Possible flare, need some advice....

I was diagnosed Oct 2005 with UC and after the pred and mesolamine I was cleared up and symptom free until the last few months...

Currently I am going through something and I need some advice, I have pretty much constant stomach cramping, nausea, and whenever I eat anything I'm running straight for the bathroom. Here's the kicker though, I don't have the normal UC diarrhea. More often then not I'm running (and I mean RUNNING) to the bathroom and it's nothing more then gas and mucus. When I do have a BM the stools are soft slightly formed but very narrow and there has been blood on a few occasions. I just started back on pred (20mg) 3 days ago with no improvements yet. I also just started Omega-3 supplements, and I have been on Salofalk ever since I was diagnosed.... I have been given and ultrasound to check for gall bladder issues which came back clean, so my doc is saying this is just a flare but I feel much different then last time. Is it possible for UC to effect your stomach? Is there a chance this is something else? I don't remember having this much cramping and pain in my stomach back when I was diagnosed and back then diarrhea was a major problem. I've been keeping track of foods that I've eaten lately and even tried a brown rice cleansing diet for a brief period of time with no success. Please help me out, I've been off work now for a while since the constant running to the bathroom and the stomach cramps where just too much to deal with at the office.

I can relate. I was diagnosed in Feb. 2007 and during that flare up, when I went to the bathroom, it was for a reason. Now, I'm in another flare up, but like you, I dont excrete anything after rushing to the toilet. Ive been going through this for over a week, I wake up several times and run as fast as I can, usually tripping, just to fing I just have gas coming out. I havent had a decent bowel movement in weeks, and today I had a sharp pain in my gut and I felt my stomach and could actually feel that my intestines were filled up. I called my doc. and he said to drink magneseum citrate, whish I just did. He said that will clean me out for now and he will do a colonoscopy on monday to determine what my problem is. At one point he said I may have irritable bowel syndrome and not inflammable bowel disease. Im not too sure bout that though cause ive had every symptom in the book, to high degrees, that relate to U.C. Im sure I have U.C., I just think I have something else too. So I will keep you posted on what I find out because Im sure it pertains to you too.

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 I was diagnosed with U.C. in early 2007. I am 30, single and no kids.

Yes that is exactly what I feel like... I've been dealing with it for a couple months now and it's driving me crazy... My doc just tells me it's a flare up and now I'm back on the pred but that doesn't seem to be doing anything to help the problem..

Please let me know what you find out

Hi..welcome to the forum! By Salofalk..you mean the pills or the retention enemas?

If you're not on rectal meds, I'd suggest you call the doc and request the Salofalk enemas.

quincy

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You are not alone.  I don't think I've ever had diarrhea.  When I'm in an active flare (like I am right now) I have this cramping urgency that I need to run to the bathroom and only wet gas comes out (poop or mucous or both) and that's it, but enough for me to worry about dirtying myself if I don't make it in time.  It's usually after I eat something.  When I do have to go to the bathroom, it's not enough and there is blood on the toilet paper and maybe a little in the bowl.  This is when I usually have to go back on the cortisone enemas which usually clears it up until the next time.  I don't know why I can be okay one minute and then I'm back to this again.  I wish I knew what triggered it.  I also have the rowasa enemas on hand, but I don't react well to them when I am bleeding.

 

 My stomach will hurt my upper intestines. I will experiance pain everywhere.  I say onceyou get and IBD you get the whole packge.  With IBS, stomach cramping, spastic colon. Your description of your bowel movements is a result of the flare and being swollen so stuff can't get threw only mucus. However Have you been on and antibiotics latly?  I remember a peticular time of extreme pain and mucus when I was flaring and had a C-difficile infection on top of it.  Those are rare and dangerous. Can be caused by antibiotics.  So ask about that with your doctor. 

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Survivor of UC since 1997

my non-doctor opinion: sounds like a flare. you can have these symptoms during a flare. my flares start with constipation (odd but true).

20mg of pred isn't very much with regards to stopping a flare. youm ight want to go up to 40 and then taper down from there. I'd ask my GI if I were you.

also, I think the diaseas takes different forms (or, at least, CAN) every time you flare, so you might not have had pain in the past but have it this time. feel better soon, and call yuor GI aobut the pred dose.

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29/Female/NC
Pancolitis dx 3/07
*12 Asacol/day
*100mg Imuran/day (steroid dependent)
Various vitamins, probiotics, fish oil.
Engaged: June 1, 2007

Sounds like a flare - the narrow stools are caused by inflammation in the rectum - which can also cause constipation. You need rectal meds ASAP! They treat the inflammation at the source and can clear things up faster than oral meds themselves. Canasa at a minimum - Rowasa would be best! Ask your GI for a prescription ASAP!

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Pan-colitis and GERD diagnosed May 2003

 

Asacol 12 per day,  Azathioprine 75mg, Rowasa and Canasa as needed

Aciphex, Effexor XR, BCP, Rhinocort nasal spray

Culturelle, Biotin, Folic Acid, Forvia, Calcium, and B12

 

Osteopenia (hip and spine) from prednisone use.  Started Azathioprine because I was steroid dependent.

 

Co-Mod for the UC forum

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