Colitis Stinks

Ugh...

I thought I was feeling better but apparently not. I didn't have any blood in my stool monday but had some yesterday and today. I was feeling a bit better though and tried to go to work tonight (I drive a forklift at work) and couldn't do it. My abdomen became too sore so I came home after an hour.

I saw my doctor on monday and he told me if I'm not well to get a hold of my specialist. I might not be able to see him until next friday. The nurse is going to call me tomorrow morning. Hopefully, he can squeeze me in sooner or send me to someone else for the time being. I'm not a happy camper.

My dad was diagnosed with chronic ulcerative colitis 20 years ago, and was told that he would have to be on medication for the rest of his life to control it, and may need surgery to remove parts of his colon as they became affected. Over a period of time he changed his diet, cutting out meat, dairy products, and wheat gluten. He never had to have any surgery at all, and late last year he was told that he no longer has any sign of colitis, something that the consultant he saw told him was 'a miracle'. It really wasn't a miracle - make sure you go to see a good dietician/nutritionist who specialises in this area, a change in diet really can change your life for the better, my dad is living proof.

Wow, that is great news reagarding your father and that he was able to beat it without surgery. I imagine that I'll be getting another colonoscopy soon. What sort of diet did he go on? Did he cut out all meat or just read meats? Was he on a diet that was very high in fiber? I'll definately be sure to talk to my doctor about seeing a nutritionist.

If you decide to, go to a dietitian, licensed. They should have a master's of science and be registered, so like on a business card it would say "Julie Smith, MS RD". Otherwise they could be anybody.

I have been vegetarian for precisely that reason among others, there are some studies that seem to indicate (not enough to be conclusive) that vegetarians are at lower risk.

I've read all the posts here - and there seems to be a really wide range of advice.... and seeing as up until now I didn't even know the names of those problems, I'm not even going to try to follow up on them. I jusdt wanted to say get well soon

Originally Posted by Essayons89

Good stuff, Pookie-poo! Thanks. I have question for you, if you don't mind. Since I have colitis and diverticulosis, how often should I have a colonoscopy done? I also had a polyp removed but it was nothing to cause concern.

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I believe what is recommended is to start at age 50 and every 5 years after. I had my first one at age 40, when they found three polyps, so I had another one three years later, which was clean. Now I'm on the 'every 5 year' schedule. I had my first colonoscopy early because my grandfather died of colon cancer at age 50. My parents both have polyps, so I was also at risk.

Each person will have their own colonoscopy schedule, depending on what the surgeon finds during the initial colonoscopy. Since you already have confirmed diverticulosis and a polyp, you will probably need more frequent monitoring of your colon. This is really a question that your doctor will need to answer for you.

Hope this helps!

Pookie

Originally Posted by Essayons89

Thanks. It hasn't bothered me like this since before I had a colonoscopy last year. I'm having some abdominal soreness as well as diahrea and blood. I've also been somehwhat lethargic. All of these are common symptoms of it. I have a doctor appointment monday, mainly because I called in for the weekend (I'm off on monday and tuesday so I might as well just take it easy).

When I had the colonoscopy the doctor said I had colitis and also mentioned some early signs of diverticulosis. Would that be the same as diverticulitis? I'm not sure.

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It's not the same Brian. Diverticulosis is a number of pockets that form in the lining of the bowel. Diverticulitis is when those pockets become infected. That may not be helping your colitis (I apologise if this has been said I haven't had the opportunity to read all the posts yet).

Ulcerative colitis is a nasty condition that can only be managed with diet and medication, but sadly, there has been no cure for it yet. It has varying degrees of severity and flare-ups are awful. You should be on sulfur drugs (Sulfasalazine) or if you are allergic to them, then a drug called Mesalazine. Also, during flares, you are often prescribed a reducing dose of Prednisolone, which is a steroid, and immensely effective in treating inflammatory bowel diseases (which colitis is, along with Crohn's disease).

Dietary modification will also help. Avoid fatty or acidic foods, also foods such as tomato and onion - things that are spicy or thing that have little seeds. Avoid coffee, and avoid too many fruits and vegetables. These are foods that are high in insoluble fibre and don't help. You need to be taking fibre supplement such as Metamucil or Benefibre to bulk up your stools, and you need to be eating a bland diet of mostly protein. Cut your dairy to a minimum.

It's quite restrictive but very helpful in topical fights against colitis.

The only reason I know all this is because I worked in gastroenterology for five and a half years!! I have quite a lot of information at hand on colitis if you'd like to pm me.

I feel for you hon, it's a painful, draining condition that can make you feel miserable. Just make sure you have a good gastroenterologist and that you are treating your symptoms as they come up - don't wait until you're in the middle of a full-blown flare because it's much easier to treat this disease preventatively rather than curatively. Good luck.

Essayons - current best practice recommends screening colonoscopies starting at age 50 and then every ten years after that if normal. If you have had polyps, it depends on what type they are. If hyperplastic (benign) then you need a five-yearly check unless you become symptomatic. If adenomatous (still benign, but could lead to early cell change) you usually need one every two to three years (depending on each successive result) unless symptomatic.

Diverticulosis (or Diverticular Disease) is a benign, extremely common condition that rarely needs treating unless it becomes symptomatic (diverticulitis) in which case you are treated with antibiotics and dietary modification. It does not make colonoscopies more frequently required unless you have chronic infection.

Also, do NOT I repeat DO NOT try colonic irrigation for this condition. This is a systemic condition that cannot and will not benefit from flushing out all the healthy, good bacteria in your colon. Enemas are designed for this if you feel the need to flush, but colonic irrigation is ok for some people (not recommended) and most definitely not ok if you have inflammatory bowel disease.

Thanks, KitE.

I've gotten some great additional info from both you and Pookie-poo.

A colonic is something I already knew not try and wouldn't dream of doing so with something like this. I have an appointment for next friday afternoon, which doesn't really help me right now because this is making it difficult to work. They'll get me in sooner if there's a cancelation. I'm already off for tonight and might take tomorrow too but I would like to try to get back at it saturday. The problem is that I drive a forklift for the USPS and it's making my abdominal pain worse just by doing that. It's not bad at all today but that really doesn't mean anything.

When you mentioned a diet consisiting of mostly protein, what sort of protein are you talking about? Are there certain types of protein to avoid such as red meats? Would bland meats such as turkey, chicken or fish be better?

A few years ago I had an anal fissure and part of the presurgery regimine that I went on was a high fiber, low fat diet that worked pretty well for that problem. The bonus was I lost a bunch of weight on it.

It's not so much the colitis and/or diverticulosis that has me concerned. The polyp that was removed was benign but I would consider a colonoscopy to rule out anything more serious.

By protein yes, I mean lean meats, chicken and fish. High fibre diets are great for bulking out your stool and do help with such things as fissures - and there is nothing wrong with having fibre in your diet but it has to be the right type - i.e. soluble vs insoluble.

This is why I suggested a fibre supplement such as Metamucil. It contains soluble fibre which your bowel has a much easier time digesting than insoluble fibre which is found in vegetables and fruits. When the bowel has to digest insoluble fibre it has to work much harder - it is like a concertina - it expands and contracts as it works through the food in there. This is why `outpouchings' or `pockets' form - the bowel is like a muscle but the mucosa (lining of the bowel) is very thin - all the pushing and pulling and kneading leads to wear and tear, which is how diverticulae (the pockets) form. Sometimes - particularly if you have inflammatory bowel disease - they can get infected. Such as what has happened to you. The mucosa itself, though, is also infected because of your ulcerative colitis. All in all, things aren't looking good in there. The lining of the bowel is inhabited by microscopic disease at the moment and that is leading to the bleeding, mucous and loose stools.

The bowel needs time to recuperate and work less hard, which is why you need to help it along with the kind of foods you eat. This is also why steroids help - they rejuvenate your blood supply and muscular strength, allowing the bowel to start healing again. Medications such as sulfur drugs treat the actual infection and microscopic disease. There is no cure for this, but there are very effective treatments. The problem is, if it's an acute flare-up such as you're having, this can lead to other complications like anal fissures, fistulas (only in very severe cases), weight loss, lethargy, nausea, pain - it's horrible.

I can only suggest before you see your doctor is to stay off work as long as you need, rest up, drink plenty of water, take your fibre supplement and eat healthily and well. You may need what's called a sigmoidoscopy just to evaluate the sigmoid colon, but this is usually just with enema prep and doesn't involve the two-day fast and drinking that a colonoscopy does.

Good luck - keep us posted.

By protein yes, I mean lean meats, chicken and fish. High fibre diets are great for bulking out your stool and do help with such things as fissures - and there is nothing wrong with having fibre in your diet but it has to be the right type - i.e. soluble vs insoluble.

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It's funny (I guess) but if I would have to choose between this and having that darn fissure again I would much rather have this. Those fissures hurt and after surgery was no treat either.

I'm heading the pharmacy in a bit to pick up my allergy prescriptions and some Metamucil. In regards to soluable vs. insoluable fiber, don't many fruits and vegetable and foods such as oat and oat bran contain both soluable and insoluable fiber? I know that I'm going to have to change my whole diet around. Eating meats like chicken, turkey and fish isn't a problem. I eat more of those than anything else, the harder part is going to be finding out which foods are higher than other in soluable fiber. I'm definately going to have to go see a dietician/nutritionist.

This is why `outpouchings' or `pockets' form - the bowel is like a muscle but the mucosa (lining of the bowel) is very thin - all the pushing and pulling and kneading leads to wear and tear, which is how diverticulae (the pockets) form. Sometimes - particularly if you have inflammatory bowel disease - they can get infected. Such as what has happened to you. The mucosa itself, though, is also infected because of your ulcerative colitis. All in all, things aren't looking good in there. The lining of the bowel is inhabited by microscopic disease at the moment and that is leading to the bleeding, mucous and loose stools.

The bowel needs time to recuperate and work less hard, which is why you need to help it along with the kind of foods you eat. This is also why steroids help - they rejuvenate your blood supply and muscular strength, allowing the bowel to start healing again. Medications such as sulfur drugs treat the actual infection and microscopic disease. There is no cure for this, but there are very effective treatments. The problem is, if it's an acute flare-up such as you're having, this can lead to other complications like anal fissures, fistulas (only in very severe cases), weight loss, lethargy, nausea, pain - it's horrible.

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I do have an internal hemmorhoid which was found when I had my colonoscopy last year. Could this be where most of the bleeding was and sometimes is coming from? I think that it may a result of both the colitis and diverticulosis as well as "the 'roid". The latter wouldn't make my abdoment sore like this. The soreness is usually worse after I eat something. I assume that is "normal" during a flare up?

I can only suggest before you see your doctor is to stay off work as long as you need, rest up, drink plenty of water, take your fibre supplement and eat healthily and well. You may need what's called a sigmoidoscopy just to evaluate the sigmoid colon, but this is usually just with enema prep and doesn't involve the two-day fast and drinking that a colonoscopy does.

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As much as I don't want to stay off of work for another week I don't think I'm going to have much of a choice, the ole health comes first. I need to go see my general care doctor to get some FMLA paperwork filled out until I see the specialist.

Thanks, Kit. I really appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Essayons89

It's funny (I guess) but if I would have to choose between this and having that darn fissure again I would much rather have this. Those fissures hurt and after surgery was no treat either.

I'm heading the pharmacy in a bit to pick up my allergy prescriptions and some Metamucil. In regards to soluable vs. insoluable fiber, don't many fruits and vegetable and foods such as oat and oat bran contain both soluable and insoluable fiber? I know that I'm going to have to change my whole diet around. Eating meats like chicken, turkey and fish isn't a problem. I eat more of those than anything else, the harder part is going to be finding out which foods are higher than other in soluable fiber. I'm definately going to have to go see a dietician/nutritionist.

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That's the best bet - there are dietitians who specialise in inflammatory bowel disease and diverticular disease - they'll be able to give you very comprehensive information.

I do have an internal hemmorhoid which was found when I had my colonoscopy last year. Could this be where most of the bleeding was and sometimes is coming from? I think that it may a result of both the colitis and diverticulosis as well as "the 'roid". The latter wouldn't make my abdoment sore like this. The soreness is usually worse after I eat something. I assume that is "normal" during a flare up?

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Yes, the soreness after you eat is normal - that's why diet is so important. Try to limit your meals to small meals six times a day as opposed to three large ones. The bleeding may be coming a little from the haemorrhoid but it won't be responsible for all the bleeding most likely. Usually one of the first symptoms of a flare of colitis is some rectal bleeding. This is going to sound gross, and you'll have to excuse me, but if there's blood on or in your stool it's usually coming from the bowel, if it's just a bit of bright red blood on the paper it's usually coming from a haemorrhoid.

As much as I don't want to stay off of work for another week I don't think I'm going to have much of a choice, the ole health comes first. I need to go see my general care doctor to get some FMLA paperwork filled out until I see the specialist.

Thanks, Kit. I really appreciate it.

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It's my pleasure. And yes, you will need to be off work with this - it's not going to help you to push yourself when you are alreayd immunocompromised. That will just prolong your recovery.

Well, I just got back from seeing my gastroenterologist. He thinks that I may have an infection but he's also not ruling out diverticulitis. He said that he doesn't want to do another colonoscopy so soon after the last one if he absolutely doesn't have to but for starters he's going to have me get a CT done on abdomen to look for any swelling and he put me on a week's worth of metronidazole (500mg- three times a day). I'm also going to be getting some blood work and other tests done. He's leaving to go out of town after today so I won't seem him for another two weeks or so.

I'm going to try and go back to work tomorrow. I only have 20 hours of leave left because of this and I have bills that need to be paid. I have to try it and see if I can just tough it out. I don't have much of a choice so we'll have to see how it goes.

On a side note, flagyl tablets are some nasty tasting things. Talk about leaving a horrible taste in the mouth....bleeech!