Abrupt Change in Symptoms?

So, as I've said before, this flare is my first flare since being diagnosed and it's been a weird few months (approaching a year).

I'm on Entyvio and have seen certain symptoms improve. My bleeding slowed and as a result, blood levels soared.

My symptoms were pretty simple: I'd get urgency 6-7 times a day. I'd have a BM, and then I'd feel fine until the next one (usually every 2-3 hours). Based on this, I knew I could have a BM and then do something like drive somewhere further away for work or whatever. I had very limited stomach pain. it was just urgency, bm, relief, repeat.

However, within the last 2 weeks my symptoms have changed. now, my stomach is constantly in pain. not serious pain, but just a pain in my gut. The urgency is lessened and its more the stomach pain that drives me to the bathroom. however, when i go, nothing happens. as a result, i'll come out and feel fine for 10-15 minutes and then the stomach pain tends to come back. sometimes the result is just blood, sometimes absolutely nothing. i have noticed in the few real BMs Ive had that the bowels have regained some solid form which was encouraging.

anyone else experience something like this? i dont know whether to take it as the Entyvio starting to zero in on this flare and do its work, something unrelated to the medicine, or just randomly happening?

My explanation is based on my symptoms of flare and improvement.....and explained by my previous GI.

As I see it, with healing, the area location of inflammation will lower...eventually into the rectum to a more limited area. The degree of inflammation can still be varied, but when lower....symptoms will lessen in bms being more like constipation..could be more formed stool, skinny stool, pebbles or no stool, more gas, cramping, and stomach pain (for me, bigtime). All discomfort will be from spasming and because of mixed signals from the rectum, peristalsis will be happening, yet not so good...like hissy fits.

So, since your symptoms have improved, you are healing....but you are now having limited rectal symptoms....which I'd rather diarrhea. I suggest rectal meds added , antispasmodics, and for sure probiotics.

If you've changed your food intake, you might want to tweak ot to help loosen the stool and encourage a faster transit time. Stool softeners were helpful to me.
Increasing vitamin C can loosen stool and quicken peristalsis. Fibre supplement added to meals can fluff, bulk and make passage through an inflamed rectum easier. Antispasmodics can help stomach spasming. Ranitidine can help as well by quickening the digestive tract and easing some of the stomach pain.

Rectal meds will help heal the rectum....it's most stubborn.

Some find ginger tea, gravol ginger caplets, peppermint tea, peppermint oil capsules, and other soothing digestive products helpful. I use Soothe Digest from Natural Factors. Digestive enzymes might help as well.

Feel better soon,
q