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What really is "remission"?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/4/2015 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
How do you describe, define, or really, tell when you are in remission? I kind of want with the baseline of a lack of a flare, or at least very minor flaring. Would you say thats an accurate description?
Posted 11/4/2015 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
IMO, remission is when you're not having any symptoms (even mild ones) and there is no inflammation detected on scopes/tests. Unless of course you also have IBS as I do, my CD is in remission based on C-scope and feeling much better but I still have frequency issues and it's also constipated which sucks cuz I have frequency so I do a lot of straining each day, though my GI did give me lax a day to use daily or every other day and for the most part it's helping with the straining but I still have frequency which is why I'm going the MMJ route, to aid with the frequency issues.
Posted 11/4/2015 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
I can drive for hours to work and home.
I can sit in long meetings for hours.
I do not wake up in the middle of the night.
I only have bm when I choose to 1-2 times per day.
Posted 11/4/2015 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
I'm currently in symptomatic remission and, to me, that means/is 1 solid, nonurgent bm per day without any uc symptoms: no blood, mucus, etc. I can forget about uc, as it doesn't currently impact my life.
Posted 11/4/2015 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
IMO, it's like you were before UC. At least as far as your digestive system goes.

Post Edited (ushippedyourpants?) : 11/4/2015 1:58:45 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/4/2015 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Awkwardly enough, I don't really know what life was like "pre-UC", only "pre-flare up that sent me to the hospital".

I guess I'm just trying to gauge where I am health wise. I am not where near what I was when I had pancolitis and in the hospital, but I am not sure if I am on track for "remission" or what to really expect when I "normalize" with UC
Posted 11/4/2015 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
There are a couple different version of remission: clinical, symptomatic, histological. Ideally, you want all three, meaning that you have no visible or microscopic inflammation and are experiencing no symptoms. The best I've done in 4 years since my diagnosis is to get rid of visible inflammation.
Posted 11/5/2015 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
If my definition of remission was as strict as yours, I would never have been in remission since diagnosis (more than 3 years ago). So, in order to not feel discouraged, my definition of remissions goes as follow :

- No blood
- No pain
- No urgency
- nice scope/biopsy

What is acceptable for me is mucus and let's say 2-3 BMs a day (on bad days which occur let's say once every 2 weeks, I can have 5).

Sure, it is far from what it used to be before diagnosis (once perfectly formed BM around 4 O'clock every day), but still it is more than acceptable for me.
Posted 11/5/2015 8:24 AM (GMT 0)

zephyraph said...
If my definition of remission was as strict as yours, I would never have been in remission since diagnosis (more than 3 years ago). So, in order to not feel discouraged, my definition of remissions goes as follow :

- No blood
- No pain
- No urgency
- nice scope/biopsy

What is acceptable for me is mucus and let's say 2-3 BMs a day (on bad days which occur let's say once every 2 weeks, I can have 5).

Sure, it is far from what it used to be before diagnosis (once perfectly formed BM around 4 O'clock every day), but still it is more than acceptable for me.

How long did it take for your to get to that point?
Posted 11/5/2015 9:36 AM (GMT 0)
For me it's 1-2 solid BM's a day, no Blood or Mucus, and a Fecal Calprotectin score of less than 50.
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