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First bad UC flare so many questions!!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/18/2020 3:42 PM (GMT -7)
Hi all! Just went to the colorectal surgeon for what I was convinced was raging internal hemorrhoids (heavy bleeding/mucus) and after a flex sig (non sedated I might add 😑) turns out I’m just in a pretty bad UC flare. To be fair, I’ve had UC for 7 years so I should have known, but always had very mild flares which present with increase in BMs among other symptoms.

Has anyone else had a flare with excessive bleeding and mucus, but NO diarrhea or increase in BM frequency???

Also, this all came about because a colonoscopy in March showed total remission and I was told to continue oral mesalamine, but stop my daily mesalamine suppositories. Anyone else flare up after stopping the suppositories? Why would my doctor tell me to stop??? 🤦🏻‍♀️

P.s. How do y’all deal with the rectal pain at work? I sit and chart at least 5-6 hours of my work day and omg I cannot take it much longer...

Thanks for the support y’all 👋🏼✌🏼
Posted 7/19/2020 4:45 AM (GMT -7)
I've had flared with a lot of bleeding and mucus but that was it. What meds are you on?
Posted 7/19/2020 5:03 AM (GMT -7)
Interesting! I was on oral mesalamine and mesalamine suppositories for yearss, but since my colonoscopy in March, I’ve just been taking the oral. Now I’m taking oral and Rowasa daily. Hopefully it will do the trick🤞🏼
Posted 7/19/2020 9:28 AM (GMT -7)
RE your rectal pain at work: make sure you stand up from desk at least once every hour and take some steps, and drink some water because mesalamine tends to dehydrate the body if one neglects fluid intake. (You might forget about that while concentrating on your work!) Taking sitting pressure off the butt periodically also helps to keep hemmies from acting up, whether or not a person has UC. If you're using Rowasa at bedtime & retaining it overnight you should overcome the flare before long-- mainly take good care of yourself and find out from your flex sig report how far your inflammation extended. / Old Hat (39 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 7/19/2020 11:49 AM (GMT -7)
I think that kind of scenario is more common with proctitis. Is that what you have? If so, how far up does it go?
Posted 7/19/2020 4:20 PM (GMT -7)
Old Hat thanks for the tips! I could definitely be taking more walking breaks.

And I would assume it is just proctitis. Was originally dx with proctitis in 2013, but at that time having up to 15 BMs a day... Not sure how high the inflammation is at the moment - the doc was only able to scope the rectum.
Posted 7/20/2020 10:01 AM (GMT -7)
Your doc is an idiot...get back on the rectals. Call and ask for the mesalamine enemas.

My scopes are normal as of last 5 years, but I still flare mildly. Doc says keep up with what I'm doing...happy he's a good one, although I would never go off rectals and laugh if he said to do so.

q
Posted 7/20/2020 6:41 PM (GMT -7)
I agree your Doctor is an idiot. Mesalamine suppositories and enemas are a maintenance med, in addition to getting people into remission. Unless you are sensitive to it, there are almost no side effects from it, so there is no reason to completely stop them.
Posted 7/21/2020 2:16 PM (GMT -7)
Lol I should have known better, but I was blinded by the appeal of quitting the suppositories I’d been doing nightly for 7 years. I also had sort of convinced myself that the UC was a misdiagnosis, clearly wrong in that one as well. Thanks y’all, will be doing my mesalamine enemas religiously ✌🏼
Posted 7/21/2020 10:39 PM (GMT -7)
It doesn't mean you need to be on the enemas nightly forever. Stay on the enemas till you improve...no symptoms...taper slowly to twice a week to maintenance. You can use the supps during taper if symptoms are still a bit iffy.

Keep us updated how you're doing... and hopefully we can help should any issues or questions arise.

q
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