Mainly Morning Problems, Plz Help

[srackar007]

Does anyone have colitis problems that are much stronger at the beginning of the day, and then subside as the day goes on? Has one studied this problem? Does anyone know what might cause it? I very much need to know, mainly if this happens to anyone with microscopic colitis.

srackar007

[tex]

Hi, and welcome to our group.

That happens to most patients with MC, (if they haven't yet been able to get their symptoms under control). Some individuals, however, continue to have diarrhea, (D), later in the day, and even at night. Morning episodes are almost always the most severe, however.

It is speculated that the predominance of morning episodes is due to inactivity of the body during the night, which results in a build up of antibodies and toxins. In it's inflamed state, as soon as you become active, the colon feels the urgent need to purge itself.

Many MCers who are actively reacting, also tend to have D immediately after, (or even during), meals.

Are you aware that there are ways to control your symptoms? Most of us here are following a plan which controls our symptoms, and we're able to lead normal lives. As long as we stick to our program, we remain in remission. Most GI docs are not very successful in treating MC patients, so we've been forced to compare notes, and find our own solutions.

Again, welcome aboard.

Tex

[bobh]

Does anyone have colitis problems that are much stronger at the beginning of the day, and then subside as the day goes on?

Yep. That was pretty much a daily thing for 15 years before I recently started Entocort. It was "fireworks in the morning". I could have sold tickets.

Welcome to the group, the time you spend here will be the best investment you ever made.

[harvest_table]

Does anyone have colitis problems that are much stronger at the beginning of the day, and then subside as the day goes on? Has one studied this problem? Does anyone know what might cause it? I very much need to know, mainly if this happens to anyone with microscopic colitis.

Yes, I used to have that problem especially in the mornings. Thanks Tex for explaining the reasons for that.

There are alot of members of this group living symptom free with MC, including myself that are eagar to help you so be sure to read the forums and ask questions. The more we MC'rs share with each other the more we learn about this disease. Glad you found us and hang in there!

Joanna from Alaska

[srackar007]

I am taking asacol and chlordiazepoxide/clidinium in the mornings and later of needed. Is there something better I don't know about? I don't recall if I have lymphoidal or collagenous MC.

Tex, thanks for the welcome. I think I'll stick around on this forum for a while. I still have a lot to learn. I just started trying a gluten free/casein free diet now to see what happens.

Is there any research that anyone knows of that backs up the observation that people get stronger symptoms in the morning?

[MaggieRedwings]

Welcome to the group. Everyone has said mornings are the worse and I certainly agree. Through diet - combination of GF & Paleo - I have been able to really eliminate the daily D other than the a.m. which for me is really rough and sometimes the evenings. Please do stick around and diet is a great way to "manage" this disease.

Maggie

[JJ]

Welcome to the group! I am taking Entocort, but yes. most D came in the morning when I got up. When things were really bad, I would even be up in the middle of the night...take care...JJ

[starfire]

I guess I'm the oddball. I was diagnosed quickly and put on med right at the beginning so I don't have a lot of "history" to go by, but my worst times were usually in the evening/night, although once I ended up in emergency {early on} in the afternoon.

Perhaps if I had not been diagnosed and treated so quickly I might have settled into mostly morning problems. I certainly don't know. Frankly, I think it mostly depended on when I started eating again after an episode. I usually stuck with chicken broth for a day afterward. Eat again the next day. Have another episode after so many hours.


Also, 007

Shirley

[tex]

It doesn't matter which form of MC you were diagnosed with, they are interchangeable, and the treatment is the same. If you are strict with the diet, you will find that it will probably work wonders for you.

Some members here who have tried Asacol have not had good results. Some found that it made their symptoms worse, and others found that if their symptoms improved, and they subsequently stopped using Asacol, then when their symptoms returned, the Asacol would no longer provide relief for them.

I had to look up chlordiazepoxide/clidinium, since I was not familiar with it. It appears to be a tranquilizer for the gut and bladder, so it is probably mostly prescribed for IBS patients. While it may help to minimize some of the spasms in your gut, I doubt that it will actually provide any significant help for the MC.

Colozal is a similar product that some people have success with. In general though, most people here who have had the most consistent success at controlling their symptoms in the long term, have either used diet alone, or Entocort, or a combination of diet with a maintenance dose of Entocort.

If you should choose to treat your symptoms with Prednisone, be sure to stop taking the chlordiazepoxide/clidinium first. I don't see Entocort on the list of contraindicated meds, but I would suspect that the same precaution would apply if you begin using it, since it works very similarly to Prednisone, except that it is not a systemic, it works only in the distal small intestine, (the illeum), and the colon, (it's a much "safer" drug than Prednisone, with far, far fewer adverse side effects).

I've never come across any research data on why D symptoms are most pronounced in the mornings, since that's sort of a no-brainer. It happens to almost everyone with MC, (though there are always exceptions to every rule), and it's also true for victims of the other IBDs, (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases). It's so prominent, that I doubt that anyone has seen any reason to research it. It's sort of a given. For example, here's a topic on a Crohn's-colitis support board posted by an individual with UC, (Ulcerative Colitis):

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.supp ... 164c315f32

Tex

[bobh]

Is there any research that anyone knows of that backs up the observation that people get stronger symptoms in the morning?

I think most humans have bowel movements early in the day. I am talking about people that DON'T have colitis.

I used do Surveillance of Work Comp Fraud, and would have to get up early in the morning to "follow" someone who said they were not able to work, as they went off to their "under the table" job. I used to talk to others who did that line of work, and the common statement was that the investigators tended to have a BM after they had been awake, within 30 minutes or so. For our job, it was relevant. You didn't want to have to leave to find a bathroom when you were on a "stake out".

Again, those in our group without colitis would "normally" have a BM before leaving for work. Those of us with colitis may also have a BM before leaving for work - but rather than have a colon that felt like it was "done", you may have recurring episodes of "needing to go" till noon or so. After that, it would often clear up for me, at least for several hours, till the food made it's way down the track.

IMHO, someone with colitis is not able to retain waste material in the colon. the body is supposed to be extracting water from the waste material, and you end up with a formed stool. With colitis, the opposite is happening, the intestine is inflamed, and may be secreting extra water into the bowels, thus you get Diarrhea, and the inflammatory condition gives you the "right NOW" urgency to go.

As Tex said, it's normal for all of this to happen in the morning. I agree with him.

[mle_ii]

Yep, morning time is normally the worst. And even when I'm ok I have a BM pretty much every morning like clockwork.

One other thing that might cause a morning BM is Cortisol which is higher in the mornings. Though I'm not sure about this I would assume it to be the case.

[artteacher]

I thought I would share the reason I came up with (mine is predominantly am bm's [that's funny . . am bm's} also, except when it was especially bad, then it became all day, and waking me up during the night, too)

Since I was pretty good about following a diet or eating sparingly during the day, only to fall off the wagon at dinner and especially after dinner, PLUS the fact that my digestive turnaround time is 30 hours EQUALS morning diarrhea and urgency. VOILA!

Please read my book recommendation

Love, Marsha

[Liz]

I used to have the main problem with frequent BM's in the morning, although they would mostly continue all day & often into the night. Since I had the operation in 2004 it has gone from constantly, most of the day & night to spasmodic. I may go for a day or so OK & then a flareup, usually starting afternoon & continuing into the night. This sometimes last for days before it settles down again for a period. I am not taking Prednisone or Entocort anymore, just Lomotil, up to 8 per day when necessary. Also take Gastrostop. This usually allows me to have a fairly normal life at the moment although there are times when it gets a bit much. Had to cancel little New Year soirée with some neighbours as it started in the early afternoon of New Years Eve & was still going through the following night.

[annie oakley]

Hi and Welcome! I started with Asacol in 2001 and Last April went into remission without meds, and keeping the old fingers crossed are still there in remission. My worst times were In the Morning as well, cramps were worst then also. Love Oma

[Peggy]

Welcome a'board srackar007,

I agree with Bob in that I think it's pretty normal for almost everyone (colitis or not) to have bms in the morning. My D is at it's worst in the mornings, although when I'm flaring up it can happen all day long

None of us have exactly the same symptoms, react the same to diets, or react the same to medications. I guess if we all did it would make it a little easier to find a cure. But we can share what has worked for us and give you some options. The diet works great for some, while different meds seem to help others. My choice has been Asacol and at times short-term use of Entocort. I don't diet, but I do keep away from any foods that make me gassy. I've had times (like now) where my CC flares up really badly and nothing helps.

Stick around, ask questions, we're all here to help each other.

Peggy
dx'd with CC 2003