Bad flare. In hospital.

Went to the ER this morning for first time ever for my UC. Have been severely flaring since Thursday and presnisone isnt helping...kept getting worse. They are keeping me in the hospital overnight but not doing much i havent seen a gastro doc yet. Feeling really hopeless and scared. All they did was give me one dose of IV steroids and pain meds and IV fluids this morning. Felt great all morning but probably because I was doped up. I slept on the bathroon floor Saturday night and went to the bathroom probably 30-40 times, D, some blood, lots of mucous for several days, bad bloating for weeks.

Ask to be tested for C.diff. Could be an infection and not a flare.

Why haven't you seen a GI yet? I think it is unacceptable.

Its not c diff.

Last weekend, I ran 68 miles, and I was already mildly flaring before it. Symptoms went away a couple days before, during, and a couple days after the race. It seems there is no rhyme or reason to my UC or any reason to even try to blame myself when I can flare out of the blue. It's not like the thought hasn't crossed my mind but who knows. It's bad enough not even being able to go out for a hike or short run right now...or even being able to sleep.

Yeah, they said a gastro doc will see me in the morning. Yep, Im on the same meds as always. Cant do rowasa really when this sick though. Guess they just dont work anymore. Really worried. Really depressed right now. I dont know what they'd send me home with...pred, I guess...which isnt helping. Imuran maybe, which takes months to work. Will probably have to try remicade now. One step closer to surgery. :(

They havent done a c diff test yet but its never c diff. This feels exactly like my flare when I first got UC in 2007. That means my whole colon is probably inflamed. I went to the bathroom probably 30 or 40 times yesterday and havent gone all day at the hospital...probably all the pain meds they gave me.

Thanks...will pass along the hug to Pumpkin when I get home...

Oh gosh Sara. I'm so sorry. I've been there often. When I flare, I flare badly going 20+ times and often end up hospitalized. I'm not sure what's worse...them making you leave or my docs who don't let me leave until I'm down below 10 times a day.

My last hospital stay, I'd had it after 3 weeks of a bad flare and finally gave in and tried remicade. I'm so happy with my decision. I've had a couple of small flares since but they have been considerably easier and shorter. Do you think they would approve In patient remicade? That way you can start a lot quicker and not await scheduling.

Thanks guys. How long does Remicade take to work generally? I havent done a ton of research on it. It just scares the crap out of me. I always thought Id try imuran first but it sounds like remicade is often used first now? I'll ask the doctor tomorrow. At least I got some relief today with pain meds. All I want is to feel normal and healthy and be able to work tomorrow. Im very lucky I can work from home but still it is very difficult to do that when so sick.

Thanks for the support. Helps to hear from people who have this. Thanks for letting me complain.

I saw a marked difference after my first dose. I went from 25 a days to 5-10 overnight. Then I had a second dose 2 weeks and then 4 weeks later. After each loading dose I felt better and better. Some respond immediately and some take a few doses. But I'd bet you'd see some improvement like me.

I also have pancolitis. It's rough. I promise you...the fear of starting remicade is far worse than the actual treatment.

Sara: Not glad to see you back at least in this condition.
I am just not sure about all the running, as you probably know long distance running
can cause reduced blood flow to the colon, resulting in some people runners colitis.
In none UC people they probably heal, but in people like us it might be a different story.
Could even be a delayed reaction, reduced blood flow, weakened barrier, time = flare.

Good luck.
Old Mike

Well here is something to read.

Old Mike
Gastrointestinal Physiology During Exercise
www.cptips.com/smexphy.htm

4) The Colon (ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid, and rectum)
As opposed to the small intestine, the effects of exercise on the colon are marked and the results (diarrhea, urgency, and incontinence) readily evident. •There is a change in motility. There are two types of motility in the colon - segmenting activity and propulsive waves. As elsewhere in the GI system, there is a decrease in segmenting contractions (which usually act to delay transit through the colon) and propulsive or phasic waves are then unopposed. The result is a decrease in oral - rectal transit time. ◦mechanical effects, especially with the jostling of running, may contribute to the more rapid movement of fecal material down the descending colon with the result being rectal urgency - which is most common in running events and directly correlates with the duration of the running event.

•There is a change in colonic mucosal integrity with exercise. It is unclear whether this is related to mechanical effects on an organ which has a long mesentery or is a result of mucosal damage from a decrease in visceral blood flow. Evidence includes: ◦an increase in endotoxemia (measured in blood samples) ◾there is a significant correlation between endotoxin levels and symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea,

◦colonoscopic evidence of ischemic colitis picture (confirmed by biopsy)
◦an increase in occult GI blood loss that directly correlates with exercise duration

There's no scientific consensus that running = flare, and doctors don't recommend against it. So, I wouldn't beat yourself up, get depressed, or get upset over that possibility. UC takes so much away from us as it is, certainly continue doing things that you love doing. There's risk in everything.

Thanks, iPoop & Kulinary!

The gastro dr here just came in briefly. He wants to do a scope Wednesday.

Thanks momtoboys! :) I feel the same as you about running. I almost always just rest if Im flaring.

I'm still in the hospital. The gastro dr here just called me. He's doing the scope tomorrow afternoon. They're keeping me here today and tonight. Starting on liquid diet now and I get to do NuLytely this afternoon and tomorrow morning for my prep...good times...lol. I've done GoLytely before but not NuLytely.