Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Pill or Suppositries??????

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
Jase7777
New Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 14
Posted 8/29/2007 9:03 AM (GMT -8)

I have been diagnosed with UC back in May 07 and was prescribed ASACOL suppositries. Nevertheless some someone told me that taking pills is better where it prevets UC appearing in other locations of the colon....

Is that true????

profile picture
kb5
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2007
Posts : 1015
Posted 8/29/2007 9:26 AM (GMT -8)
Asacol is used as a maintanace drug for alot of people, myself included. i also use it in enema form. Suppositories and enemas work really well to treat inflamation in the lower portion of the colon becuase the medicine goes directly to the affected are. For those of us with inflamation through our entire colons the suppositories and enemas can't reach all the affected area so the asacol (and this goes for other drugs as well) are taken orally.

I would ask your doctor if you are concerned. Do you know how much of your colon is affected? are you on any other meds?
profile picture
quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33572
Posted 8/29/2007 9:40 AM (GMT -8)
Hi..you should be using both rectal and oral 5ASA meds to start.

Where in the colon is your UC limited to?

The rectal meds aren't meant to reach above either the rectum (suppositories) or the sigmoid (enemas).
Contrary to any doctors saying so, the oral meds won't reach the rectum and wouldn't be best treatment to be used alone.

Asacol is both a treatment and a maintenance med. The rectal enemas should be for treatment and tapered to maintenance if needed...and I don't consider the suppositories for treatment, although better than nothing.

Consider where UC starts...in the rectum. It is either limited or throughout.

It's not a one or other approach..it's both.

Learn now or ..... later!

quincy
profile picture
Jase7777
New Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 14
Posted 8/29/2007 9:51 AM (GMT -8)
My UC was located in the rectum and therefore my GI prescribed ASACOL (SUPs). he said that is the best local treatment and that there is no need to take pills. On the other hand another Doctor told me that UC could appear in other parts of the colon so pills should be taken simultaniousely.
Is that true????
profile picture
Jase7777
New Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 14
Posted 8/29/2007 9:59 AM (GMT -8)
Sorry quincy,
i forgot to mention my UC is limitid in the rectum 3/5 cm according to the colonoscopy.
profile picture
quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33572
Posted 8/29/2007 10:25 AM (GMT -8)
Hi..your UC is very low in the rectum...but I would still urge you to be on ASacol as well .

It doesn't happen to all, but many on here had limited which became throughout.

What are your symptoms at this time? or when you were flaring?

q
profile picture
Jase7777
New Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 14
Posted 8/29/2007 10:49 AM (GMT -8)
i was bleeding at least for a couple of years before being diagnosed back in May 07. Bleeding stopped in 1 weeks after taking the ASACOL supps. i can still see some mucus in the stools and have been in remission since. how do u know that ur UC is actually moving up or spreading? are there any symptoms that its getting worse?
sorry to ask but im new to this UC management issue...
profile picture
Red_34
Elite Member
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 8/29/2007 6:15 PM (GMT -8)
If you go to the resource section of this forum it will tell you about the different severities of Uc and what symptoms go with each one. Not everyone will have their Uc or Up spread. You may be lucky and only have it limited to your rectum forever. (Well not lucky-lucky but you know what I mean!) By taking Asacol, this also helps as a preventative for colon cancer. People who have Uc have a higher chance of getting colon cancer then the average population. There is still a slight risk for it with UP too but it's better to be safe then sorry.

And please ask any question you want! You can't learn if you don't ask right? :)
profile picture
Jase7777
New Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 14
Posted 8/30/2007 3:58 AM (GMT -8)

regarding the severety of my condition. the went to the resources page but couldt find anything about severity. could you please paste the link in your reply.

Thanx

Jase

profile picture
Red_34
Elite Member
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 8/30/2007 3:59 AM (GMT -8)
Ulcerative proctitis refers to inflammation that is limited to the rectum. In many patients with ulcerative proctitis, mild intermittent rectal bleeding may be the only symptom. Other patients with more severe rectal inflammation may, in addition, experience rectal pain, urgency (sudden feeling of having to defecate and a need to rush to the bathroom for fear of soiling), and tenesmus (ineffective, painful urge to move one's bowels).

Proctosigmoiditis involves inflammation of the rectum and the sigmoid colon (a short segment of the colon contiguous to the rectum). Symptoms of proctosigmoiditis, like that of proctitis, include rectal bleeding, urgency, and tenesmus. Some patients with proctosigmoiditis also develop bloody diarrhea and cramps.

Left-sided colitis involves inflammation that starts at the rectum and extends up the left colon (sigmoid colon and the descending colon). Symptoms of left-sided colitis include bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, weight loss, and left-sided abdominal pain.

Pancolitis or universal colitis refers to inflammation affecting the entire colon (right colon, left colon, transverse colon and the rectum). Symptoms of pancolitis include bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and night sweats. Some patients with pancolitis have low-grade inflammation and mild symptoms that respond readily to medications. Generally, however, patients with pancolitis suffer more severe disease and are more difficult to treat than those with more limited forms of ulcerative colitis.

Fulminant colitis is a rare but severe form of pancolitis. Patients with fulminant colitis are extremely ill with dehydration, severe abdominal pain, protracted diarrhea with bleeding, and even shock. They are at risk of developing toxic megacolon (marked dilatation of the colon due to severe inflammation) and colon rupture (perforation). Patients with fulminant colitis and toxic megacolon are treated in the hospital with potent intravenous medications. Unless they respond to treatment promptly, surgical removal of the diseased colon is necessary to prevent colon rupture.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply


More On Ulcerative Colitis

7 Lifestyle Changes a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis Should Make to Help Combat the Condition

7 Lifestyle Changes a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis Should Make to Help Combat the Condition

7 Ways To Support Someone With Crohn's Or Colitis

7 Ways To Support Someone With Crohn's Or Colitis


HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn
© 1997-2023 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.