Could this be Ulcerative Colitis?

[Chocol8]

Sorry this is gross, but i am worried and looked online (prob not the best of ideas) and found that most of my symptoms seem to fit UC: different coloured stools which frequently changes but is mostly very loose.
Blood in stools (a lot), if i pass wind, i can pass pure blood but usually mess myself (very unpleasant), stomach churns constantly.
Being sent (eventually) for a colonoscopy to have a look see. Does anyone know what else this could be please? x

(ps Oldbag, I've just had a nose at your dogs on your profile. I lurve your DDB!!)

Ooooh a UC thread. Just thought I say to those newly diagnosed or suffering a flare at the moment that it does get better. I have had 2 major flares resulting in hospitalisation but once in remission I don't know I have UC at all.
Keep taking the drugs, I have Azathioprine, Pentasa and iron. I only have iv steroids when flaring as can't tolerate oral prednisolone as I get steroid induced psychosis! I have in the past used the VSL probiotics and found them very good but couldn't afford to continue them.
Hope you all feel better soon.

Erm, I have been better

Day off tomorrow too I think - how long do a-bs take to start working?

& I have an interview tomorrow morning

nope I can't cancel, it's for an Early Years Professional which should start next week 30th

I can only do it if I get my degree by then & the results for my degree aren't out until 4th Feb

I have taken 1 on Sat plus 3 whole days worth of co-amoxiclav which should be quite strong

Hey lovely ladies.

I hope you're ok for your interview tomorrow Katy - strangely, i had one this morning. I mentioned that i had a condition as they were aware when they called two weeks ago that i was due to go into hospital. I have said that i would probably be ok to start in a month if offered the job.

They were very understanding and i managed not to have to rush off to the loo mid interview, even though i was there for nearly an hour...and had a cup of tea. I usually find that the urgency starts in the morning and is okish til after i've eaten again. Bland works well for me, but has by no means sorted out the bleeding/urgency.

Not a good afternoon as i went out to lunch, so going home i called into all the local loos - two or three times in Tescos.

Thanks for your positive message Shufflebum (love the name), it's good to hear from someone who is in remission and has it sorted, it gives those of us still suffering, hope.

Well I got in as long as I get my degree by 30th & the OU have put it back another week to 8th Feb

Yes it can go through that quickly, honest, I have seen undigested food to prove it I am in the same boat as far as speed goes

& I still have my bands - 2 weeks today.....so much for 5-7 days I still don't even know if they are supposed to come out

Thanks OldBag, will hear tomorrow about the job.
Yes, it always surprises me how quickly food goes through me too!

Sorry to hear you had that stress with your ds2 last night, i know how that feels and i know it causes physical pain. My ds is 14 and 'that' age too.

Regarding food, i am considering starting a liquid diet or to get some Lactase for the milk in my tea.

Weirdly, my sister was told today that she has endometriosis and this is what caused her to have her appendix out 6 weeks ago - as it had grown around her appendix. We Googled it and it does run in families - i am convinced that i have this. I am scheduled to have the Novosure procedure done at the end of February and am now wondering if it is around my colon...? Just a thought.

The pain i have experienced today has been unbelievably bad, like a fire in my stomach and abdomen. I took Co Codamol which seemed to help for 1.5 hours of the 4 hours. I don't really want to get into taking them so will ask the doctor about painkillers on Friday (and not hold my breath for a decent reply!).

Fingers x'd for you Katie.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you Chocol*

Fingers crossed for jobs and degrees!! Sorry you're all still feeling lousy though. I wish I had some sort of magic remission spray I could douse you all with.

I've had food pass through completely undigested within an hour or so if I'm really anxious about something. It's hideous. Hasn't happened for a long time now though.

Katy, 4th Feb is my 40th birthday and I hereby decree that only good things shall happen on that day, so you'll get fab degree results!

The bands dropped off but I think they are better off

Quite a lot of pain (& the itching....you wouldn't believe the itching) but I do feel surprisingly better

Howz the pain and itching Katy? Any better?

Oldbag, the pain was awful on Thursday and Friday but weirdly ok at the weekend....? It's been bad again today, but manageable at least.
I was in the doctors for about 15 mins on Friday as i had written down all my queries. The only one that was not answered was the one of pain relief. He suggested having a urine test (found out it was clear today) and a stool sample which i gave in today.

Good news though, i asked for some VSL#3 to try and was given 20 sachets which i started tonight - as they were hard to get hold of. 45 million live bacteria in one sachet...? Scary!!! Did seem to perk me up as i was running around doing all the odd jobs afterwards, but maybe this was just cos i took it with some cranberry juice.

I am at the hospital tomorrow evening to see the consultant (at last). I am going to ask if he will write down that he recommends the VSL#3 so that i can try it a bit longer. At least it is natural so can't do me any harm.

If anyone is able to think of any questions i should ask the consultant tomorrow, i would be grateful. I seem to have gone blank!

Still feeling OK but with pain & itching - I hope itching means getting better

i can't help with your appt but good luck

Hi Ladies, i have been to see the consultant at my local hospital this evening. I actually feel like i'm getting something done, but it will take time.

I now have some blood tests arranged, a colonoscopy on 22nd (he wanted to do it immediately, but they can't fit me in til then) and some new suppositories to try. That along with the VSL#3 and some painkillers should keep me going.

More importantly, i have a direct telephone number to use if i have any problems or concerns (and during flares).

OldBag, how is the Slim Fast going? I was thinking soups and drinks but SF seems like a good idea if i mix it with soya milk.

Oooh, Spider, you young whipersnapper you - only a few days to go now!!

Hiya all - I posted on here a while back. My stupid UC is not responding well to anything except steroids. Currently on Tioguanine as an immunosuppresant.

I am trying the SCD diet - as I have been to see a surgeon re my 'options' (such as they are) - and I feel I ought to give diet a go before giving up and going under the knife (which I really really really don't want to do).

It will be interesting to see what occurs as I taper off the steroids...

Hi Oldbag, glad the SF is going well for you - you must have lost some weight by now? Weirdly, i went back for blood tests on Friday too!!

Yes, i find volume of food/drink a problem too - having been constipated for the past fortnight or so, things changed drastically yesterday afternoon. I was doubled up and ran back and forth to Costa's loos about ten times. I made it home and then had the 'motherload' and blocked the toilet. Still, i lost the 2lbs from being bunged up.

I've been given Buscopan for the pain, but haven't tried it yet - i was told not to take Ibuprofen, only Paracetamol, but they don't work anyway. I had Co-codamol but they only give me a little relief from the pain. Sadly i don't like licorice either, but it's good to know.

The Predsol (liquid enema) i was prescribed is actually not in stock anywhere due to long term manufacturing problems....which begs the question why my consultant prescribed it in the first place....?

Poor you Lainey - i haven't heard of Tioguanine before. How is the SCD diet going? Is it as much effort as they say it is - a lot of prep work etc? I agree it's got to be worth a try though if the other option is surgery. :-(
How you feeling today?

SPIDERLIGHT - WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY!!!! Hope you're having a wonderful day!! xx

Blimey Oldbag, there's not much of you is there?
I lost just over a stone when all this kicked off and recently when i was consitpated i lost the 2-3lbs i had gained. Not a lot to show for 5 months of UC.

Unfortunately although i am constipated, i still have the urgency, but to a lesser degree. Obvously something i ate on Friday decided to jettison what had previously stored up and lose the 2lbs i had gained overnight. According to my (new) consultant, constipation is common with UC.

I do find that little and often is best, like you.