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Ulcerative Colitis Bleeding

Posted , 9 users are following.

cjb106
cjb106

I has a flexi sigmoidscopy on Saturday morning and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I have been started on mesalazine and prednisolone and told I will be called to a clinic appointment in the next two weeks to discuss ongoing treatment. I took my first dose of mesalazine on Saturday afternooon and the prednisolone on Sunday morning. The hospital pharmacist advised me to take the prednisolone in the morning as it could make me feel “wired” and prevent sleep if taken at night. The diarrhea seems a little better but the bleeding seems to be worse these last few days since the procedure. I’m wondering if that’s because I’m not having quite so many bowel movements so the blood is being stored up. Or I suppose it could be bleeding from the biopsies that were taken. Assuming (hoping) that the drugs will work for me, I'm wondering how long it will take for the bleeding to subside. I’ve read somewhere that steroids can work pretty quickly.

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Miss_uc2015
    Miss_uc2015 cjb106

    Posted

    Hello

    when I started prednisone I saw improvement within a few days and the bleeding completely stopped. 

    I also take prednisone in the morning after food.

    good luck with the medications working quickly for you. If the bleeding doesn't stop they may up your dose. 

    There is some great forums on this page to help you. 

    • cjb106
      cjb106 Miss_uc2015

      Posted

      Thank you. That's what I am hoping for.

      As this is all new to me I'm busy reading as much as I can about the condition and was planning to call the information line of the Crohn's and Colitis UK for some advice too.

  • Darasdad1
    Darasdad1 cjb106

    Posted

    Good Morning - Prednisolone use to floor me for a couple of hours so I took it early with breakfast then made enough time to recover. It was a reducing course so the effect eased gradually. 
    • cjb106
      cjb106 Darasdad1

      Posted

      Thank you. Two days in and I can tell already that the prednisolone is making me feel pretty wretched first thing. I have to take 30mg each morning for two weeks until I can see the clinician to review. I'm just hoping that it will make the bleeding stop soon.
  • eriikah95891
    eriikah95891 cjb106

    Posted

    Hi there i have ulcerative colitis and ibs i have the urgency to use the restroom and also seeing blood every time i go. Im on lialda and prednisone but it hasnt been working for me at all. Ive been taking prednisone for 3 weeks now. I also take them in the morning my situation is a bit hard right now since im 6 months pregnant so theres not a lot of medicine they can give me. But before when i had the same problem i would start feeling better within 3 weeks it just depends on everyone body and conditions on how some medicine works for them
    • cjb106
      cjb106 eriikah95891

      Posted

      That must be tough Eriikah, having to cope with IBD while pregnant. I've now spoken to my GP and my very helpful and experienced local pharmacist and both are suggesting it could take at best a week for the meds to kick in and perhaps two to three. The pharmacist even suggested that as the inflammation reduces there may appear to be an increase in blood flow as the aperture it can escape down is larger or even that it appears more as bowel movements become less frequent. I feel less dehydrated than I did so that may be a good indication that the inflammation is starting to go down.
  • millie1986
    millie1986 cjb106

    Posted

    Hello!

    I was diagnosed with UC in January of this year after a flexible sigmoidoscopy .. I then had a full colonoscopy in March

    I've had blood every day for over 18 months now.. Some medications help the bleeding some don't..

    With the pred it makes me feel SO hyper but did calm my bleeding down a lot.. The more I reduce them the more bleeding..

    I take my pred first thing in the morning or I can't sleep at night

    Sorry your going through this. X

    • cjb106
      cjb106 millie1986

      Posted

      Hello Millie and thanks for your reply. I have been taking the prednosolone for a week now, 30mg per day. I take it early in the morning around 6am after a bite to eat else I find my mind is not working properly for most of the morning. I don''t feel hyper, more just spaced out but I guess my body had to get used to this. I'm taking mesalazine too twice a day. The diarrhea is not so bad now. I'm going to the toilet less but the bleeding continues. It's depressing to think that the bleeding could remain long term based on your experience. I have just received a new appointment for the gastrenterology clinic on 18/11 which is sooner than the first date they gave me and I'll be interested to hear what the consultant says about the ongoing blood loss. What I am fast realising about UC is that no two people seem to suffer it in the same way.
    • millie1986
      millie1986 cjb106

      Posted

      That's a shame it makes you feel like that.. Hopefully they will give you some sort of energy rather than making you feel like that. I am on pred, mezavant xl twice daily and a suppository at night and iron tablets as I am anaemic

      It's all trial and error with these medications I've had most things going foam after foam lol now on this pred steroid

      I know what you mean I'm literally so fed up with it now. I don't really talk about it at all but I had a cry on Friday night I just had a bad day!! They have done some gene test to see if I can take another tablet however the side effects are lymphoma cancer amoung other things..

      What doesn't work for me could work for you!! With the bleeding I'm so used to it now. I'm not at the toilet anywhere near as much as I was and I'm getting a full nights sleep rather than at the toilet

      That's good you have your appointment with the hospital

      I'm sure you'll get a great doctor who will keep you on track

      You will get there it's the start of a long road but j honestly think keep your head in a good frMe of mind and that's half the battle xx

  • stella96254
    stella96254 cjb106

    Posted

    Has anyone had the new foam prednisolone enema  as i have been given that but cant seem to get it to work every time think it is the canister 

    I am worried and now waiting for my doctoe to call as i have only managed it twice once my doctor did it.

  • MrMan
    MrMan cjb106

    Posted

    After a flexi sigmoidoscopy during a flare up, I found I would bleed a lot for the following few days before it subsided. There is a chance it could be a combination of the examination disrupting down below and the flare up. The prednisolone takes around 3-5 days to work. Its very strong (as are the side effects unfortunately) If after that period you are still unwell and are bleeding and passing loose stools frequently, then you should speak to your specialist. But if you can see your stools are firming up, you are going less frequently, less pain, urgency and blood etc, then its definitely working and just stick with it until it hopefully fully puts you back into remission.
    • cjb106
      cjb106 MrMan

      Posted

      Thank you. It’s day 12 of taking the meds. The diarrhea has improved. I’m only going three times a day now as opposed to ten or twelve. Sadly, the amount of bleeding is still the same. What’s also concerning me is that I did not have any discomfort before and now I do. Hard to describe but my left side colon feels “tight”. Not painful just uncomfortable. I’m wondering if that is because the waste sitting in my colon is now more solid and perhaps putting pressure on the ulcers and inflammed tissue. I have a hospital appointment for the 18th so hopefully I’ll get some an answers then. And, yes, the side effects of the prednisolone are not good. I seem to veer between very short bursts of energy and feeling completely wiped out. I’m getting tremors in the morning before I have taken the tablets and a weird spaced out feeling for hours afterwards. Certainly not a drug I want to stay on for any length of time.
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