UC hide and seek

Hi. I'm newly registered. I'm a 47 year old male , diagnosed with UC about 3 years ago. I'm presently taking 3 400mg asacol tabs 3x daily. My last flareup was in June of 07 , treated with prednisone.Started at 50mg,then tapered off.Fast results. I was wondering how other people decide when to contact the doctor. For the past 4 weeks I feel that I'm "beginning" to have a flare up. Anywhere from 6 to 10 bowel movements a day. Occasional blood but not regular or every day. Occasional diarrhea and mucus but also formed stool the same day. My symptoms over the last month seem to improve then get worse day to day, but I feel I'm not having a "complete" flare up as yet. Most of the day I feel fine. Mornings the worst with mild cramps. Bad gas,on and off,mostly at night. I feel like calling to talk with the doctor now would be "whinning", but my history seems to be of mild symptoms for an extended period.I'm not thrilled about the thought of prednisone again, it gives me night sweats. Right now I feel as though I'm "between" places. Do I call and seek treatment or continue to wait and see if it gets bad. I guess I'm on a fence here.Any thoughts? Thanks.

Hi and welcome to Healingwell :) No you should not wait. You are obviously flaring and 9 times out of 10 flares don't go away on their own. What is the extent of your Uc? You don't have to go on pred if you don't want to. There are other options out there such as rectal meds like Rowasa, Canasa (which is like Asacol but in liquid/solid form) and steroid enemas such as Cortifoam and Colocort. Also by getting treatment right away you avoid any further complications that come with bleeding and D.

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UCreallySUCKS

Regular Member

Joined : May 2006

Posts : 260

Posted 10/25/2007 6:11 AM (GMT -7)

I agree, I would not wait at all. Like most doctors, yours is probably understanding of the need to call and see what should be done. I've probably called and talked to my doctor/nurse about 5 times the past couple months. Doesn't bother them at all, that's what they're there for. And like Sherry said, the longer you wait, the worse it could get. Then it gets even more difficult to treat.

---Nathan--- 31 yr old male

Diagnosed May 2006 w/severe UC

Currently in mild/moderate flare

2 400mg Asacol 4X day

20 mg Prednisone

1 multivitamin/day

2 grams calcium/day

75mg Imuran/day

100mg Tramadol/day for abdominal pain (as needed)

1 Fioricet ever 4 hrs as needed for severe migraines

princesa

Veteran Member

Joined : Aug 2007

Posts : 2204

Posted 10/25/2007 6:53 AM (GMT -7)

I'd define occasional bleeding, mucous and 6-10 bowel movements a day as "bad."

Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis spring 1999

C-scope confirmed UC diagnosis 9/18/2007

No explanation for right side pain and thickening of bowel wall

Therapeutic dose sulfasalazine, back on a pred taper for first flare in years

Probiotics, l-glutamine and fish oil caps. George's aloe vera juice and Mucosaheal.

julee70

Regular Member

Joined : Oct 2007

Posts : 486

Posted 10/25/2007 7:14 AM (GMT -7)

From my own experience, it's easier to get a flare under control at the very first signs than to try to get it under control once it's really full-blown. At the first signs of mucus or blood, I start using Cortifoam. After about a week, I can usually taper off it and then I'm fine. But if I wait until I'm running to the bathroom all day, it can take months to get it under control.

My doctor has always encouraged me to seek her help at the first signs of a flare. If you're worried about calling your doctor too much, just schedule an appointment. That way, you are paying for his/her time and getting the attention you need.

I'm with Princesa on this too -- what you described sounds already "bad". We're all used to putting up with so much!

By the way... if your doctor can only treat a flare with Prednisone, then you might want a second opinion. There are lots of other choices before it gets to that point. You should only take Prednisone -- in my NON DOCTOR OPINION-- when other things aren't working and you're desperately sick.

-------
UC for the last ten years
Current Meds: 6MP
Past Meds: You name it; I've tried it.

Old Hat

Veteran Member

Joined : Feb 2007

Posts : 5212

Posted 10/25/2007 7:21 AM (GMT -7)

It sounds like your med needs to be changed or possibly supplemented. For example, if you have worsening inflammation in the sigmoid colon &/or rectum, you may need retention enemas in addition to your oral med. I agree with the above replies: don't wait to contact the doctor! The sooner you adjust your meds appropriately, the better off you'll be. Take care & try not to worry about "whining". UC is the kind of insidious ailment that entitles patients to whine-- at least occasionally. (My take on our situation-- besides, on this site it is called "venting"!) / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily; seem to be back in remission after July flare in descending colon)

kb5

Veteran Member

Joined : Jan 2007

Posts : 1015

Posted 10/25/2007 1:47 PM (GMT -7)

I call my Gi at the very first sign of anything!!! I call when I my bm patterns change, if i see mucous for more than a few days, or if i see blood at all.

I figure if he doens't think it's anything he will tell me. better safe than sorry. It is his job to take my calls and I know he really doesn't mind. He wants me as healthy as I do.

Kelly, 29

Left sided UC diagnosed 1/98 age 19, Pan colitis diagnosed 1/07
Currently on 4x3 Asacol, Rowasa every other night, 15 mg pred. until immuran kicks in...
75mg Imuran starting 8/23/07---bumped to 100mg 10/8/07
Prontonix once daily for acid reflux, zofran twice daily for nausea

dakotagirl

Veteran Member

Joined : Apr 2006

Posts : 3402

Posted 10/25/2007 1:59 PM (GMT -7)

I agree - call the doc! Better to catch it early than to wait for it to get worse.

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

Forvia and a Probiotic

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

Co-Mod for the UC forum

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MAfire

New Member

Joined : Oct 2007

Posts : 2

Posted 10/26/2007 6:05 AM (GMT -7)

Hi again. Thank you to everyone that took the time to reply. I did contact my doctor yesterday.I advised the nurse there of my symptoms and she said she would consult with the doctor,who was doing procedures for the morning, and get back to me. about 3 hours latter she did. He perscribed Prednisone 60mg for 5 days tapering down 10 to 5mg every 5 days , also blood work and a follow up with him this coming Tuesday. My last colonoscopy was 12/06. At that time the paperwork referred to my condition as "Established chronic olcerative proctosigmoiditis".I think I'm still getting used to the fact that I have a disease.What I don't like is that it slowly sneeks up on me, its not as though it just suddenly flares within a day or 2. At first it seems so easy to write some of the symptoms off as food related or work stress or both.I work as a firefighter/EMT and we work 24 hour shifts,I tend to eat at unusual hours,do to calls.I see many severe emergencys in the ambulance and my cramping almost seems whineing in compare.I guess I have to get over that. I started the prednisone last night and was sweating within 3 hours,an issue I will address with the doc on Tuesday. The last I saw him,8/07, he gave me an Rx for something other then asacol,can't recall the name right now. It was a once a day med, instead of the asacol 3x. BC/BS of MA does'nt cover it and its expensive , so I stayed with the asacol.I like the doctor I'm with now,he is a specialist.The area in which I live does'nt offer a huge choice though.He is a 40 minute drive away and he is the closest. The nearest hospital is the same distance.My next option would most likely be in Boston , about 2 hours. But so far I'm happy with him. Thank you to everyone,I will return. I have found many of the other posts helpful also.

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