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

I'm starting to wonder about
*endometriosis
*allergy to something (it started with coconut macaroon)
*intolerance to milk (this seems fairly definite)
*an ulcer
*me fussing
*'just' piles

Ava is it Moviprep you're taking to clear you out? If it is you have my sympathies - that stuff is evil!!!!! The instructions tell you to stay near a toilet - this actually means 'don't bother going downstairs!!!!' Piles are horrible - I've had them for years. I usually use Anusol Ointment but got hold of some Preparation H with hydrocortisone while on holiday in Florida last year & found this to be much better. You can't buy it over here but I don't know if your GP can prescribe it - I will be buying a few tubes when I go on holiday in November. Was going to suggest a cream for nappy rash but I see someone has beat me to it. Good luck for your colonoscopy tomorrow - hope it's over quickly & you find out exactly what's going on.

Katy I've had a little read back on the thread & looking at the symptoms you've described they sound similar to the ones I had before I was diagnosed with the Crohn's. I had pain under ribcage on left, tightening of my bowel on right side, what felt like constipation pain constantly & diarrhoea & I needed to use the loo every hour. The pain got so bad before I was admitted I was taking paracetamol & codeine but it wasn't touching it. I didn't have any bleeding that I could see, but there must have been some as my HB level dropped. The colonoscopy I had in early January showed nothing except a little bit of inflammation quite high up & this is because the Crohn's is in my small bowel which can only be seen with a CT or small bowel barium. Can I suggest that you ask your consultant exactly what he thinks it is & what he is looking for with the flexi-sig. The stress of not knowing why you're having problems can't be helping. Hope you get it sorted soon.

I used the Fat Hair shampoo & conditioner yesterday & it did make a difference. I also bought the styling stuff but haven't used it yet - will let you know if I turn into Tim Minchin when i use it all together!!!

Thanks mrspinot and old bag I am feeling very nervous, due at the hospital at1.30 tomorrow, have my brother here to help me with DCs. I am feeling awful today anyway, can hardly eat or drink without running to loo to pass blood, water and diarrohea and the pain is intense but short lasting.

I have instructions not to eat anything solid from 4 pm today, but have little appetite anyway, so that's me done with food now. mrspinot what I have to take is called Kleanprep. Is that the same, have been warned is awful evil stuff so am dreading tonight. I am already up and down in the night! Have to drink two litres of it starting at 6pm. Just when DCs will be getting ready for bed! Keep it all crossed for me ladies, I haven't been out this weekend as I cannot be far from a loo. I have never been this bad before...

Katy, what you describe must be uc or crohn's, it sounds just like it. Hope they find confirmation this time, I can't remember what your colonoscopy found before.

old bag I recently got a new consultant as old one retired. Old consultant had me upping and reducing my steroids for months, if I was ok would reduce by 5mg and stay like that for week was plan, but as soon as I felt twinge Was to go up 5mg, can't remember exact details. That was the first 6 months of last year. My poo nurse told me that different docs have their own ways of doing things, so new consultant had me starting on a month of 40mg, then two weeks of 30, then reducing by 5mg a week...

All the best for tomorrow Ava, as OldBag says, we will be thinking of you. It isn't a pleasant experience, but at least you will know immediately after the procedure what the diagnosis is which will help. I had Kleanprep for my colonoscopy recently - it certainly did the trick!! Take a good book, some magazines and a radio in to the bathroom - you'll be in there plenty, may as well have your home comforts.

I wish i had taken a change of clothing and knickers and pads as i farted - as you will do loads after - and had a rather big accident. All the hospital offered me was an adult nappy - which would not have fitted under my leggins, lol!

OldBag, the Fat Hair shampoo seems to be working, but a bit like you, i use a bit of very strong conditioner on the very ends and that helps make it look less Minchin-like.

Katy, i hear you on the endometriosis and possible lactose intolerance. Regarding the flexi sig next month - go for it - a LOT really can change over 6 months. Also, because it only goes up the left hand side, it is not as painful (at least that was my experience) and no prep, phew!

chocol8 thank you so much for spare clothes tips, I have had to bring knickers out with me recently as I am only just making it or having accidents in the last week.

I have been fasting since 4pm, no more solid food. Am nearly done on my second litre of Kleanprep, I feel bloated and nauseous, it tastes vile and I've added orange squash. So far just one trip to loo...when will it really kick in then, thought it'd be quicker, I haven,t ad loads to eat today just a yogurt, slice of cake, bit of chicken, quite a few roast potatoes

Also I have developed a rash this past week since the uc has been really bad, red and itchy chest and forearms and in crooks of elbows. When uc wakes me in night for loo I am always drenched in sweat. Anyone else had this?

mrspinot how was your meal out?

Yes Ava, i always carry spare knickers, panty liners and large sanitary towels too.

From memory, i think i expected the Kleanprep to work its magic almost immediately but that it actually worked a good few hours after. I think i've erased it from my memory it was so horrible. Maybe 6-8 hours after....? I had it with orange juice too, but it's still pretty awful isn't it?

What's the rash like? Is it like lumps under the skin? I have had a condition called nodular prurygo for many many years - to me i feel like it is like UC on the outside. I do seem to remember that lumps under the skin can be a symptom of UC...? I will check it out.

Good luck with the colonoscopy and the flexi sig thingy. I agree take spare clothing and magazines.
I always carry spare knickers, and a little plastic bag to put the crummy ones in before I bin them, and some wet wipes. Tbh even after all these years if I am going somewhere (eg shopping) I tend not to eat till afterwards as I'm so frightened of a repeat of the time something awful happened on the floor at John Lewis on the way to the loo.
Oldbag exactly as you say, UC/Crohns and the related stuff is (ahem) crap plus I get the night sweats too.
The only thing is, at least it does get better and if it weren't for modern medicines I rather think I might not be here to see my lovely DC grow up.
We need UC/Crohns related jokes.

"As if s*** yourself in Waitrose isn't enough." PMSL OldBag!! It's really not the sexiest of things to suffer from is it?

Years ago i stupidly wiped a little boys nose at nursery - it looked like he had two lines of custard sliding down his face. I ended up with hand, foot and mouth. A couple of days later, a note came home from the nursery to say they had hand foot and mouth and scarlet fever. Why the hell couldn't i have ended up with the sexier sounding one eh? I quite fancied seeing myself lying on a chaise longues being fed peeled grapes and someone to mop my brow. But no, bloody hand foot and mouth! Just typical!

Anyway, yes i have had the aloe vera mixed with juice for two days now. Mmmmm - it actually tastes REALLY HORRIBLE! I ran out of orange juice this evening and clean glasses so i used a mug of half OJ, the aloe and topped it up with cranberry and raspberry juice. Cor, it really looked like a cold cup of tea! Shame it didn't taste like it though - it was quite vile - and i took my 2 Pentasa sachets with it, just to add insult to injury! Bleughhh!!!

www.toilette-humor.com/funny_medical_cartoons/doctor_is_in.shtml

or this
www.toilette-humor.com/funny_old_people/2_ladies.shtml

or this, equally awful
www.toilette-humor.com/funny_medical_cartoons/check_your_shampoo_bottles.shtml

what do you all think? rofl rofl rofl or groan?

members.fortunecity.co.uk/dancannon/jokes/Toilet_Humour/Types_of_Poo.html

Types of poo

Thanks for the kind words ladies, and making me laugh old bag and funny person. Chocol this is def an experience I will erase from memory, I cannot describe my piles to you now.

The stuff has kicked in, two litres tonight and two in the morning, if I'm running clear as a mountain spring after one litre in the morning then I can stop.

Interesting that two of you get the night sweats, I have no plastic sheet yet old bag. and yes, you could be right the rash might be linked to the sweating, it's in the hot spots I suppose, my chest is usually drenched. It is red,bumpy and itchy, the raised bumpy parts are small not large bumps, but covers a large area

Types of poo has me and my brother rofl, heed heeee x

Got to tell you funnyperson,I have just cried with laughter at "types of poo"
I think I deserve to as I have this winter sh*t myself is marks&sparks, tescos and very nearly sainsburys(made it half way home that time!)

I read this thread and think I'm not as bad as all of you,but still,there must be something not right!!
Have colorectal appointment on tuesday but things have settled down a lot the last month or so.He will probably say,marvelous,you're all better now.

Ava,that clean-out stuff is evil.I felt so ill when I had it and had to double my steroids that I take as replacement medication.Poor you,hope you manage ok.
I wish you all better.If I may,I will let you know about tues.

Loved the types of poo link Funny - living up to your name there! Lol.

Hey, welcome back l4k! Yes, please do let us know what happens at your appt on Tuesday.

Ava, hope it all goes well today. I had the KleenPrep as well. Vile tasting stuff!

Loved the types of poo and the old lady in the lift!! :o

l4k, glad things have settled. I've got an appointment next week but I think I'm going to postpone it - my poo nurse said i could leave it a couple more months if I was still in remission and it's pointless taking up a slot that someone needs more than i do at the moment.

I have not yet shat myself in public, thank goodness! Had a few close calls when things were really bad though.

I also have night sweats but always put it down to a side effect of the anti-depressants I'm on. Maybe they've been down to the IBD instead? Anyway I wake up sometimes soaking with my hair plastered to my face - its soooo attractive!!!

Talking of anti-depressants my mum read an article in the paper yesterday saying that IBD sufferers who are put on ADs are less likely to have flare ups compared to those not on them. I've been on them for a couple of years now & I'm not sure if they make any difference although they do seem to help me relax. Will ask her later which paper it was from.

Ava my meal out was lovely - it was so nice to go out & just relax without worrying whether I would need the loo halfway through my meal. And yes I had dessert - I had syrup sponge pudding & custard & it was lovely. Spent the day out yesterday as well with DS, DSis & DNephew - we went into town to see the finale of the Titanic celebrations & took the boys for lunch - it was really nice to do 'normal' things without worrying, hopefully the way I am at the moment will last (fingers crossed). I'm back at the consultant on Friday so am hoping for good news. Hope your appointment goes ok today - let us know how you get on.

l4k nice to meet you - hope your appointment tomorrow goes well - wishing you better as well.

Well i am home and it's done. I was ok, actually v uncomfortable at some points as he went really far in, but better than the sigmoidoscopy without sedation in fact! I am still feeling the sedation effects and I am cold and exhausted, just going to try to take it easy, not easy with a 2 year old and 7 month old, but my brother is here and he is just so lovely and a great help to me.
Colonoscopy showed that things pretty similar to last time, the mess I am on are not keeping it under control, it is distal inflammation of left side and rectum, I could really seethe difference between the good parts of the colon higher up, just pale with red veins and the inflamed part lower down, all read and bloody in parts. Interesting.

So now I wait for the consultant and poo nurse to get the results and biopsy results and see what more can be done. V glad it's not worse, but I need sorting out.

Thing is last night I had best night's sleep I've had in ages as my gut was empty for the devil's juice Kleanprep, so no waking up 4x in night. I slept from 10.30 till 7.20, a real luxury for me and of course the runs today have been awful, but not as bad as the uc. Now I'm able to eat again it'll be more pain...the solution seems not to eat! But I love food!

Wonder what they will say to me at next appointment? Everything I have had works for a while, then stops working....

Welcome 14k shitting yourself in shops sounds bad! Hope the doc is sympathetic and helpful.

mrspinot meal out sounds lovely. Funny you say about anti ds as my friend's bf has IBD and she said he was prescribed anti ds for it. Mentally I feel fine though, so wonder would it help if you don't feel depressed, would like to read article, let us know if you track it down...

Thanks for all your good vibes girks

Girls