colonoscopy/ ulcerative colitis/Crohns

[livinlife25]

Well the dr called and put me on pentasa which is mesalamine in pill form....guess what? I was up all night with the same thing. I cant figure out if my body just needs time to get use to it...does this happen to everyone??

 

[danajune]

I've been on Pentasa for 8 months and have had nothing but good results!! But definitely talk to your doctor about this.

 

[livinlife25]

hi! Alot of people do great on pentasa, I guess I am just the 3% who it didnt set well with....They changed my diagnosis to Crohns and put me on Entocort and I havent had a reaction to it at all!! I was so excited...it hasnt worked yet lol but Im at least glad it didnt make me worse. Im sure it will do its thing later.

 

[overlyspoiled4sure]

So sorry you've had so much trouble after a colonoscopy. Geez, I hate them too but need to go every couple years or so.

I quit smoking in 1986 & was chewing sugarless gum a lot. The sorbitol in it contributes to gas, bloating, cramping along with loose stools & urgency. After I quit the gum chewing I wondered if my troubles were lactose related. Nope, so I suffered for a few years & finally went for help.

After several tests including a barium enema & ending with a colonoscopy I got the diagnosis of UC. I was put on sulfasalazine at first along with folic acid. Later I became allergic to sulfa & now am on asacol (mesalamine) & it's working very well for me. There was another drug they gave me too, but for the life of me I can't remember the name of it. Senior moment I suspect! It's an anti-inflamatory & given to folks with asthma too.

Trouble after a colonoscopy should be reported to your dr asap. It should'nt be a problem. I hate the prep for the test, which is worse than going thru it even counting waking up during! I doubt polyps have anything to do with UC; some folks get them & some don't. At least during the test they can get them out while looking for signs of UC. Us UC folks are more at risk for colon cancer too, which is why we have to have regular testing done.

I'm glad you're doing better, OP, & hope you continue to recover. Hope the doctors finally can agree on what's wrong.

 

[livinlife25]

I remember reading your story somewhere else before! Definitely interesting. I had read that sorbitol causes problems for U.C. patients and also that it is common for people to start seeing their symptoms of UC after they quit smoking....

 

[overlyspoiled4sure]

Yup, it still annoys me I did a good thing (quit smoking) then got sick. Geeze!!

The drug I couldn't remember is prednisone! There's a thread on it somewhere here & that triggered my memory. I just had a short run with it though & I call it my "happy" drug. It winds me up & I feel like I'm on top of the world! Now with asacol I'm just fine. I sure hope your drug will help you feel better. This type of thing (IBD) is no fun, that's for sure! Keep reporting how you feel to your doctor too. They won't know how things are going unless you keep them informed.

Years ago, before it was known how prednisone affects the body, my mom was on it long term for asthma. She got severe osteoporosis (sp?) & as she got older she got several spinal compression fractures. Didn't seem to hold her back though as she died at 89 years young!

 

[livinlife25]

The entocort that Im on now is a cortisteroid....its not "released" until it hits your intestines, therefore it doesnt get into your blood stream and you have less side effects than regular prednisone. So far no side effects and I think its starting to work which is great!! If I can get my flareup under control soon I can have my surgery before the wedding....lol....didnt expect this this year!

 

[Momto3Girls&Max]

don't stop taking the mesalamine!

I take that daily for Crohns disease and it takes a little time for it to really start working on the inflammation in your intestinal tract. If your doctor prescribed that for you you must have Ulcerative Colitis or Crohns ... didn't he tell you anything?

... You will run the risk of becoming dehydrated and if you have UC or Crohns you shouldn't let these symptoms drag on without treatment.

I agree. The mesalamine takes a little while to work but it should start relieving the inflammation in 5-7 days. If it doesn't you may have to start Prednisone. When is your follow up with your doctor? If you don't have an appointment coming up soon I'd suggest you make one ASAP.

 

[livinlife25]

I had my follow up last week and he put me on the Entocort...I had already quit the mesalamine....I ended up barely able to get out of bed, fever, etc. he said I obviously had a bad reaction to it....