Have I got ulcerative colitis? Please someone help!

Hi mummajojo 

I'm so sorry to hear of your situation at the moment. 

There are a number of conditions with similar symptoms so whilst it sounds like UC it could also be something else. Inflammatory bowel disease is a horrible condition to manage. Sounds like your colon is certainly irritated by something for sure. The anti inflammatory steroids will help til you get your diagnoses will calm it down. I was diagnosed with UC 3 years ago. Many of symptoms were similar to yours, frequency of going to the loo, passing blood andat one point i couldn't leave my house for fear of just not being able to find a loo quick enough. Like you the frequent trips to the bathroom left me exhausted. My sleep was disrupted. My whole life was affected.

I can empathise completely with how you feel. I put up with it for 6 months before I got my colonoscopy! UC was confirmed. I was prescribed medication and within 2 weeks things were beginning to calm down. I am on my medication all the time and haven't had a flair up of the condition for a long time now. Once diagnosed and they know exactly what it is hang in there.

You shouldn't have to pay all that money to get some treat either, however if you want the system to hurry I would suggest pestering your GP again to see if they can fast track you someway. 

Once the steroids kick in and calm it down you'll soon be feeling a whole lot better.

my advice would be to read up online all about inflammatory bowel disease. Find out as much as you can about the condition. You may well be able to identify many of your symptoms from the list.  Of course until a true confirmation of you its not conclusive.

Don't despair, there is light at the end of the tunnel even though right now it doesn't appear visible. 

Good luck to you. Get the steroids. Keep pestering your GP.  This place is brilliant too for support from fellow sufferes. 

Keep us informed how you go on. 

Hope you'll soon know what it is and be feeling better soon . 

Best wishes 

Jane.

Hi Mummajojo, sorry to hear you are struggling, I was the same eighteen months ago, multiple bms, blood on paper, mucus, very urgent bms and abdo pain. Doctors kept telling me it was piles but I felt awful and knew it was more. One gastro consultant also diagnosed piles, gave me suppos and cream but I just felt worse and worse. In desperation I paid privately to see a different gastro consultant who diagnosed U.C immediately. Had colonoscopy within four days and diagnosis confirmed. Didn't have steroids but enemas and oral Asacol. Felt much better within two weeks and now take a maintenance dose. Your symptoms sound very much like mine, advice would be to take the steroids for now and IF you can afford to see someone privately go for it. Let us know how you get on and things WILL get better once you are diagnosed xx

Thanks so much ladies. Your advice really is invaluable. I don't have anyone that I can talk to that understands what I'm going through so it has been great discussing my symptoms with you all. I hope that the steroids won't distract the consultant from seeing anything on the colonoscopy though? I'm sure one lot of steroids won't get rid of the ulcers though? That's if I have ulcers!!

I've got an appointment with a consultant on Thursday afternoon for a talk & if I'm paying, she could see me the following Friday for a colonoscopy. I don't want to have to pay either but my family are insisting that I go and they are paying for me! Money talks eh?!

I just can't wait to be able to go out and not have to panic as to where the toilets are. I'm not losing weight although I'm hardly eating anything, in fact my tummy is so tight and swollen. I feel like I'm gonna pop at any moment. Is this a sign as I read that normally people lose weight? 

And here come the mouth ulcers now :-(

Thanks again & I'll be sure to keep you posted.

Jo

xxx

Hi Mummajojo,

You've heard some good advice already.  I just want to add a couple of things.

It might help you get out of the house for a few hours safelye if you take an Immodium tablet an hour or so before you have to go out.  You might try one before bedtime to give you a better sleep.

I found that stress can make the symptoms worse.  Try to relax and in fact practice some relaxation exercises, a kind of meditation during the day.  I would lie down (once a day), close my eyes) and in a mantra kind of way say "relax the toes, relax  relax the ankle " etc. working your way up your body, slowly and calmly and actually pay attention to that body part and try to relax it.  The whole thing might take ten minutes.  It's worth a try and could well help you.

By the way after my first encounter with UC when I was hospitalized for a couple of weeks, I was free of any serious symptoms for decades.  So there is hope of getting better and leading a normal life again.

Good luck!

Good luck!

Yes, I have a lot of bloating and tight feeling in abdo region!

Ah ok, the swelling has started to panic me a bit that was all.

I was diagnosed as having spd (girdle pain) when I was 30 weeks pregnant with my second child. This was 1yr 6 months ago now and the constant pain in my groin has never improved. So much so that I'm on a cocktail of drugs to help with the pain & now doing physio & on crutches to try and help. I've noticed that joints can be linked to UC. Could this be a symptom or would it only come with the UC symptoms of diarrhea etc? Just thinking that I may never have had spd after all! Groin and lower back pain is what I've suffered with. It would make more sense if it was all linked I guess?! 

I have lower back pain also but have had that for years, so don't think it's connected. Am in remission at the mo but still get a lot of low abdo pains but although very uncomfortable and annoying, usually a solpedeine relieves it. Good luck and keep us posted x

I think it could be.  If it is or not, be smart and take a hard look at what your eating.  I personally stoped eating meat years ago.  I only eat fish, chicken, no sugar, no soda, no coffee, no starches, NONE!!!!!  No wine or alcohol, no fried foods.  I know, but you must make some changes.  NO DAIRY  AT ALL!.  Look, a try beat a failure.  Only eat veggies, steamed, and anything that would be kind to your colon.  Look into this.  I've been where you are.  This is my only suggestion.  I refuse to take  THE DRUGS.  

Hi Jo...... Oh sweetie .... I'm in sim boat to you right now !! Very sim symptoms ...diorreah for 4 wks with small amounts of blood loss , abdominal pain ( mainly after I've eaten ) almost like sore stomach type pain rather than ur norm tummy ache type pain . The diorreha has now stopped ( I'm about 5 wks now ) . Had two stool samples done to look for viruses ... Came back clear of all viruses tested for and other stool test was a 'Calprotectin ' test ( looks for inflamation ) ...norm levels -50 ...mine came back 460 and another at 140 ... Been to see consultant at Hosp last Weds.. He asked lots of questions and I described symptoms I've had ...he then felt my stomach and did a 'sigmoidoscopy' ( small camera up my btm where they put air up to have a look). I had been so so worried since first symptoms happened , so basically at the appointment with the consultant told him how worried, anxious , stressed out and hence tearful I'd been and he confirmed on me asking that it was not cancer ( I even asked him twice to get it confirmed in my head , hubby sat there saying ' now will u beleive it , I told you "! ( all easier to say when ur not the one living it ) .... The consultant advised he thinks it's 'Ulcerated Collitis' and started me straight away ( last weds) on course of anti inflammatory meds ( take 3 a day ) .. The consultant said to have a colonoscopy done to get it in 'black & white ' ..... Which I'm having done Monday coming ... Very nervous still ... Must say ( touch wood) ATM and since about last Thursday I've felt better n better ..... No abnormal bowl movements, no blood loss, slight stomach pain ( mostly an hour after eve meal ) , slight bruised feeling in rectum area which appears better than was . .... So I just wanted to say Jo ... Keep posting, hope all goes well for you , let us know how things are going ? I'm sure all will be fine sweetie .... Hugs xxxx

I'm just coming off a flare and I helped myself by eating non-dairy yogurt, drinking plenty of water and eating baby food in small portions.  very tired, no energy, lost weight, AND LOST MY JOB! I could not stay off the pottie.  Non productive employee.  Meantime, I will have colonoscopy very soon.  So with that said, I am very cautious as to what I eat, how I prepare my foods and I take IntestiNEW every morning, and night. along with honey with a very high potenicy, with live enzymes. I'm making sure my food is bland and puree so it will be easy on my colon.  I need to just get my energy back as well as my apitite.  I truly must force myself to eat.  I've not had the stomach pains or cramps but I have lower back and hip pain which I've never had before.  This is a first for me with this back/hip pain.  I just want my energy back so I can go back to work ASAP!  Any suggestions on how to regain my energy back anyone out there?