he'll be on the toilet all day.
Posted 2/21/2015 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
I have chronic constipation. Have never experienced diarrhea with UC. I can't always handle fiber, so I use this: http://diagnosey.blogspot.com/2015/01/settle-down-with-magnesium.html
Posted 2/21/2015 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
My UC leans towards constipation when I'm flaring and even in remission. I used to take psyllium capsules every day but have found a tablespoon of benefiber each morning much easier to maintain and on my gut.

Miralax is something I take when it gets bad. Both benefiber and miralax were suggestions from my gi and can be used long term. I also try and get a fruit/veggie smoothie in a few times a week. Gives me nutrients and fiber in liquid.
Posted 2/21/2015 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
Does constipation mean feeling like you have to go all the time but can't or does it literally mean hard stools that don't come out for longer than normal periods?
Posted 2/21/2015 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
For me in a flare it's a combination of both. Hard stools that I gave to strain with but still have that flare feeling of having to go all the time. So I take the fiber to soften it. Helps the straining.

In remission it's more along the lines of just hard stools and straining.
Posted 2/21/2015 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
Yes constipation is also a symptom of UC if it lasts for 2-3 days. Even normal people get constipated however. Certain food can create constipation in my gut so I avoid fiber-rich foods (nuts, fibrous veggies like broccoli, etc, anything that says high-fiber like energy bars). I also skip grains including oatmeal which are not processed well by my gut.

What I eat to relieve constipation: coconut oil, olive oil, ice cream (with no additives like carageenan).
I make homemade green juice (kale, carrot and a little red grape juice added) which gives me all the vitamins but no fiber. Also drink lots of water.

Fiber pills can help but are not all the same. After many tries my gut told me it hates psyllium, senna and others but Citrucell pills are fine. I take one daily but a couple years ago that quantity was much higher until my gut healed.

Mesalamine retention enemas will help heal that area but enemas that cause a BM can also be used. I've used Vitamin E suppositories for constipation and they are helpful too.

Bottom line: to prevent constipation I watch what I eat
To relieve constipation: See above.
Posted 2/21/2015 4:46 PM (GMT 0)

TotesMagotes said...
For me in a flare it's a combination of both. Hard stools that I gave to strain with but still have that flare feeling of having to go all the time. So I take the fiber to soften it. Helps the straining.

In remission it's more along the lines of just hard stools and straining.

Same for me! I still manage to get BM's out (thankfully) but they have the classic appearance of constipated looking stools, round little hard balls that are incredibly difficult to get out, lots of straining and sometimes the longer/bigger formed stool(s) that when you look at them, you can see all the little hard balls are attached to one another making it look like one big stool.

As seen here in the Bristol stool chart/scale link I posted below, mine look like #1, 2 and 3 (but have definitely had all the other stools on the chart and some that are even off the chart, like my very own special stools, ha I feel so special...NOT!!

here's the link...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/02/14/normal-stool.aspx


I'm in remission with my crohn's colitis but I have IBS alternating, mainly constipation though/constipated looking stools...sometimes my stools are just small bits (also hard to pass) and sometimes they come out looking very good but no matter what they look like, I'm pretty much always straining to get them out even if they look like normal shaped and sized stools, and sometimes even when it turns into D I still have some straining at some point during diarrhea stools.
Posted 2/21/2015 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for the valuable input. In my son's case, I think it could be the gluten-free Chex oatmeal that we recently introduced, or the chex rice cereal that he started a few weeks ago. Have to use miralax if it goes past 2 days - seems to work thus far. So i guess although not very common UC patients can get constipation off and on.
Posted 2/22/2015 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
BV...I need to clarify that Lialda, Apriso, Asacol, Salofalk, Pentasa do not contain sulpha. The only one that has is Sulfasalazine...so, your son not being able to use them is not sulpha related. Maybe you could consider to adjust that in your signature.

It's normal to have constipation while healing or at the start of a flare with limited in the rectum inflammation. Actually, it's a good sign that things for him are improving. Now....to deal with that aspect.
I would suggest that he at least try some rectal medications, even suppositories could help, although the retention enemas would be better. Unless you know that he for sure cannot use mesalamines, steroid ones might get him through this phase.

He could add some fibre supplements with his meals...that will help bulk and soften the stool).

If he doesn't get excessive gas from oats or milk, I'd suggest to keep with the cereal he's using. Does he have protein in his diet as well? Maybe an egg with a gluten free fibre toast would boost the fibre and help get his colon functioning in a more normal way.

This was one of the most confusing phases for me during healing. Stool softeners helped (docusate), as well as increasing my food intake.

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