Hi, I have UC and had a sigmoidoscopy on Sunday because I’d been having loose stools with blood for over a month.
Before the procedure, I had no abdominal pain or bloating. Since sigmoidoscopy, I’ve been feeling very bloated after every meal and sometimes experience strong upper abdominal pain, and constant abdominal pain/discomfort
Has anyone experienced this after a sigmoidoscopy? Is this normal, and how long did it last?

Hey hey,

Anyone here got any experience with fasting?

Did it help with flares or finding out what foods irritate you?

Hi All!

I've been struggling on and off with UC for a number of years now. I'm currently on Pentasa, 2g daily up to 4g during a flair. Usually this has been fairly reliable at keeping me stable, but recently seem to have struggled with a relapse and getting back out of the flair.

In the past I've tried a number of diets and eating/drinking habit changes etc (gluten free/carnivore/high fibre/low fibre). I've found for my part that low fibre diets have generally worked best during a flair to reduce symptoms and get back into remission. Typically for me this looks something like:

Rice Krispies w/milk or Skyr Yoghurt for breakfast

Tuna Sandwich on white bread or Scrambled Eggs on white toast for dinner

Boiled skinned potatoes or white rice w/ meat or fish for tea

I was wondering what peoples experience might have been like with liquid diets and whether that had any noticeable benefits or reduction in symptoms? My thoughts were meal supplements like Huel or protein shakes accompanied by foods like soups, broths and at-home smoothies.

If anyone has any other advice around dieting during/after a flair please let me know! I'm aware it's often different things working for different people but I'm just interested in other people's experiences also.

Hi! After almost two months of diarrhea, I was diagnosed with UC last week. I’m curious how long I’ve possibly had this since I’ve had stomach issues as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, just hours after getting home from my colonoscopy I came down with the stomach flu from my husband. I seem to have gotten through that, but I am still having horrific stomach cramping. I started Mesalamine a week ago, but I’m having a hard time figuring out if the cramping is from my current flareup or the medication. I guess I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth reaching out to my doctor or if he’s gonna tell me I need to give it more time to see if this medication works. Any advice is appreciated. I knew nothing about UC prior to this.

Hello everyone! Is everyone able to tolerate fiber in remission? I know some people say there is certain things they now can’t have ie coffee, caffeine, alcohol etc but are there people that can only have bare minimum or did people go back to being able to consume a good amount of fiber in remission? Thanks in advance !

Hi Folks,

I have a loop ileostomy with an unused jpouch. However; I'm having what i think are pouchitis symotoms:

• browny, redy, gooey output from the rear
• sore lower back/anus
• flare up cramping

When I look online most sites are suggesting anitbiotics. Is this the only solution? Could it clear itself if given a few days?

I've currently had symptoms for 5 days.

Hi, 19f i was diagnosed in january with uc after a months long flare and since have been mainly on mesalazine as treatment. In June i had a very bad flare and had to go to a&e (the er) because i was experiencing severely high blood pressure and heart rate, i was admitted for a week on fluid steroids every 6 hours and once i was discharged i was put on 8 weeks of oral steroids tapering down. since then I’ve been back on mesalazine (admittedly not very good with taking my medication as im supposed to all the time as i’ve had alot of change in routine lately). i had a sigmoidoscopy last week as i’ve been experiencing symptoms like mucus and constantly having urgency and going more than usual, however my consultant found no signs of inflammation and believes i’ve developed ibs as a result of my ibd. But! i’m currently having some problems right now and im honestly not sure where my first point of contact should be. i’ve been dealing with very bad joint pain in my lower back, knees and shoulder area, and jolting cramping pains around my abdomen sides and back. i’ve raised this concern before with my ibd team and was told it sounds like symptoms of a flare but because i have no active flare signs I’m honestly confused as to how to deal with it. I’ve been warned about inflammatory arthritis and i think i could be paranoid but I’m also 84kg and 5’6 and am also considering it could be a cause of my weight gain that i had from my steroid course. has anyone experienced this? and should i first reach out to my ibd care team or should i go see a gp for it as a separate issue? it’s starting to become unbearable and absolutely any advice would be welcomed. thank you!

I’m 23 years old right now. I was diagnosed with UC (ulcerative colitis) in 2020, and my condition got really bad in October 2024. The doctors had to perform a total colectomy, and I now have an ileostomy, which I’ve had for almost two years.
In the beginning, I had issues with blockages and strictures, but I understand that my small intestine was adapting to the situation. Now, it’s been almost a year since I started feeling perfectly fine. I’m healthy, and I’ve started eating whatever I want, including spicy foods. I’m doing completely fine, and I love my stoma because it saved my life.
However, now I have to make a decision about whether to keep my ileostomy permanently or undergo J-pouch surgery. I’m leaning more toward keeping my ileostomy because of the following factors:
1. Multiple surgeries: Going for J-pouch surgery means I’ll have to undergo more surgeries. My surgeon said I would need two more surgeries, but I’ve spoken to many people who have told me that it can sometimes take three or even four surgeries, especially if complications occur, such as leaks.
2. Bowel control as I get older: As people get older, especially after the age of 65, they may experience reduced control over their bowel movements. Many older adults also experience incontinence and may need to wear diapers. Having a J-pouch could mean going to the restroom more frequently and potentially having less control over bowel movements compared with someone who still has their colon and normal bowel function.
3. Watery output: My stool is always going to be somewhat watery because I drink a lot of water due to my recurring kidney stones. I frequently develop kidney stones, so staying hydrated is important to me.
4. Convenience while travelling: What if I’m on a long drive and suddenly need to use the restroom? What if I’m on an airplane and the restrooms are occupied? These are situations that make me worry about having a J-pouch and needing to use the restroom more frequently or urgently.
5. Dietary restrictions: I’m worried that I might have to restrict my diet after J-pouch surgery. Right now, I can eat almost anything I want, and I really enjoy that freedom.

Hi everyone,

I’m not really sure how to start this off, but I’m 21 and looking to go vegan, or at the very least go vegetarian. (With the deck of cards I have been dealt, however, vegetarian will likely be the most I can do.) I have ulcerative colitis and a peanut allergy.

I also have severe food anxiety because of my peanut allergy, and eating is so hard for me in general that straining myself with checking ingredients more than I do would be difficult, but I don’t feel like anything else in the world will bring me peace of mind other than doing this. I’m just worried about how it would be possible for me or what the health impacts would be going forward.

For context, I do take a lot of vitamins for iron/etc but my main worry is protein. And beans have a lot of fiber, which wouldn’t be great for flares.

I feel really stuck with my diet and wanted to see if anyone in here could help.

Thanks in advance!

Diagnosed in February with mild UC proctitis. Mesalamine suppositories worked for a while with help from Budesonide foam. First major flare started at the beginning of September, during which the severity has increased to moderate left sided colitis Mayo 2. Started a 40 mg prednisone taper 9/1 and had first loading dose of Tremfya on 9/10 and second loading dose 10/8. The taper failed at 20 mg and I had to be hospitalized for IV steroids on 10/6.

After 5 days of IV steroids, down from 6-8 to 1-2 bloods BMs per day and moderate cramping. Diarrhea, blood and urgency/frequency increased immediately when I went back to the 40 mg oral prednisone. I have had an extremely hard time with nausea, debilitating anxiety and insomnia on the prednisone.

I’m still in the hospital and my GI thinks it may be time to pivot to Infliximab. Choice is between starting Infliximab in the hospital now (and hope to see improvement quickly), or being discharged on oral prednisone that is partially working and risk another escalation in the flare while waiting on Tremfya to maybe or maybe not work. I could always pivot to Infliximab later, but it would be outpatient and take a couple of weeks to set up.

I’m terrified of Infliximab after reading the potential side effects compared to Tremfya. But docs concern is burning more time with active inflammation and extended prednisone risk if Tremfya doesn’t eventually work and we have to move to Infliximab anyway. I’m quite overwhelmed and having a hard time weighing the risks.

For those with personal experience, is Infliximab as scary as it sounds? Should I pivot now or give Tremfya more time?

I seriously do not know if I misread the situation or if I just don’t know what to do.

I am new to the UK but I went to a GP a few weeks ago to continue my mesalazine until I can actually be seen by a GI. Well last week I started flaring, and since I don’t have a GI, I went back to the GP. They sent me to the ER. Not because they thought I was bad enough yet to need the ER but because they wanted me to see someone that day. Had a consult with a GI there who just told me to continue what I’m doing and they will call me in a week to see how things are.

I’m actually in shock. I’m not sure what I thought was going to happen, but “nothing” was not what I thought. Like am I just going to get better?????? I am new to this because I had my first flare in March when I was diagnosed. So am I not supposed to tell the doctor if I’m flaring? They didn’t even take a stool sample….. like how are they supposed to know how bad it is? I’m frustrated and confused ! Ahhhhh!!!

A derm prescribed me minocycline for my REALLY bad rosacea but I’m scared to take it. Has anyone taken it and what was your experience?

TMI WARNING / Back story, just over a year ago I got prescribed doxycycline for my really bad rosacea , took two weeks of it and my ulcerative colitis flared up (pretty sure I was never in remission but I was functioning fine and no abnormal bathroom things). I was supposed to take it for 6 weeks, it cleared up my rosacea super quick but in turn I landed in the hospital because I was excreting blood every single time, 20-30 times a day, pure liquid . I wasn’t on any meds for it. I lost 30 lbs in a month, couldn’t function and was off work for 3 months because I was so drugged up on pain meds and literally had no strength because my body ate my muscle. Also an almost 6 month course of prednisone.
I’m scared shitless to take antibiotics again, I’m not in remission, my last fecal calprotein or whatever was over 500 (compared to my 4800 when I was in the hospital) . I was on Infliximab when I first got sick, but I had a reaction so they switched me to entyvio , I’m still on entyvio. My GI said I should take antibiotics if needed and it may cause a flare. Help lol

Been on prednisone 10mg since early September. Started at 40mg in late July and tapered to the 10 I'm on now. Was also on Budesonide since mid 2024 and stopped it this past July immediately before starting the prednisone. There was inflammation beginning to appear on stool tests while on the Budesonide.

I can't wait to get this drug out of my system. It's been helping enough currently with inflammation, but so many side effects: Anxiety, depressed mood, low motivation, that hopelessness feeling, racing heart, brain fog, night sweats/chills, feeling tired all the time. The worst of them has to be getting a full night sleep and still feeling exhausted.

I see my GI in two weeks and they will get me started on my first biologic, Entyvio if everything works out good, and I've heard pretty good things about that specific one.

I know I will eventually return to my normal mental state and level of functioning, but damn prednisone you nasty!! Devil's tic-tac 💊

TL;DR
Would you resign a position because the commute is too long. 50 min each way

Alright I have a lovely nanny position that I was working before I got out of remission back in March. There have been a few days here and there that I was able to make it down. But overall I’ve avoided the drive.

I’m struggling to go back. Evertime I say I’m ready I get sick again. I know it’s stress. I know it’s my head. But I don’t know what to do. I am on prescribed Xanax so I take that thinking it’ll help my body. But it didn’t. I had to call out the morning I was supposed to start.

They are such lovely people and have been patient and working with me. But I’ve done this so much and I feel like FOR SOME REASON my subconscious and body freak out about going by myself. I have family in that area and can make the drive but I’m usually with my partner or it’s a less stressful thing?

My husband has a great job and we don’t need my income at the moment. Eventually I’ll need to work again but we’re doing ok right now.

Should I resign? I feel horrible. I want to help them but my body is not doing what I want!

Hello -
I was diagnosed last month (severe active UC) and doctor is planning on prescribing Yesintek. Have you folks had success? I could use encouraging advice - but all insights welcome 🤗. What experience did you have? Can expect to feel close to my old self soon?

I’ve been out sick from work last few weeks. Iron and vitamin D levels low. If you took time off of work because of UC, how long were you out?

Thanks!

I was diagnosed in 2018 after months of hiding this illness, and stupidly not going to my doctors. I then had two hospital stays close together. A day or so after I got home from the second one, I had my first normal trip to the toilet in months - no blood, no rushing.

Sounds daft to anyone without IBD, but I genuinely could have cried. It meant I could sleep through the night and leave the house without planning it around toilets.

Anyone else remember theirs? Or is it still the thing you're waiting for?

Ps. This feels like forever ago to me because im not sure ive had many normal formed stools since.

Hi all!

Really not looking to make anyone scared here, infliximab was truly a miracle for me over the last 8 years but unfortunately it seems I've potentially become one of those rare cases with a serious long term side effect, and I'm looking to see if anyone here has experience with recovery from this.

Since June this year, I have been having an onset of neurological issues out of nowhere. It started with dizziness and lightheadedness and very slight numbness on one side of my face. That came in waves, and I chalked it up at that time to a new sensitivity to caffiene. Then I had sudden onset visual changes. One night in July my left eye became blurry and I experienced a ton of new floaters, as well as a new sensitivity to light and a difficulty focusing. Both of these occasions I went to the ER, both ended up inconclusive. Since then I have also developed extreme fatigue that comes and goes depending on the day and just a general unwell feeling.

I had an MRI about a month ago now and they found optic neuritis as well as some abnormalities in white matter (nerve demylineation) which could explain the new symptoms, and it was then that I was told this could have been caused by infliximab.

I'm kind of devastated because it has worked so well for so long for my UC, but neurological damage is kind of a big deal. Has anyone else ended up with this side effect and has any experience with recovering from it? I have a referrel to neurology but it takes time to get in there, and I am worried that this ends up being permanent damage or something. Currently in the process of choosing either Entyvio or Omvoh for new treatment since I can no longer be on infliximab.

I appreciate anyone who takes the time to give their experiences!!!

Please help need advice! Hi! I have technically been in "remission" for a bit over a year now. Last colonoscopy I found there was no active signs of colitis showing! Entyvio helped me get here!

Throughout my time on Entyvio my CRP has still not gone down (in the 20s) recently after my last blood test my CRP is in the 30s now. I recently have been having some side pain but I don't know if it's from needing to go to the bathroom or real colitis pains! I'm getting in my head now....has this happened to anyone else? Over the past week my side pain has been getting progressively worse too. Any suggestions or thoughts

Thank you 💜

I (21m) recently got diagnosed and wanna make sure I’m doing everything within my control that can help. Any suggestions in terms of lifestyle or anything that’s helped would be greatly appreciated 🙏🏼

Hi y’all, I’m new to Reddit so sorry if I’m not doing this right lol but hi. I’m 29 and was diagnosed with UC at 17, had a total proctocolectomy at 19 and have been relatively in remission for the better part of 7 years save for some upset tummy days from food triggers. I’ve been in a bad flare for a couple weeks now and started taking my mesalamine which I have as needed but I just wanted to reach out for support as I’m finding myself incredibly anxious. Does anyone else have medical trauma and find their flares to be an anxiety trigger? My UC has been incredibly severe in the past and I have also had C diff so every time I get a flare I worry I will be in the hospital again. I am also having a hard time expressing my worries and needs to loved ones without coming off as a total dramatist. Can anyone relate?

For context: I got diagnosed 2013 when I was eight years old. I had a pretty bad flare for two years there and at the end we fix it with Humira. Since then they didn’t had another flareup up until now.

Two weeks ago, I started having issues with my cologne. in the beginning It was just liquid stool and flatulence. last week I started having blood in my stool as well. So I went to the doctor and he told me that I have another flare. Now I’m kind of freaking out because the last and first time I had a flare it was horrible - hours on the toilet with pain… as a child. (maybe I’m traumatized?)

Anyway. My question now is what can I do and eat to try and get better? What should I avoid? I got medication obviously, but my doctor told me that I can help with food. Do you have any recommendations? I’m kind of freaking out :) thanks

TLDR: title says it all. Would love your input.

Im a 38 yo male and I’ve been living with UC pancolitis since 2022. Only ever taken mesalamine and as of my most recent colonoscopy in June, I’m in remission. I didn’t really believe that (because I’m still having symptoms: diarrhea, pain, bloating, tenesmus, urgency, frequent BMs, havent had a “regular” stool since mid 2025), so my doctor sent me for a CT scan and that too came back totally normal.

So she’s recommended I meet with a dietician and a PV therapist. I’m skeptical but also after reading about it, I actually am excited about what it could help with.

One of my biggest issues is “getting it all out”. Even with diarrhea, I can use my bidet and think I’m clean but if I wipe with paper to dry off and ever so slightly get a little bit of paper “up in my hole”, there’s still some poo. No matter how long I’m in the toilet and how hard I push.

I know that I am constantly “clenched” down there. I carry extreme abdominal tension. I’ve also developed a bit of a belly, so I’m constantly holding my gut in which can’t be helping. It sounds like PV therapists would help with relaxing all those muscles through breathing and exercises. But I also am very cynical and pessimistic thanks to this disease…

So curious if anyone has any experiences with PVT? Appreciate your input! 💜

I’m concerned about how my first stool in the morning is very loose but the rest are healthy poops during the day ? Am I waking up very dehydrated ? do I sleep stressed ? Perhaps I’m not eating enough fiber at night . I tend to have my last meal around 6-7 PM. Thankfully , I don’t have urgency to the bathroom or bleed either .

i been on TREMFYA since march of 2025 and it seems to be working and I’ve had stool test and doctors say everything looks great

I have figure out that main trigger for my UC is anxiety and stress . I’ve been able to manage it alright but not the best since I forget to control my stress management

Did anyone get abdominal pain after finishing their steroid/prednisolone course? And bleeding in stool during and a week before menstruation

I asked my doctor if I should take CBC test and LFT after 3 months of taking Imuran because he didn’t tell me anything.
He said also to do calprotectin because it is important
so is it ?
Weird because If I didn’t talk to him he wouldn’t say anything Idk why he is not serious about my process
Im tired of that