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Cycling causing pain?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/4/2017 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
I ride my bike a lot, am newly diagnosed UC, and am currently flaring.

Happily, I have minimal pain so far. Except when I'm cycling. It seems like the position (I have a touring bike with drop bars) is the problem, but I get a feeling that can only be described as "toothpicks in my colon" when I ride for more than a few miles. It's worse if I suck in my lower abdomen, or tighten my abs, and it improves if I stand/walk for a few minutes.

Any other cyclists with UC experience this and, if so, have you found a way to prevent it?
Posted 6/4/2017 10:19 AM (GMT 0)
I'd tackle your flare and hit it hard with appropriate medications. Afterwards your cycling should be easier.

You shpuld be taking 4 lialda a day and nightly rowasa, and nothing theoretical about either haha. Are you on a steroid like prednisone? Ask your doctor for a dose increase. If those aren't enough together, then think about stronger meds like immunomodulators (imuran/6MP) or biologics (remicade/humira). Flares can last as long as we let them last. Get aggressive in treating your symptoms.
Posted 6/4/2017 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
No steroids; just the Lialda and theoretical Rowasa. Any meds changes/increases will have to wait to my next appt. which, sadly, isn't until early next month as I am switching practices.

I do feel like the Lialda is helping a bit, and that more would potentially help more, so I'm hopeful.

In the meantime, I just want to ride my bike without feeling like I swallowed knitting needles. 😂
Posted 6/4/2017 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
Then use the rowasa you were prescribed. Yes there's an initial ick factor we all face. However, enemas work and results are what truly matter. Treating from both ends produces the absolute best results.

Our most bothersome symptoms come from rectal inflammation, lialda doesn't consistently treat the rectum, and rowasa does. Rectal inflammation is the first to appear, our most severe inflammation, and the very last inflammation to go away with UC. If you're serious about treatimg your UC quickly and getting back to things you love, like cycling, then do it. Enemas are pretty easy, squeeze all of the air out, administer, and ignore the first minute urge to expell, and lay on your left side for 20 minutes. I'll lay in bed and read or watch tv for that time.

None of this theoretical crap. Most of us long term UC folks who've had UC for many years would knock you on the side of the head if we could for that lol.
Posted 6/4/2017 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
I don't see the point of pushing your body to a tipping point with exercise.

I also don't get the concept of theoretical rowasa......you don't seem to do theoretical cycling. Get realistic as to the needs of your body rather than the needs of your psyche.

Q
Posted 6/4/2017 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
My psyche lives within my body, and if I do not meet its needs then the body suffers the physical consequences of stress and anxiety.

Do I need to be better about compliance? Probably do! But I also have to live in my body and, I suppose, at some point, the physical drawbacks of non-compliance will outpace my comfort level. Perhaps I am already there, with the physical pain while cycling. Not cycling is not an option for me (How would I get to breweries? Also, cycle touring without a bike becomes . . . difficult), so the Rowasa moves ever closer to the realm of the practical. ;)

I am not interested in limitations. I AM interested in figuring out how to live my life with UC, and my life includes distance running and cycling and, to some extent, pushing the limits of what I can do, physically. Healthy or not,
those things are non-negotiable. I just need to know if there are any people with experience doing these things, and if they have suggestions beyond, obviously, taking my meds in the proscribed manner.

And I do understand that the way I approach these things may need to change in order to continue accomplishing them. So those are the suggestions I'm looking for, I guess.
Posted 6/4/2017 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Certainly nobody wants to have limitations and use UC as an excuse. The aim of treatment is to be symptom free within a remission. Remission for ulcerative colitis makes you essentially pre-uc. Noncompliance is like putting a stick within your spokes at high-speed, it's not helpful unless you happen to like roadrash.

We have marathoners, weight lifters, and athletes with UC. Many of us live active and fulfilling lives without a lot of limits. Your goal should be to hit UC hard with the proper treatments and get it out of your way. Stay compliant whether feeling good or bad as an insurance policy to enable you to have fun and keep having fun. Be stubborn and stupid about it and UC will put you in a hospital bed. As autoimmune disease can kick our asses, put us in pain, make us incontinent, and housebound. Just don't take uc lightly, respect it, and keep on top of it. Some of us have been at this for many years and know how awful UC can get.
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