Community Forum

I am 24 and have been living with ulcerative colitis for six years in counting.  This disease makes me feel so helpless and I really need some encouragement because I would like to get pregnant next year.  I am not sure if I should wait any longer to get pregnant or not because I heard waiting longer, UC usually worsens. How can one have a healthy pregnancy or even get excited about getting pregnany when you go to the bathroom 5-10 times daily, blood in stool, cramps in stomach, diarrhea, and mucous-that is enough to make some one worry and stress out.  If anyone has experience this issues with UC and pregnancy at the same time, please reach out and let me know how things went for you as well as some advice.

Thanks,

 Reply posted for SGN.

Hi SGN!  I am 25 and have had Crohn's for 9 years.  My husband and I have had difficulty w/ getting pregnant.  I see you have been through 2 pregnancies.  Can you tell me if there were any long term side effects your body has suffered from going through pregnancy/child birth??  I am worried a/b hemrroids effecting me even after pregnancy.  I already struggle with them.  I have contemplated if adoption is a better option for me, mostly because of what pregnancy will do to my body.  I'd love any insight you can give me!

Thanks,

Emily

 Reply posted for SGN.

I was taking Asacol, but was recently switched over to Lialda which is some new medicine.  Lialda works and then sometimes it does not work.  I was thinking about taking some fish oil tablets to see if that helps any.  Do you have any particular diet that you stick to?  I appreciate the information on pregnancy and ulcerative colitis/CD because this helps make me more knowledgeable.  Just curious, when you have UC/CD and are pregnant, is the pregnancy considered as high risk?

 Reply posted for durango18.

I was on asacol at the time (no llialda back then), just a maintenance dose. I was not actively experiencing symptoms either of the times I got pregnant, but your symptoms are just what I experience when i flare up. (I was first diagnosed in college and am now 41). My first pregnancy caused a bad flare, lots of diarrhea, blood and mucus. I was on 12 Asacol a day to try to bring it under control. Between the morning sickness and the CD, sometimes I didn't know which end to hit the toilet with first! With my second pregnancy, again, no symptoms going in to the pregnancy, and no symptoms thoughout the pregnancy and for almost 7 years after. I have recently had my first bad flare up in many years. So the good news is that you won't feel like this forever and there's every reason to expect you can get pregnant and have a healthy baby. But first, you really need to get this flare under control before you consider getting pregnant. What are you taking?

 Reply posted for SGN.

One more question SGN-did you have these symptons when you were pregnant?

using the bathroom 5-10 times daily, blood in stool, cramps in stomach, diarrhea, and mucous?  If yes, did you get somewhat nervous?

 Reply posted for SGN.

I need to stop thinking so negatively and not let this ulcerative colitis take control over me.  I haven't even started trying to conceive so I need to calm down and relax.  I plan to wait until next year to make sure our financial situation is better and once I have graduated from college.  When the time comes I will make sure my condition is under control.  Right now I am currently taking Lialda (4 pills per day).  What meds were you taking during your pregnancy?  Were you considered high risk since you had Chrohn's?  I have heard that pregnancy sometimes back UC or Chrohn's better-was that the case with you? 

 Reply posted for durango18.

Hi,

I have had crohn's for over 20 years and have had 2  pregnancies both resulting in healthy babies. The first pregnancy really kicked up the crohn's, but it subsided after the birth. The second pregnancy seemed to put me in remission, which lasted over 6 years. So from my experience, it's possible that pregnancy may make the situation better or worse. I guess my best advice would be to get it as well under control as possible before getting pregnant to up your odds, and to find out if the meds you are taking are safe during pregnancy. Hope this helps, and good luck!

 Reply posted for ny11570.

I am on medication for UC-I currently take Lialda which are 4 horse pills which are taken at one time.  For a few months they work and then sometimes I have a flare up.  I am going to pray and pray real hard that this UC goes away and I am a firm believer that I will be healed oneday.  So when are you planning to get prego?      Just make sure you are in remission and everything should be A ok

 Reply posted for durango18.

Hey-

Think of a fistula as a canal. or a track.  You can have then externally or internally. I have 2 one external and one internal.  The one internal is a track that one end is connected to my small intestine and the other end is in my rectum.  Then my external one begins in my colon and is externally shown perianally (sorry to be gross).  Now, thankfully the external one is not active and very small or else i could have stool coming out of it (GROSS).  The internal one is like an expressway for my food.  Some food decides to go down the fistula and thats why i have to go to the bathroom within 15 minutes of eating and the rest of the food goes the normal way through my small into my large intestine and out.  They are very common for people with crohn's, lucky for you, I dont think they are as common for uc!!

Hopefully this 6mp that I will be starting in the next couple of weeks will help the fistulas and my crohn's.  Hope my explanation helps.  So, you are not on any meds for uc???

Krissy

 Reply posted for ny11570.

I hear so much about fistulas-what is that? Please explain

 Reply posted for ny11570.

I think a second opinion is always best, I am going to another gastro next month and hopefully he has some insight to help better my situation.  I am on Lialda and it works for awhile and then flare up. I have been hearing about 6mp, but really never knew what it was.  Is 6mp pills? How often do you take them?  Well as far as my health, thank God I have not been hospitalized nor have I had to take off any days from work, I am an executive assistant and my job doesn't require me to be away from a restroom.  I always wanted to be a teacher, but when I realized I had UC, I figured it was no way I could do it.  I really want to get pregnant and have a healthy child so I am going to wait until I am in remission and then try to conceive.  I think next year would be a good time, I don't want to rush into it-ya know.  Please keep me posted on your well-being.

 Reply posted for durango18.

hey-

the funny thing is that i have been on pentasa  and the gastro that i was with for 5 years told me that all of my syptoms were normal.  Then i decided to leaave that gastro for insurance reasons and i meet this new doc, who was shocked that i have been living with these symptoms for so long.  They also found two fistulas.  It has been a very upsetting month.  My husband and I were going to try over the fall to get pregnant but my doc has advised me to let the 6mp get me into remission.  If that med works for my body. 

how is your daily life? Are you able to work? I am a teacher so thankfully I have the summer off! Thanks for your prayers. You will be in mine!

Krissy

 Reply posted for ny11570.

Krissy,

So is your body not in the best shape right now?  Its amazing how your body will do all sorts of things, just last month, I was doing well and then boom a flare up.  So when are you thinking about trying to get pregnant? 

Stay in touch and keep me posted.  I will be praying for the both of us.

 Reply posted for durango18.

Hey--

I have had crohn's disease for the past 11 years.  I recently switched docs and they found on tests that were done, that my disease has worsened.  So, they have reccommended me to go on 6mp, which can also work for uc.  I am 29 years old and have been married for 2 years.  I am in the same boat as you with my symptoms, minus the blood in my stool.  I also would like to get pregnant within a couple of years, although the docs have STRONGLY advised me that i have to get my body in good shape before i could have a healthy preganacy n baby.  I would strongly recccommend you ask your docs about 6mp.  One doc that i went to for a second opinion said you could get pregnant and remain on this 6mp medication. 

Hope this helpa!

Krissy