Update after colonoscopy

So I just refilled my prescriptions. No symptoms of UC since the after effects of the colonoscopy. I have a zoom call with the GI late next week. I’m hoping to go down to 3, then 2 mesalamine pills a day if I’m ok after a month of no pred and eventually be done with enemas too if I can. I’ve been eating pretty normal too, but do include a probiotic and eat pickles and olives and prebiotic foods too, hoping it helps. My stools are almost always once a day, high volume and formed but soft. I’m in a good place and hope it continues. Thanks for following and the advice! I get it - err on the side of caution & don’t stop taking mesalamine.

I realize that if I get back to lifting, I’ll have to scale it and the associated diet back. I was reading the other post about it and someone noted that lifting itself may contribute to UC because of blood flow to the gut. Idk if it was lifting or my high protein diet or both or something else that may have contributed to the UC, but I’ll try to not work out so hard & also not eat so much protein, particularly so much milk (I already cut out the whey) and protein bars which have all kinds of ingredients in them.

Post Edited (dmger14) : 12/8/2021 12:58:25 PM (GMT-7)

Exercise that's strenuous could be misinterpreted by your immune system and set autoimmune reaction in motion. So whatever you choose for yourself...do it wisely.

You sound as though being on meds will be a mental issue for you. Your choice...but most of us advise against it. Maintenance would be your best option.

q

You arent limited to med refills...they should be given indefinitely with at least 2x yearly visits with your GI and regular c-scopes . I've been at this for almost 33 years...yes a commitment, but it only takes 8 seconds to use. Med up the butt...not every night during maintenance.

However...there are other meds that don't require that commitment. Definitely a trial process to find what fits right for you and your lifestyle. Just don't totally go off mesalamines and wait till you end up where you were or worse.

q

I was diagnosed in 2010 with mild crohn's colitis in sigmoid colon. Bleeding was the only symptoms. Started Asacol then and added quick 3 weeks steroid and went in remission for 2 years. And thought I may be able to get away with less medication and reduced and then stopped Asacol(mesalamine) and went in flare that could not be control with 3 rounds of steroid and eventfully had to go on 6mp and also kept Mesalamine.

So from my experience steroid works for couple of times and then doesn't and if you have to go on next step, you will still have to keep previous medication. So why not take previous one if it is keeping you in medication.

I am definitely not promoting pharma but I am not those lucky ones who can manage with only diet and lifestyle change. Hope you go in long remission with whatever path you choose.

dmgr, firstly...you have UC and will flare. Secondly, you really don't know when inflammation actually started in action...could be low simmer for months. It happens. Did you have a vaccine months prior?

The activity of exercise and weightlifting...very wide range of intensities and subjective effects for those with autoimmune issues. It's not a blanket one size concept. Your body will tell you when it's too much, so you will be able to adjust accordingly.

I'm not in the food causes flares category.

Has mesalamine failed some? Yes. There are many reasons for that:
- One is noncompliance
- Sensitivity or allergy
- Many GIs seem to believe that patients wouldn't want to shove meds up their butts, so they don't bother to rx them
- Or they rx suppositories instead of enemas plus no oral meds if there is low limited rectal inflammation
- Many patients don't feel or understand symptoms, have a high tolerance for symptoms and request help much later than sooner
- Doctors will encourage patients to taper too quickly or set a goal to get off the meds
- Some doctors rx too low a dosage and refuse to increase to actually get their patients' UC under control
- Some will assume mesalaime failure when they only rx oral or rectal but not in combo
- etc...

You are your own experiment, basically. Taper properly...I and others can help with that. Pay full attention to symptoms, especially while healing from a flare...took me years to understand that they are/can be same symptoms when early flaring.

Just an fyi...the healing that has taken place in my rectum from obvious architectural changes to now...none seen in biopsies. I never realised that was possible, so it's been a worthwhile effort. But I never had a mental hang up about being on them...I would about being on pred, though.

q