r/UlcerativeColitis 11h ago

Question Smoking Weed

37 Upvotes

Have any of you smoked weed, or been smoking weed, through this UC path? I was a huge stoner before, but I haven’t smoked in months and just ordered delivery of a vape pen to see if it’ll help me feel better. Anyone have experience with weed and UC? Thanks 😊


r/UlcerativeColitis 16h ago

Celebration Rinvoq - I am smiling after looking again...

25 Upvotes

Was on Stelara and in remission for 5 years.

When it failed, I switched to Rinvoq.

After 3 days, I started seeing improvements. It's now been two weeks and I am once again smiling when looking in the bowl! Well-formed, blood-free BMs! Yessssss!!!

Only we get how GOOD this feels...

PS - no other side-effects for me. Yet. Fingers crossed.


r/UlcerativeColitis 5h ago

Question Does any one have UC feels like this?

18 Upvotes

I’m a woman with ulcerative colitis, and even when I’m in remission, I still feel like I get physically tired much faster than other people. For example, if I go out with friends or family, my energy runs out way before everyone else’s. I also feel like my mood shifts more quickly than theirs.

Before I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, I wasn’t like this at all.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is it caused by the disease itself, the medications, or something else? I’d really appreciate hearing about other people’s experiences.


r/UlcerativeColitis 10h ago

Question New relationships

11 Upvotes

howdy. i just got into a relationship with someone, and it truly is going so well. hes very supportive, not judgmental, and just overall a good support system. we knew each other in the throws of my illness, when it was really bad and now im diagnosed and on infliximab (he goes with me to my infusions because he was curious as to what i have to go through. truly what a babe) and he doesnt show any signs of going away just because i am sick, but i think that is still a real fear. i do trust him 100%. my past relationship i was cheated on, and it was in the worst part of my flare so i think im carrying over a little trauma and lived experience. im just scared of my sickness driving him away, or him getting disgusted about it or thinking im gross because of it. his dad is a doctor, and he grew up hearing a lot about the medical industry so he is used to topics like this. but i still have such a big fear of it. he reassures me all the time that it doesnt burden him or make him uncomfortable because i have to do what i have to do. where do we draw the boundary on what is "TMI"? he knows i have the potential to crap myself at any given moment, and he knows all about it and asks questions and researches it. I feel like i found a gem. I guess there is just something that seems too good to be true, but i know that he cares deeply and the intimacy and connection is easy to come to.


r/UlcerativeColitis 7h ago

Question Skyrizi here I come

8 Upvotes

After a 16 days of never-ending calls and messages to my GI, insurance, and local infusion center, I finally scheduled my first loading dose infusion for this Sunday. Hoping to be back here in a few months posting about how Skyrizi gave me my life back. 🙏

At the very least self-injecting at home every 8 weeks (after three loading dose infusions) will be much more convenient than going to the infusion center every 4 weeks for Entyvio infusions, so I’ll enjoy that aspect of it for as long as I’m on this one!

Curious, if you’re in remission on Skyrizi, how long did it take to feel results? My GI told me it can be slow to feel the effects, but I’ve also seen some posts like “I felt better that same day!”


r/UlcerativeColitis 16h ago

Funny/Meme Plant spiked me

8 Upvotes

I had to take a quick squat poop outside, and I'm so lucky I didn't sit on the plant, but only my hand hit the plant, something called Urticaceae hit me, its very common in Finland


r/UlcerativeColitis 6h ago

Personal experience Duel therapy

6 Upvotes

Hello again colitis community! I made a post some months back asking about duel therapy regarding Rinvoq and Infliximab, I just wanted to give an update on my situation in case anyone is in a similar place, I know I had a hard time finding info on this but I believe it may be a good last resort option for many people who haven’t found remission yet.

I’ve been taking 1000mg of Infliximab and 45mg of Rinvoq. After a few months the treatment has put me into remission and I’ve been stable on 30mg Rinvoq with 1000mg of Infliximab monthly. While on this treatment I’ve also been taking sulfameth/trimeth antibiotic to help protect me from pneumonia, which I haven’t gotten thankfully! I also haven’t had any real side effects while on this treatment but I’ve been told I am at pretty extreme risk of infections.

After confirming with my doctor from colonoscopy biopsies that I am in full remission we have decided to try and switch me to a different duel therapy with Tremfya and infliximab, my doctor spoke directly with Johnson and Johnson representatives and other gastroenterologists and they also agreed that it would be a safer option long term. I will update how that goes in a few months and if anyone has been on this combination let me know! I believe duel therapy is going to become much more popular as more research emerges as it’s still a better option than surgery I believe. On a last note, in Canada I can only have one drug paid for so my doctor has had to speak to the manufacturers directly to have the second medication fully covered which I am grateful for but may be an obstacle depending where you live.


r/UlcerativeColitis 5h ago

Question Newish to UC, symptoms seems different than the posts

4 Upvotes

So about 1.5 years ago I was diagnosed with UC. I decided it was time to go to the doctor because I constantly was having loose stool/diarrhea and it was happening multiple times a day. When I was first diagnosed they gave me messaline and I was on that for about a year and it honestly did nothing. I had more success with metamucil. About three months ago after my second colonoscopy my doctor decided it was time to switch to Tremfya. Overall I feel like it has been game changing in only two doses (my third IV treatment is this week) where I am only using the restroom once, stools are more solid but still not NORMAL and haven't really had any pains. however when I read the posts here it seems like everyone's symptoms are way way worse than I ever was even on meds. Am I just lucky or is loose stool/going 3-4 times a day (without many instances of pain) normal of UC and the more 'intense' symptoms are less common?


r/UlcerativeColitis 22h ago

Question Colonoscopy Prep alternatives?

3 Upvotes

Like many here, I’m sure, I had 4 colonoscopies over 4 years before anything was discovered.

Prep is different for everyone but by the 4th round I was barely able to stomach it. I was sniffing coffee beans and all sorts to ease the wrenching.

I genuinely do not think I have it in me to stomach another round when it comes round. Is there anyway round this? I’d happily opt for a feeding tube or something liking to it!

The cleansing act itself, uncomfortable and irritating as it is, is not an issue for me it’s purely the consumption of the liquid.

Hopefully not having another one anytime soon but I imagine I will end up having another if symptoms come back worse and want to be prepared if needed


r/UlcerativeColitis 4h ago

Question Prednisolone Withdrawl?

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone looking for anyone else who has had a similar experience.

I am recent diagnosed with UC (April) and had an i day hospital stay in May where I was given 60mg IV prednisolone for 5 days. They then gave me azathioprine and infliximab and discharged me on 30mg oral prednisolone. I was told to taper by 5mg over 6 weeks to 0mg. While I was taking the prednisolone I felt fine no terrible side effects no weight gain or bloating and my UC symptoms had completely stopped. About 2 weeks after finishing my course of prednisolone I started getting strange nausea out of nowhere I put it down to stomach irritation from all the meds. However it continued and progressed to other symptoms like dizziness, fast heart rate, sweating, chills, weakness fatigue, feelings of low blood sugar, feelings of panic/anxiety/impeding doom, trembling hands and no appetite. These episodes would come intermittently and I noticed they often happened after eating a meal. But they would ease off. One day it got very bad and didn't ease off and I was waking in the night in a panic feeling terrible. I phoned my GP and he said it could be steroid withdrawl so he put me back on 20mg prednisolone and all the symptoms stopped and I felt back to normal. However I was to taper again and when I tapered to 15mg after about 3 days I started getting the same symptoms again. I got an appointment with GP and while in her office zi was having an episode, sweating high heart rate trembling and high blood pressure. She send me to the hospital where they did ECG (no abnormalities found) they did blood labs and found no abnormalities. While I was there they said my bloods had gone missing so they took more and added thyroid and random cortisol However I was discharged before those results came back and my GP doesnt have them yet. They told me to take 20mg per day with no taper until I can be seen by my gastro team and endocrinology. Back on the 20mg I haven't had any episodes but I have been left feeling awful like a hangover with the shakes, mild nausea and muscle weakness/pins and needles in feet/heavy feeling in body and unstable on my feet.

I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience after using prednisolone. I cant help but think something else is going on but very frustrating when the labs dont match!

Also to add when I first started feeling the nausea I called my IBD team as I thought it was azathioprine and they told me to stop taking it which I did but have heard nothing from them since. My UC symptoms remain stable through the whole episode but worried being off my azathioprine will compromise my UC.


r/UlcerativeColitis 6h ago

Question Newly Diagnosed, any advice?

3 Upvotes

I have recently been diagnosed with UC, but only my descending colon is inflamed, while everything else is fine, and my symptoms appear to be relatively minimal. Mainly bleeding, feeling sort of clogged, and occasionally feeling like I have to take a bowel movement without actually needing to. Thankfully I have no pain, fatigue, or anything similar. I was just prescribed Prednisone and Mesalamine. I was just hoping for any sort of advice for the future.


r/UlcerativeColitis 12h ago

Question Does it make sense to use JAK inhibitors already?

3 Upvotes

I got diagnosed with mild to moderate pancolitis about 10 days ago.

Symptoms are mild, and there’s no blood.

I’ve been using mesalamine for the last 10 days and though it hasn’t seem to make much progress, I think it has started to, kind of.

My GI is pushing me to start using tofacitinib along with mesalamine going forward. And I am worried about the long list of side effects that it has.

Should I take a second opinion? Or is it standard process?


r/UlcerativeColitis 18h ago

Question Partial colon removal ( rectum)

3 Upvotes

Just curious here.

Has anyone had just their rectum removed ? My proctitis has never gone past my rectum, I know there is a potential for it to travel up.


r/UlcerativeColitis 21h ago

Question Is anyone from Queensland, Australia? Need help finding a good specialist.

3 Upvotes

Hi I need help finding a good specialist in Brisbane or Sunshine Coast. Any help would be so much appreciated.

I've been thrown around between two specialists now who aren't interested in taking new patients and have made that clear, both really have let me down in care - I'm feeling really defeated with this condition and just need someone who is good (and hopefully kind). Thank you.


r/UlcerativeColitis 22h ago

Question UC with severe anemia

3 Upvotes

I’m a 23F and have been diagnosed with UC since 2021. I got my blood drawn today and my iron came back very low (iron saturation 3% and ferritin less than 2%.)

Is having really low iron common with UC?


r/UlcerativeColitis 6h ago

Question Mild UC Diagnosis

3 Upvotes

I was diagnosed with mild UC today. Prescribed mesalamine orally and suppository. I want to treat as holistically as possible while also being realistic. Any tips? Hope? Anything?


r/UlcerativeColitis 7h ago

Question How do you know it’s a flare?

2 Upvotes

I (27F) have been diagnosed with UC for about two years now. I only recently have gotten on Skyrizi and experienced periods of remission. I’m very lucky that my flares are not awful, just lots of GI symptoms. I find myself wondering when I’m having these symptoms if it’s from something else, like a normal stomach ache or upset stomach for a few days. I am just not sure when I should call my GI doc and consider it a flare.

I am wondering if other people have signs that they are in a flare and not suffering from something else?

Thank you for any input!


r/UlcerativeColitis 13h ago

Question Can ulcerative colitis skip healthy tissue and continue?

2 Upvotes

I 20f was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the beginning of June. My gastroenterologist also scheduled an MRI for early August to rule out the possibility of Crohn’s disease. After my colonoscopy, the doctor seemed confident that it was ulcerative colitis, so I felt reassured.

However, I recently read my colonoscopy report, and now I’m confused. I was under the impression that ulcerative colitis causes continuous inflammation that starts in one area and spreads without healthy tissue in between. But my report seems to describe something different.

It says there is Mayo 2 inflammation from the entrance to about 45 cm. After that, my transverse colon appears healthy and unaffected, but then there is more Mayo 2 inflammation and ulceration on the right side of my colon.

I know I’ll hopefully have more definitive answers after my MRI, but I’m honestly starting to worry. I had finally come to terms with my UC diagnosis, and it didn’t really occur to me that it could still be Crohn’s disease.

Is Crohn’s generally considered much worse than ulcerative colitis? And is it possible to have ulcerative colitis with areas of healthy tissue separating inflamed sections, or does that pattern usually point more toward Crohn’s? I’m new to this whole thing lol.


r/UlcerativeColitis 14h ago

Question Rinvoq & Mesalamine

2 Upvotes

So apparantly had a follow up with my doc after taking rinvoq 45mg for a month. And n absolute shocker was that he reduced my mesalamine to 2gm from 4g. N he says we can try to put you off mesalamine and only give you rinvoq. So the question is, is this the case with everyone having rinvoq?


r/UlcerativeColitis 16h ago

Personal experience Fecal Calprotectin Test While On Mesalamine Is UCK

2 Upvotes

The title says it all.

I was diagnosed with Chronic Ulcerative Colitis - Proctitis in Oct/Nov of last year after experiencing the first blood from a flare up May of that year. I've been on and off Mesalamine suppositories and the oral Mesalamine because they make me nauseated. At my last appointment, the Nurse Practitioner I see let me know my GI office is closing in a couple months because the doctors are both retiring lol.

I was having some issues with pain in my pelvis, tail bone and thighs and so the doctor she works under had me come in. He's the same that did my colonoscopy. I haven't had my calprotectin retested for a year, so he's having me do that.

I had a hard time the first time gathering my stool because I have a weak stomach. This time, I had prepared to counter all the things that bother me about it and went in confident. I was not prepared for how stool looks covered in the remnants of mesalamine suppository from the night before T-T. Nothing had me prepared for that.

I know it's something I'll just have to get used to, but Y U C K


r/UlcerativeColitis 47m ago

Personal experience Searching for blood never ends

Upvotes

Little rant post - I was diagnosed with UC in 2021. I’ve been in remission for the last 2 years and I still look for blood every time I go. It’s a habit, even if I haven’t seen it in a long time.

So just our luck, my daughter is 7 weeks old and she’s been having mucus poop since about 3-4 weeks old. Exclusively breast fed. Mucus stools in infants can be a sign of cows milk/food protein allergy passed through breast milk. One of the hallmark symptoms though is the presence of blood. Well I just so happen to know a thing or two about blood in stool and what to look for and sure enough, I notice it in her diapers. Like mother like daughter, sigh. I’m going to miss dairy as it’s never been an issue for my GI system!


r/UlcerativeColitis 2h ago

Support Mercaptopurine Sickness

1 Upvotes

Started mercaptopurine about a week ago its been at first but now i'm feeling extremely unwell after having my dose a few hours ago, i felt like i was gonna almost vomit that i went to the toilet! i was on azathioprine before and that had me vomiting for 3 days after being on it for about 3 weeks. Will it pass or should i stop taking it?


r/UlcerativeColitis 2h ago

Personal experience Question

1 Upvotes

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis about a month ago after a severe flare that landed me in the hospital for two weeks. I’m now on week 4 of a 7 week prednisone taper and taking mesalamine. Overall I’m much better than I was.

My main issue now is that every morning I have 3-4 bowel movements first thing, usually with cramping before each one. After that, I’m completely fine for the rest of the day and don’t usually go again.

Has anyone else experienced this while recovering? Is it normal, and did it eventually settle down as you healed?


r/UlcerativeColitis 3h ago

Question Sickness Post Endoscopy / Colonoscopy

1 Upvotes

I had my colonoscopy and a scope down the throat on the 20th and obviously had a sore throat from it and now my nose cant stop draining and I just feel like shit for the lack of better words. For the past two days The sore throat went away now its this running nose and sneezing i cant get rid of I work tomorrow and I used up my sick time/ PTO for the prep day and we run on a stupid point system (Healthcare related job) and tbh i do not want to get fired because apparently it just takes 8 to fire you (im at 8.50) Has this happened to any of yall before im taking day time cold medicine and no dice ​


r/UlcerativeColitis 5h ago

Question Failed infliximab while taking wegovy

1 Upvotes

Looking for folks who might have had a similar situation. I was in total, microscopic remission on Inflectra for well over 5 years. I started Wegovy in February of this year and only had mild side effects, specifically constipation. After moving up to the higher dose I realized I was flaring and not bleeding from hemorrhoids. I stopped the shot 3 weeks ago. I had a sigmoidoscopy this morning and they found severe left-sided colitis. I was told the Inflectra failed and I’m being switched to Entyvio.

I’m curious if this is just coincidental timing or if the wegovy could have played a part in my flare up. Thoughts welcome!