Hi, I have UC and I only had diarrhea when I was first diagnosed. Otherwise, I'm more constipated than anything else. I do have blood and pain, however, when in a flare.

Did they diagnose with UC you after a colonoscopy?

They diagnosed after a flexible sig. Then a follow up colonoscopy. Since I've been "diagnosed" I've had two flex sigs, a colonoscopy and a barium follow through. I've seen the images as well. I guess it is different for everyone? I am more constipated as well. The pain is more discomfort than anything. I eat whatever I want -- nothing seems to make it worse.

Yeah, that's me too-food generally doesn't bother me at all. I can pretty much eat anything, although caffeine and chocolate do me in when I'm in a flare.

It really is an individual thing for everyone as far as symptoms, triggers, meds that work,etc.

I'm not sure if my meds work or not. It seems that each year around Christmas I get symptoms, and then it is a bugger to get rid of them. I've been lucky and avoided prenisone so far...but I think that is the next step...however, I may be pregnant, which screws everything up! (treatments I mean!) Very frustrating!! However, I know it could be worse!

I have never been on prednisone either. Colozal worked for me for several years and then with this current flare, I switched to Lialda, which didn't work so my doc started be on Imuran and kept me on Lialda as well because there are studies that Lialda, and similar drugs, can act as a cancer preventative. Not sure how true that is, but I do it anyway because it can't hurt, I guess.

So, for many people, there are lots of options with different meds before going down the pred road, depending on the extent of the disease.

Congrats on "maybe" being pregnant, by the way!

Hi, I have UC and was diagnosed over 24 years ago, when I was 35 years old. It is different for everyone. I have been on different medications over the years. I have been in remission for about 10 years now. The remission came about when I started taking Purinethol. But, as of a few weeks ago, when I saw my gastro dr, I mentioned to him that I wanted to discontinue taking the 6mp. It is a chemo medication. I need to have blood work done every month while on this medicine, to check my white blood count. He has agreed to take me off if of it gradually. I was taking 100mg a day of the 6mp. I am now taking 50mg. He also started me on asacol. I used to take this medication years ago. I see my dr. next week, and hopefully I will be completely off the 6mp by then. I only hope I dont have a major flare up, after being taken off of the Purinethol. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

I know when my meds got decreased last year I was so scared!! It had taken months to get it back under control...and then he (my GI) wanted to change something! haha!! Scared me to death. I know this time he's probably going to have to change something. He said last time that the next step would be prednisone. But I am not sure if you can take that while pregnant..
Can UC ever "fix" itself? Especially if it is not that bad?

Some people can control UC with something called a specific carb diet but it's REALLY strict. UC never really is cured, I dont' believe.

My IBD isn't as severe as some others, and for a while, I thought I was misdiagnosed because I was in remission for so long. But that wasn't the case. It's for real.

I saw a quack (Dr) who said he could cure UC without pred. "Just loose the colon, I'll take it out." I fired him!!!
If you have a flare every year at Xmas time, maybe you are triggering it with food that you don't eat the rest of the year.

My GI has me on Colazal and I also take LDN. Please check out www.ldninfo.org and let me know what you think. It CAN be taken during pregnancy. I wish you the best,
Fraz

I have UC, the first signs that I had were diarrhea and blood/mucus. My condition has progressed over the years, but I went a good 10-12 years with just those symptoms

Hope that helps and good luck

Here is the thing about UC, Crohn's... and many other diseases that come from your body attacking itself... there are common symptoms... but not everyone has all the symptoms. I myself have perma diarrhea, even when not in a flare. no cramping, and no blood unless i am in a flare... then it is text-book. So even if you have not all the symptoms... do not doubt that you have an auto-immune disease. Because getting a doctor to admit it, while getting easier is no mean feat. I myself went through a long time with a doc saying i had IBS even though he scoped me and found all the doom that is contained within my colon.

Hey there
Get a copy of the pathology report from the biopsies they did during your flex sig or colon..and you can post it on here. UC is a diagnosis generally made by the pathologist and we can tell by their description whether or not you have UC.
Dr O.

I posted this a while back but this is how my pathology report read and I have UC:

Under the "Colon, Sigmoid, Biopsy" heading, "Mild Acute Colitis with Cryptitis", Under the "Colon, Rectum, Biopsy" heading, "Severe Active Chronic Colitis with Crypt Abscesses and Atypia Indeterminate for Reactive Versus Dysplastic Change".

In other words, the biopsies conformed that my condition was UC by what was seen under the microscope.

This is unbelievebly helpful!! Thank you all so much! I thought yesterday I was feeling better, but like always, the blood was back today. I got an appt with my GI on Wed. so I'll try to get a copy of the pathology report. I had some blood work at the beginning too...he said my inflammation marker (or something like that) was high. Perhaps I need to stop thinking I'm fine or it's nothing eh?! I get like this when I am healthy (no flare ups), but when I get a flare up I try to convince myself that it is something else!! I'm a very bad patient!! haha!! I appreciate everyones help though :) It's nice to know that other people have similar symptoms...or are not "textbook".

So, just a little update...Had an appointment with my GI today. I asked him if I really had UC. He had the pathology and it confirmed it. He also laughed at me because I go into total denial at least once a year! Anyway, he's not happy that I am flaring again. I was good for like 8 months. Anyway, he's going to do a flex sig on monday and then said he might put me on Imuran. He said that some UC is unresponsive to the antiinflammatories. So, I'm pretty bumed! My denial is hoping for hemmis as the cause of the bleeding!! haha!!