My ulcerative colitis

Hi Donna,

I think you should just wait for a sigmoidoscopy and avoid stress. I noticed that for me stress is a big, big, big factor in getting a flare. I think for everyone with UC, we should avoid it as much as possible. I know its easy said than done but I try spending time doing things that relax me -- reading, movie, music, social circle, gym, swimming, walking, park, beach, drive around, holiday cottage -- whatever keeps me off stress. And I notice a change in about a week or so. Also, if married, avoid mother-in-law at any cost... :P

Dear Donna, sorry to hear you suffering from Colitis, I too get lots of gas when I have flare , from reading lots of mat about this horrible condition I have found that it affects each of us differently from being mild to severe it can cause other symptoms especially tiredness and aches to joints, it's the not knowing that plays on our minds, I'm so pleased to hear you are going to have a flexisigmoidoscopy soon, are you on oral meds at the moment, as I used to take Asacol but now use a suppository pentasa every night and I found these helped, please try not worry and let me know how you are x

Sounds just like classic UC and I believe meds more or less permanently are the only answer at the moment Try not to worry about cancer etc, that will only worsen your flares, go see GP again and I suggest you get back on anti inflammatory meds! Good luck!

Over 35 years ago I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. for 15 years I tried every treatment they had available at that time with little success.  Frequent sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy procedures showed the deases was progressing. I was given high levels of steroids without much success.  We finally moved to a different state where I went to a new doctor who sent me to the University Hospital where I was operated on because my whole large intestine was full of precancer tissue. The surguery was an illialanal pull through with a J pouch,. There were two surgerys which allowed the J pouch to heal while I wore an illiostomy for several months then they did a take down. After a year of recovery I felt better than I had for more than 15 years.  That was over 20 years ago.  I am now almost 70 years old and living an active healthy live that I never dreamed I would have when I was in my 30s. As hard as it was to work and live with ulcerative colitis I look back on the experience and can honestly say it taught me so many things that today I am grateful for.  Don't be afraid to shop for different doctors.  One of my daughters also went through the same disease and she had the surgery after only one year and was able to have children atter her surgery and play sports. We both feel that the surgery was such a great blessing in our lives.