What kind of medications are you on for your U.C. I was diagnosed with pan colitis, acute, in Feb 2002, and have never taken any medication for it due to insurance and just fear of the side effects. I have up to 30 bowel movements a day (diarrhea), pain, major incontinence, can't work because of it, paranoia of food, fatigue, and the bm's continue throughout the night, at least 1 at night, usually 3 or 4 at night...I'm 45, mother of 4 girls & 1 boy, ages 26, 24, 22, 13, & 3 years. Grandmother of 2 precious girls, 6 years and 8 months. The reason I haven't taken the Asacol or Rowasa enemas or steroids I've been prescribed previously is that I fear the side affects, and am still nursing my youngest child a little bit, so it might pass through the breastmilk. Thank you so much for reading...I need a plan of action to get better. I've tried diets etc, to no avail... :( I always keep a positive attitude, but it's tough. I have accidents all the time, on the ground outside, shopping in Target, any place...it's horrible and so embarrassing. One of the worst things is that when I finally broke down and had to apply (my worst nightmare) for disability, I found out that the doctors I had seen had been downplaying my symptoms, not actually writing down what I had told them about my U.C. symptoms verbatum and I told them to him/her. For example, if I told them I had between 20 and 30 diarrheas (liquid bm's) per day, they would put '6 - 8'.
Q: What kind of medications are you on/work for you?
Hi Sweet Girl,
I'm sorry that you are suffering with your UC. In all honesty I truly feel your life would improve if you would succumb and take the Asacol or Rowasa, plus look at your diet, and stress. You might want to read my book, Living with IBD & IBS: A Personal Journey of Success.
I was where you are - 15-30 loose/diarrhea BM's per day (one GI didn't believe me when I told him this, and I went and found another GI who did believe me), severe abdominal cramping, no energy, joint aches, low-grade fever, etc.
The thing about Asacol, or Colazal, or Rowasa is that they take time to act. It's not like you take a pill today and voila! you're feeling better tomorrow. These medications are used to help treat the inflammation in your colon - which is what is causing your symptoms and inflammation could potentially be putting you at a higher risk for colon cancer. It took a couple of months for things to really settle down for me and my gut. But as you'll read in my book it was a combination of Rx meds., diet changes, and stress reduction that now allow me to lead a good, productive, accident-free life.
A small percentage of people are allergic to these medications. But for the rest of us the worst side effect seems to be some hair loss. I think you owe it to yourself and your family to find some course of treatment you are comfortable with. There really is no reason to be living the way you are in this day and age, even with UC.
Best of luck,
Elizabeth
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