HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

No stool progress noted.......

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/27/2023 9:33 AM (GMT -5)
I am scheduled to see my Urologist on Oct. 2 and submitted another stool test kit yesterday. I have not had normal stools going on 7 weeks now.....just loose watery mush.......but the urgency factor is now back to normal with no more accidents. I am taking Xeljanz 10 mg. but again no signs of normal stools forming since starting it on Aug. 3rd. Wondering if this med is working or need to find another? Any suggestions appreciated.
Posted 9/27/2023 12:35 PM (GMT -5)
Urgency is a symptom of UC (and more disruptive to quality of life than unformed stools), so if that is better then probably xeljanz is doing something. However the question is if this is as good as it gets, or whether you will keep improving (I can't answer that). In my own xeljanz journey i turned a corner somewhere around 7 weeks in so i would say maybe don't give up just yet. Have any other symptoms changed e.g. pain? Have they tested you for c diff, and have they been monitoring your calprotectin? (As this can also be useful for tracking the progress of a flare or otherwise)
Posted 9/27/2023 12:43 PM (GMT -5)
I did another stool test yesterday and will get the results on Oct. 2......yes the urgency is not there as before Xeljanz so that is a plus factor. I have been on Xeljanz now for 7 weeks so maybe it takes longer for some than others. No pain involved.....just loose stools. I guess I was expecting to have solid stools by now.
Posted 9/27/2023 7:18 PM (GMT -5)
How many trips to the toilet every 24 hours and do you have to go in the middle of the night?
Posted 9/28/2023 4:13 AM (GMT -5)
Not in the middle of the night.....2 trips to the toilet a day....occasionally 3. No urgencies anymore just no normal stools.
Posted 9/28/2023 5:59 PM (GMT -5)
No blood, no urgency, no midnight dashes to the toilet, 1-3 bms a day -- all in all not bad at all. Depending on how bad your colon was you may never return to fully formed stools, but with more time things can still improve.
If UC is no longer interfering with your quality of life, my advice would be to stay on Xeljanz. It took me almost 2 years to get in full remission on Remicade.

You could add fiber supplements like benefiber or metamucil to try to bulk up the stools a little more.

Let us know what your doc says.
Posted 9/29/2023 2:32 PM (GMT -5)
NEW DEVELOPMENTS.....I have had normal stools for the past 2 days after being on Xeljana for 7 weeks......very interesting indeed poopydoop that you said you saw the results 7 weeks into this med as well. I sure hope this continues forward. I am much more convinced now that Xeljanz is working and I see my GI on Oct. 2 for follow-up. I summitted another stool test in advance. As to CCin PA if it takes 2 years to full remission I can handle that with the urgency factor no longer at issue now. I know there is no cure and flares happen but my quality of life is so much better now than the past 6 months, which was Hell dealing with colitis 10-12x a day/night and afraid to leave my house.

Post Edited (WayneTX) : 9/29/2023 11:35:03 AM (GMT-8)

Posted 9/29/2023 6:04 PM (GMT -5)
That's good news, Wayne! Don't get discouraged if you have some bad days. Healing is an up and down process sometimes. As long as you keep having more good days than bad you are on the right path.
Posted 9/29/2023 11:28 PM (GMT -5)
Good news indeed Wayne! Best wishes for a smooth-from-here remission!

This disease can be hell on earth and the most frustrating part can be the trial and error of finding the right remission drug for you.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply