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

Intro Post and Suggestions Needed

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
PAD
New Member
Joined : Feb 2007
Posts : 15
Posted 9/5/2007 7:31 AM (GMT -8)

Hi, this is my first post though I have been reading for a while. I have had UC for 9 years with bouts of flaring then remission.  When I was diagnosed I was told it was in the rectum and I always responded to suppositories or enemas.  My latest flare started 5 months ago and my c-scope showed it being in the rectum but about 5 inches into the intestines as well.  I as given Asacol 400 MG three times a day as well as enemas.  After using the enema I stopped seeing blood and within a few weeks was completely normal again.  I was tapering off the enemas first for 6 weeks every other night which went well.  After a month of taperting two nights off and one on the flare came back worse then ever.  The Dr. put me back on enamas every night and it’s been 10 days I am still doing terrible.  Does anyone have any suggestions or what I should try next?  I have a Drs. Appt next week but she’s going to have to try something different I think.

 

Thanks, Patty

 

p.s. I was so glad to find this forum

profile picture
Beth75
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 2158
Posted 9/5/2007 8:02 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Patty,

Welcome! I am pretty new here too and it was great for me to find this!!! I was taking 2400mg of Asacol two times a day (total of 4800mg) and that was a maintenance dose. My UC mainly affects my rectum as well. When I was first dx'd enemas did the trick. I haven't take them since then which was 7 years ago.

I am not sure about 1200mg a day being enough for you for maintenance dose? I would ask your Doctor about taking 4800mg a day. I was on that for nearly a year and did great, until I stopped taking like I was supposed to b/c I felt fine. Now I have been taking my meds like I was supposed to for the past 10 weeks and am doing much better. The first 9 weeks on Asacol and my 10th week (current) taking Lialda. Lialda is the same as Asacol but you take it once a day rather than twice or three times.

Also, w/the Asacol, my Doc told me to take 500mg of calcium and vit D 2xday.......reminding me to take my 2nd one now!

HTH!
Beth
profile picture
quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33632
Posted 9/5/2007 8:35 AM (GMT -8)
Hi..welcome to the forum!

Your asacol dosage isn't high enough. Stay on the enemas until you feel "normal".

Your tapering of the enemas should have been to once a week..not every second night and then dropped. Basically, the tapering finds you a maintenance dosage.

5ASA meds are slower to work, but can be used for long, long-term use.

Please be patient, use the enemas nightly until you're feeling normal, but do ask the doc to put you on a bit higher dosage...I would suggest maybe 3 asacol twice daily or 4 asacol twice daily. Three times daily isn't a must...many of us forget the middle dosage and end up taking them twice daily anyway.

Patience....I had many times during the first years when I was on the enemas nightly for up to 3 months.
When you're ready to taper the enemas..it too depends on your symptoms.
We'll talk about it then.

Welcome again,
quincy
profile picture
PAD
New Member
Joined : Feb 2007
Posts : 15
Posted 9/5/2007 8:43 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks so much for the responses. It's the first time I had UC comrades to talk to. I made a mistake with the Asacol. I take 2 tables 3 x a day for 2400 MG for the day.

Also I was on the tapering off of the enemas when it came back. I hadn't ceased using them.

I will try to be patient. Also I had no idea about the vitamins I should have been taken the Asacol.

Patty
profile picture
PAD
New Member
Joined : Feb 2007
Posts : 15
Posted 9/5/2007 8:44 AM (GMT -8)

oops...double post

Post Edited (PAD) : 9/5/2007 10:48:45 AM (GMT-6)

profile picture
tjf
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2005
Posts : 3238
Posted 9/5/2007 8:58 AM (GMT -8)
Just wanted to say Hi and Welcome! Looks like you have gotten some solid advice already!!

And hey if you accidentally double post you can always delete your own post. Just hit the X on the right side of the post box.
profile picture
princesa
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 2204
Posted 9/5/2007 9:44 AM (GMT -8)
You may want to do some research on omega-3 supplementation (a natural anti-inflammatory) and probiotics... and experiment with dietary changes. These are natural approaches that can help you heal and reduce your need for meds.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply


More On Ulcerative Colitis

CBD And Pain Management: Is This Supplement Right For You?

CBD And Pain Management: Is This Supplement Right For You?

Exciting News - HealingWell's New Chapter

Exciting News - HealingWell's New Chapter


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.