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.

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

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.

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Left sided UC 3 years

Current Meds: Dipentum 5 a day

Rowasa when needed

Hair vitamin Multi

Fish oil, folic acid

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