How long will the symptoms including bloody mucous and bloody stools and frequency last?

Hi Jamey,

Sorry to hear of your IBD diagnosis. I suggest first that you read through my Shareposts on this website. I talk about everything from diet to simply getting through life despite having IBD.

Many of the Rx meds. given for IBD take some time to have an effect - like weeks before you see any response at all, no matter how small. Now, that said, if the medication you've been given is truly making your symptoms worse then you need to call your doctor's office and talk to their nurse. Tell them about how the Rx is affecting you and ask them if there is another alternative Rx med. you can try. Treatment shouldn't make the symptoms worse.

Some of my Shareposts also talk about diet and IBD. But, for the time being since you are dealing with blood and D, you want to look into eating a low residue diet. These are foods that require less digestive break-down by your gut and thus give it a break and a chance to heal. Think things like white fish or chicken breast baked, yogurt (natural not with high fructose corn syrup, etc.), applesauce, bananas, white rice, white toast - whole grains can be very hard on the gut so for the time being eat white not brown.

You also will want to check out the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation web site at www.ccfa.org. There you will be able to find out about support groups in your area and further info. on IBD and diet.

It will take time to get an IBD flare-up to calm down. It took me a good 6 months to get my first flare under control, however it had been raging for nearly a year. If you're interested take a look at my web site too - www.ibdandibs.com - and you can find out more about my own story of learning to live with IBD.

Good luck to you,

Elizabeth