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Pregnancy & UC

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Ulcerative Colitis
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 7/23/2021 11:24 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Guys,

Hope your all well.
Quick one from me, I was diagnosed with proctitis April 2020 have been in remission for approx 10 months to a year.

Found out I am pregnant this week and unfortunately it looks like I’m starting to flare (just loose stool first thing but of mucus) I’ve been on the Saloflak granules continuously and went back on the Saloflak suppositories this week as my consultant told me there perfectly safe for pregnancy.

My question is probably an impossible one to answer but will this flare stay throughout my pregnancy? I’m very early pregnant approx 5 weeks I just assumed as I was in remission the last while that the pregnancy would be okay, hopefully it might just clear up in a few weeks if I just continue with the suppositories and enemas?

Any experience would be great!
It’s only my first stool in the morning that’s affected but obviously as we all know with IBD I want to kick it in the butt ASAP before it gets any worse.

Thanks guys
X
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33632
Posted 7/24/2021 8:04 AM (GMT -8)
I would suggest the salofalk 4g enemas as well...nightly for maybe a month or more if needed depending on your symptoms, and start a taper to a maintenance dosage. Hopefully that's all you will need .
I don't think there is a consistency of either flaring or not while pregnant...very subjective. It's the after baby is born that you would need good control considering how busy yiur life will be and hormonal changes, etc.

Congratulations...
q
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 7/24/2021 9:32 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks so much for the reply Quincy, we’re over the moon about the pregnancy, just a bit anxious about the UC flare at the moment but it’s manageable. I presume the enemas are safe during pregnancy too??? I was thinking I may start them tonight as I don’t want this to get worse. I have the 4g one here at home.

Will keep in mind about the after baby is born part do you know if it’s sudden like a few days after birth that a potential flare could arise?

I suppose it depends on the person.

Thank you 😊
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33632
Posted 7/24/2021 10:13 AM (GMT -8)
Hi...they are safe...many here while pregnant used them. What you don't want is to be flaring...period.

Definitely subjective, and treat as early as possible.
Hormonal changes can definitely play a role, and I'm assuming you would rather enjoy the experience without the agony and inconvenience of flaring.

Stay connected regarding your symptoms...

q
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 7/24/2021 1:02 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks so much Quincy for your help.
Definitely want to enjoy the experience rather than flare that’s for sure 😊

Will keep you posted throughout.
Starting enemas tonight!!

Thanks again…
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33632
Posted 7/24/2021 9:11 PM (GMT -8)
👍😊
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 8/17/2021 8:47 AM (GMT -8)
Hello All,

Just an update I’ve been using the Saloflak enemas nightly for the past 3 weeks. I definitely feel like it’s keeping the flare at bay. My BM has been once in the morning, start of the BM quite loose but then second part is solid.

However, the past two days now I’m quite constipated I’m not going in the morning like I usually would, yesterday I went afternoon time (still the same loose at the start and then it gets solidish) today (6pm here in Ireland) no BM so far. Obviously pregnancy can bring on constipation too so I hear and as I’ve been feeling quite nauseous the past while my diet has been quite bland so that may have contributed to the constipation too. Finding it hard to stomach foods high in fibre.

Just wondering should I keep with the enema’s or move to suppositories?? I still feel like there could be a bit of inflammation there but there’s no bleeding at all which is great but unusual as usually that was one of my first symptoms.

Thanks for any help 😊
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33632
Posted 8/17/2021 9:18 AM (GMT -8)
No....stay on the enemas. Reason, inflammation heals downward, so the more limited and depending on severity will change stool consistency. Give it the most dosage.

Stay on them nightly for at least a few weeks and see how you're doing.

q
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momto2boys
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2013
Posts : 2617
Posted 8/17/2021 10:31 AM (GMT -8)
If your diet has changed that's likely the culprit for constipation. However, I would keep the enemas for now. I really struggled with nausea from 8-20 weeks while pregnant and ate and drank far less than usual. I think that caused constipation for me. I didn't develop UC until my boys were 3 & 6 so I didn't have to contend with UC and pregnancy so take whatever I say with a grain of salt as I am no expert in dealing with the two together. .
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 8/17/2021 12:25 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks both for your input appreciate it! Il stay on the enemas and see how I go, really wishing I wasn’t in a flare but I’m also lucky it’s not that bad, I think the worsening of UC has me so fearful but I need to stay positive and keep with the meds.

Quincy should the constipation pass once I heal more? I did have the growling noises in my tummy on my left side a few days ago but that seems to have passed. I do still think there’s inflammation there and definitely think it’s to do with the fluctuation in my hormones as the day I took the pregnancy test, the flare reared it’s nasty head.

Thanks guys X
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33632
Posted 8/17/2021 9:07 PM (GMT -8)
It does, but takes a while. Stool softeners, food changes to soften stool and increase peristalsis will help stool consistency.

q
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 9/13/2021 11:40 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Guys,

Just a quick update I’m on the enemas nightly since 28th of July and the granules consistently. I haven’t had much of any change yet, I think the colitis is staying the same not getting worse but definitely not getting better.

At the moment I’m having a loose stool in the morning (first bit quite watery and some mucus).

I may go again later and it may be slightly more solid no bleeding really.

Was going to incorporate the suppositories during the day are they safe while pregnant and taking the enemas also?

I really don’t want to go on Pred while pregnant but really want to try shift this flare as the first few weeks have been difficult pregnancy wise also.

Thanks for any input, I have a funny feeling this flare might stick around for the duration!

Chat soon 😀
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momto2boys
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2013
Posts : 2617
Posted 9/14/2021 3:56 AM (GMT -8)
Suppositories should be fine. Each trimester brings a noticeable hormonal shift so hopefully as time passes you will start to feel better. I wouldn’t want to take pred when pregnant either, but if your UC flares it is more dangerous to let it get out of control. Sounds like you are doing everything you can and are holding steady. Hang in there!
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 10/11/2021 10:56 PM (GMT -8)
Hello All,

Just a quick update. I’m now 16+3 days pregnant and feeling okay pregnancy wise but my UC has been up & down. The last week I’ve experienced bleeding and watery stool. Going approx 2 times a day maybe 3, only the first stool seems to be watery.

The only difference I made is that my doc said I can do suppository one night & enema the next as I’ve been on the enemas every night since the 20th of July & it’s frustrating. Thankfully I have no issues hoping the enema in. Anyway do you think if I stay on the enemas nightly it should improve? I’m finding it hard to see an end to this as the flare is still active but obviously as I’m pregnant I’m limited aswell.

I just really hope it hasn’t spread too far as I’m quite anxious about the whole thing being pregnant. I haven’t really experienced bleeding while pregnant only in the past week.

Any help/tips would be great.

Thanks so much,

Currently on Saloflak Enema’s 4g nightly
Saloflak granules daily 1.5 x 2
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33632
Posted 10/12/2021 9:26 AM (GMT -8)
Could be hormone related...but I would push for a stool sample kit just to make sure nothing else is going on.

What supplements are you using! And has your diet changed at all?

You could try the supps for a few nights and see if your symptoms change re diarrhea.

q
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 10/12/2021 11:15 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Quincy,

I’m thinking the same re stool sample.
I’m taking a pregnancy supplement so it has everything in it, I also take alflorex probiotic too!

To be honest I think it’s a bit stressed related too as I’m quite anxious with the pregnancy.

Re diet il be totally honest I’ve always eaten what I wanted, my diet has been average as of the last few weeks but the past few days I’ve been trying to eat plain foods & I’m hoping that it will help. I have a feeling that this flare may stay with me until baby arrives anyway.

I asked my doc about taking suppositories during the day aswell as enema at night & he said just stick with either enema or supp. I sometimes find the suppositories better even though that probably doesn’t make sense as the suppository has less meds.

Stool this morning was noisy and mushy, the joys!

Thanks for any help.
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 10/28/2021 12:49 AM (GMT -8)
Hi All,

A quick one if anyone could provide any insight, still on the nightly enemas going maybe 1/2 times a day mix between mushy/solid.

However, I’ve tried to change between suppositories & enema and I started bleeding & felt like UC got worse that was a few weeks back so I stuck with enema every night since however the last two nights I used suppositories just for convenience as I was feeling great & the suppositories are so much easier and I can move around better in bed than the enema anyway I’ve had two BM this morning and hour between each other both solid but bled quite a bit (had not done in ages) but it was bright red blood in bowl and paper is this because I moved from enema and suppositories for them two nights?? I don’t have an external hemmie I checked, I did feel a tiny bit of pain recently while going to the toilet like it was difficult to pass.
Usually when I bleed with UC the stool would be loose with mucus etc but it was solid today, any ideas?

Currently 18 weeks pregnant.

Thanks so much 😀
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33632
Posted 10/28/2021 7:47 AM (GMT -8)
Depending on where the inflammation is and how severe the inflammation is can determine stool consistency. Some experience that the enema loosens the stool, so hard to say. However, you might have an internal hemorrhoid or a fissure.

How much oral mesalamine are you on?

The fact that you're only going twice a day means it's not getting much worse. What if you used one suppository during the day, one at night?
Can you use the enema during the day?

q
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 10/28/2021 8:37 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Quincy,

Thank you so much for your reply.

I’m currently on 3g of granules per day. I definitely think the enema makes my stool loose whereas when I use the suppository I feel so much better and have a better stool but lately I tend to bleed when I use the suppositories as opposed to the enema.

I would really love to reduce the enemas as I find them a nuisance every night especially as I get bigger but I can’t seem to kick it. I’m also quite afraid of tapering off meds and this getting worse because I am lucky at the moment it’s manageable most of the time & hopefully when baby comes I may just need stronger meds to beat it.

Could the suppositories bring on the blood that quick within a day or two?

My doc said to try and keep it to either to an enema or a suppository a night instead of including extra rectal meds during the day unless I really need it (no sure if that’s because I’m pregnant).

I sometimes wonder if using rectal meds for the past 4 months every night could add to irritation also…

Pain in the butt!!!
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 10/28/2021 9:03 AM (GMT -8)
@Quincy- Should I take fiber supplements?
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33632
Posted 10/29/2021 9:28 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Susie...unless you're allergic to the mesalamine suppositories ... no it wouldnt cause bleeding.
However, if you don't bleed with the enemas, it's possibly because the bleeding is higher than the suppository reaches.

In saying that, you could go off the enemas and suppositories to see if there is any change.

The enemas could cause scraping of hemorrhoids if you have them.

You could try fibre...it does help bulk, soften stool, and good if you have hemmies.
I would suggest metamucil capsules...start with a capsule with a meal and increase with that meal...then add to another meal. I take 6 with breakfast and 6 with supper.

q
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 11/10/2021 11:49 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks Quincy.

Had an appointment today with my GI she requested a stool sample from me to see my levels of inflammation and blood tests as it’s hard to see whether it’s pregnancy related or UC but I’m thinking I do still have inflammation! We’ll have to wait for the results.

She also said if the UC is very active they may need to up the meds or go on a steroid. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that as I feel okay at the moment. 1/2 stools per day mainly solid apart from the first part which is the white enema stuff.

Just a question would a steroid enema be better than the oral steroid if it does come to it? It seems like a steroid enema would have less side effects than the oral?!

Thanks I’m advance 😊
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33632
Posted 11/10/2021 11:56 AM (GMT -8)
I would do the steroid enemas first...That might be what she meant with up the meds. There are options...can be used during the day if a foam and the mesalamine enema at night or vice versa.

q
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susie far
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2020
Posts : 65
Posted 11/10/2021 12:54 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks Quincy I will keep you updated once I know more on my results.

Thanks for your help!
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33632
Posted 11/10/2021 3:17 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks for the update...looking forward to the other one.
q
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