What is a Flare-up or Remission

Definitely loose diarrhea with moderate cramping.

Could these be the symptoms that warrant going into surgery...

I have tried mostly all medications from 5-ASA's, immunosuppressants to biologics like Remicade and the Adacolumn.

G

I have tried Probiotics of all kind - everything from VSL#3, Culturelle, Acidophilus and Ecoli Nissle with no real effect.

As for fibre, I know for sure that Psyllium Husk gives me a laxative effect and dietary fibre just increases my output further...

G

Colonoscopy results show Pancolitis with severe inflammation all the way round.

As for steroids, I have used them extensively over the past 8 years and have noticed that they don't seem to work as well as they used to.

G

Gargamel....if you have exhausted all the testing to prove that you don't have anything else going on in your colon (invaders), meds aren't working and your quality of life is declining, I'd suggest surgery.

I personally don't think it's good for one to live with a diseased organ that's distressing the body having it in constant defensive mode.

I, if I were in your position, would have it as the next option.

quincy

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*Heather* Status..Asacol 6 (3 twice daily); enemas every 4th night

~diagnosed January 1989 UC (proctosigmoiditis)

~Bentylol (dicyclomine) 20mg as needed

~vitamins/minerals/supplements 

~Probiotics....(Natural Factors Protec 2 or 3  +   1 or 2 Primadophilus Reuteri Pearls @ bedtime

~multi-digestive enzymes as needed

~Ranitidine,Pariet (reflux);  Effexor XR 75mg(depression);  Pulmicort/Airomir (asthma)

~URSO for PSC (or PBC) 500mg X 2 daily (LFTs back to NORMAL!!)

My doc's logic.. "TREAT (FROM)BOTH ENDS"  worth it !!!

 

     The doctor who is pushing surgery...is he a colorectal surgeon or GI doctor?

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62 yr old granny. South Jersey

Diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis in 1998 in hospital

Hospitalized (2nd time) in May 2008

Update 11/03/08...finally in remission!!  Hope I don't jinx myself.  Off the prednisone since 11/01/08...now see if I can stay off for longer than two weeks.  Other meds: 6MP (75 mgm), colazal (6 per day), Benicar and Toprol (high blood pressure meds), Probiotic (2 per day), fish oil capsule and multi-vitamin and calcium with vitamin D.

Since the jpouch is made with your own living tissue, small intestine, it will last your lifetime.  However, since the surgery is relatively new there are no long term statistics on this.  I do know people with jpouches that are 25+ years old and they are doing fine.

Sue

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dx proctitis in 1987
dx UC in 1991, was stable until 1998

1998 started prednisone, asacol, pentasa, nortriptylene, ativan, 6MP, rowasa enemas and suppositories, hydrocortisone enemas, tried the SCD diet, being a vegetarian, omega 3s, flax, pranic healing, yoga, acupuncture, probiotics

2000 lost all my B-12 stores and became anemic

2001 opted for j-pouch surgery- now living life med-free

Have you attempted trying Humira? Have the Doctors suggested this drug to you? My doctor has told me that this is the last option for me that is. I'm on it and have been on it for a year and a half. I'm doing wonderful with it.

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26 year old, Married, Female.

Diagnosed with UC since March 2007

Taking Humira and Imuran since May 2007 (Currently in remission since May 2007)

I have tried Remicade last year. I had 8 infusions with no effect.

As for Humira, I don't think its available to Ulcerative Colitis patients in the UK and as far as I've read, people who don't respond to Remicade usually don't respond to Humira either.

I was also offer a drug called Cyclosporine recently, but I flatly turn that down because of its safety profile.

G

If I may ask, what part of cyclosporine's safety profile made you deny it? I thought Remicade and cyclosporine had dangers/side effects of a similar level.

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Female, Age 20

9 Asacol, Rowasa, 1000 mg Canasa, Proctofoam, Rifaximin 2/day

Digestive Advantage (Crohn's & Colitis), 1 Florastor, 50 mg 6MP,1 Primadophilus reuteri, Remicade (5 infusions), 2.4 g Lialda, 1 Forvia, 6 Colazal/day, 1 Anucort, Culturelle, Fish Oil, Calcium/Vit D supplement

that's how it was explained to me too- that it gets you healthy enough to undergo surgery! But there is a poster on here who has had it twice, & not gone in for surgery. It is not for long-term use, but I think some people continue to take it orally after they are discharged from the hospital, where it's administered intravenously. It is dangerous- hence the need for hospitalization while getting the drug. The providers need to be able to check labs constantly, & have you right there in case anything should go awry. I don't think it's any more dangerous than Remicade, though- while they both have some pretty scary potential side effects, these are rare occurences. If you speak with a colo-rectal surgeon, they may want to stabilize you before they do any surgery on you.

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diagnosed with UC '02

meds-

Asacol- 8 tabs/day

Remicade-10mgs/kg- since 4/07

Imuran- 150mgs/day

Culturelle

Fiber supplement