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Newly diagnosed - help

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Mightymattman
Mightymattman

Hi all,

So quick bit of background! Bowel resection two years ago at the age of 30 due to diverticulitis with temp colostomy and reversal. Incisional hernia repair last year. All going well until severe stomach cramps and bleeding in stool and change of shape! Colonscopy last week showed colitis in the sigmoid colon. Consultant now has me on a six week course of mesalazine!? Just looking for a few answers really?

1 - has anyone else used mesalazine and did it change the colour of your stool? Mine has started to go black and tarry!

2 - I feel so fatigued at the moment? Is this normal seeing as there is constant bleeding and infection?

3 - does medication work well enough to avoid surgery or is this the inevitable? 

Sorry for the overload but I am new to this and just a bit anxious about it all. 

Thanks

M

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • cjb106
    cjb106 Mightymattman

    Posted

    I have ulcerative colitis and take the 5ASA (aminosalicylic acid) mezalazine (Pentasa and now Octasa) ongoing to keep inflammation under control. My UC was first diagnosed in the sigmoid and descending colon and after a very bad flare was shown to have spread to the transverse colon.

    Bloody diarrhea can be both a symptom of the disease AND a side effect of the drug. If the blood is black and tarry that might be an indicator that you are losing blood from further along in the colon. Did they do a full colonoscopy of a flexi sigmoidoscopy which won't have looked as far? Black, tarry stools can also indicate bleeding from the stomach or duodenum so imperative that you get this checked.

    How do you do with aspirin? 5ASA is essentially a complex aspirin - it was how my gastro consultant described it anyway. Possible adverse reaction to the drug?

    Sadly, fatigue is a very common symptom of UC and can be extremely debilitating when the disease is active.

    The drug can work well. It does in my case. After a very bad flare in spring of 2016 I have been in remission since October 2016 just taking 2.4g of Octasa a day.

    It's interesting that you haven't been prescribed steroids (Prednisolone) as well as mesalazine. Doctors often use this two-pronged approach after an initial diagnosis. 5ASA alone suggests that the colitis is mild. If you can avoid steroids that's good as the withdrawal can be challenging.

    • Mightymattman
      Mightymattman cjb106

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply

      I had a full colonoscopy and nothing higher than the sigmoid was remarked upon!? Perhaps just a reaction with the meds?

      The fatigue is the hardest part! I took my first sick day without actually being in hospital in 8 yrs the other day because of it!

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