Bloating/Fluid Retention?

frustrated_in_NY

Regular Member

Joined : Mar 2007

Posts : 44

Posted 9/3/2007 9:05 AM (GMT -6)

Good morning everyone!

It has been awhile since I have posted - been feeling great! The 6MP finally kicked in late May/early June and it's the best I have felt in close to a year.

I have a question about bloating/fluid retention. I am trying to determine if I need to call my GI doctor tomorrow. For the past 2-3 weeks, I have noticed my extremities retaining fluid (fingers and ankles). Honestly, I haven't thought much of it. Last night, I saw my mom and she commented on how "puffy" I look - even my stomach and face. Okay - so it's not a figment of my imagination !! Anyone know what causes bloating/fluid retention? I am not on steroids - right now just 6MP and Asacol to control the UC. Can UC in of itself cause bloating? Taking 6MP?

To complicate matters - I just started taking the birth control pill again a week ago to help regulate my cycle. My guess is that restarting the BC pill may have something to do with this as well.

Do I need to call my GI doctor? Any insight would be helpful!

Thanks!

Karen

MS - dx April 2005

Ulcerative Colitis - dx Sept. 2006

Meds

Copaxone - 20mg injection

6MP - 100mg - 2 50mg pills - 1x/day

Asacol - 400mg - 3 pills - 3xs/day

Iron - 1 pill - 2xs/day

Levid - as needed

Immodium - as needed

Cymbalta - 30mg - 1 pill/day

Lunesta - 3mg - 1 pill/day

** Confused - don't think I am still flaring from Sept. 2006 but don't think I am in remission either

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.... You must do the thing you think you cannot do." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

birdiem

Regular Member

Joined : Aug 2007

Posts : 326

Posted 9/3/2007 9:13 AM (GMT -6)

it is very possible that re-starting the pill could cause this reaction, or at least have something to do with it. any time you change your hormone cycle, strange things can happen (i say this as someone on the pill). i would also watch your salt intake and any other dietary problem foods you may have eaten. sometimes the pill can increase appetite, so you may be consuming more salt than usual. in any case, i would watch it for a few days, with diet in mind, and call your GI if things don't settle down. that's just my advice, feel free to do whatever you want :)

katie
22
diagnosed with cecal volvulus, 2006; two colon resections in the same year
diagnosed with colitis 2007
malrotated colon
no cecal valve, removed during surgery
on antibiotics while undergoing further testing by doctor
will start VSL #3 when antibiotics are done.

quincy

Elite Member

Joined : May 2003

Posts : 31104

Posted 9/3/2007 10:40 AM (GMT -6)

Sounds as though it could be the bc.

I agree with birdiem regarding salt intake, etc.

q

*Heather*Status:mini flare June 23* 6asacol daily+ Salofalk (tapered every 3rd night)

~diagnosed January 1989 UC (proctosigmoiditis)

~5ASA: Asacol + Salofalk enemas (increase for flares tapered to maintenance)

~Bentylol (dicyclomine) 20mg as needed

~vitamins/minerals

~Probiotic 2 (Natural Factors Protec) + 1 (Primadophilus Reuteri) at bedtime

~Natural Factors Multi Digestive Enzymes with supper

~Ranitidine,Pariet (reflux) Effexor XR 75mg; 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 !!!

princesa

Veteran Member

Joined : Aug 2007

Posts : 2204

Posted 9/3/2007 10:53 AM (GMT -6)

Food sensitivities/reactions can also cause both bloating and fluid retention. I think it's worth a call to your gynecologist or GI... or both, just to be safe.

Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis spring 1999

Possibly misdiagnosed

Maintenance dose sulfasalazine

Probiotics, l-glutamine and fish oil caps

potty girl

Veteran Member

Joined : Dec 2006

Posts : 835

Posted 9/3/2007 11:07 AM (GMT -6)

you said you have been filling with fluid for 2 or 3 weeks and only been back on birth control a week, so I would think it was something else going on, of course me having heart trouble that is the first thing that pops into my mind when you mention fluid in the legs are hands and feet. I would talk to my doctor about it. To be on the safe side.

Rona

synthroid .088 mg, lowpressor 50 mg x 2, cozaar 25mg x2, imdur 30 mg
nitroquick, proventol, plavix 75 mg, protonix 40 mg x 2, asacal 400mg x 9
carafate 1 gm x 4, zyrtec 10 mg, rhinocort aqua nose spray, fish oil,
potassium.

quincy

Elite Member

Joined : May 2003

Posts : 31104

Posted 9/3/2007 7:08 PM (GMT -6)

Good points...andseems best to alert the doctor. Continuing fluid retention isn't good.

Do get your thyroid checked for sure.

I remember once when I took Indocid for sciatica...I gained 6 pounds of fluid weight in one day, over and above my normal daily fluctuation. The doc had me off the med asap.

I did get some fluid retention from the bc around the "period" time.

Potty girl is right...better being safe than sorry.

q

*Heather*Status:mini flare June 23* 6asacol daily+ Salofalk (tapered every 3rd night)

~diagnosed January 1989 UC (proctosigmoiditis)

~5ASA: Asacol + Salofalk enemas (increase for flares tapered to maintenance)

~Bentylol (dicyclomine) 20mg as needed

~vitamins/minerals

~Probiotic 2 (Natural Factors Protec) + 1 (Primadophilus Reuteri) at bedtime

~Natural Factors Multi Digestive Enzymes with supper

~Ranitidine,Pariet (reflux) Effexor XR 75mg; 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 !!!

frustrated_in_NY

Regular Member

Joined : Mar 2007

Posts : 44

Posted 9/4/2007 8:56 AM (GMT -6)

Thanks so much for the feedback! I am going to call my doctor this morning to give him a heads up. While I agree the BC pill could have contributed to the bloating, I am suspicious that something else may be going on because the "puffiness" has been there (from what I have noticed) at least 2 weeks prior to starting back on the BC pill.

Anyway - thanks again!

Have a good day!

Karen

MS - dx April 2005

Ulcerative Colitis - dx Sept. 2006

Meds

Copaxone - 20mg injection

6MP - 100mg - 2 50mg pills - 1x/day

Asacol - 400mg - 3 pills - 3xs/day

Iron - 1 pill - 2xs/day

Levid - as needed

Immodium - as needed

Cymbalta - 30mg - 1 pill/day

Lunesta - 3mg - 1 pill/day

** Finally in remission! Yahoo! **

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.... You must do the thing you think you cannot do." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply

Forum Information

Currently it is Sunday, October 21, 2018 6:13 PM (GMT -6)
There are a total of 3,013,747 posts in 330,057 threads.
View Active Topics

Bloating/Fluid Retention?

Forum Information

Who's Online