Mucus in diarrhea

[mnijihc]

I just started getting a lot of visible mucus in diarrhea last night. I started pred 5 days ago now and I am just kind of curious what mucus means for me? Is this an "ah! I need to see a doctor!" scenario? Or is it a "meh, wait it out" sort of deal? It is the first time I have noticed it.

Advice?

 

[Sailorluna]

I have mentioned it to docs and they generally shrug and say something like "the intestines are a mucous membrane" and don't really do anything for it. In poking around online I believe that it is a sign of inflammation.

I don't think it is urgent, but it never hurts to call the gi.If for no other reason then to make yourself less worried.

 

[nwood10]

I've had that problem before as well. My GI Doc said it is due to inflammation.

 

[mnijihc]

The pain is worse since starting the pred 5 days ago and the pred side-effects are hell. Then the mucus appeared. I am going to just keep trucking through the pred as long as I can and then either taper myself or just tell my doctor I plan on doing that anyway and I would rather do it safely so I need her to help. I spiked a fever again today and I am afraid to take my other meds (that I am on for other things) because they don't seem to do well with the pred. If it goes bad tonight I will go to the ER.

 

[kiny]

I don't think mucus is a good sign for doctors. Healthy people have mucus too in their stool from time to time. I wouldn't worry if you don't have any pain or blood. (ok so you do have pain)

 

[Gazza]

everytime i have a flare "Crohns" i have mucus mixed with blood or without blood, my ibd specialist just shrugs it of really and if things get worse see your " GP" i am currently taking prednisolone for a flare and everytime i take pred it always calms the inflamation down and everything returns to normal....... Get well soon

 

[hainman]

hi all.i have suffered for some time now with this.the gastric nurse had me on asacol enemas and supositorys.it was mostly the mornings when i woke up i had the muccus.i would be at the toilet about 3-4 times between getting up at 7ish till 9ish...
that in itself has problems as it affects my family to as i wake and instantly need the toilet and sometimes my wife or kids are in the bathroom and its a strain on them...

 

[ndw0317]

I have UC - currently in a flare and symptoms have never been under control. I have no blood in stool...but tons of mucus. How many times are you going and what's the consistency? I have anywhere from 10-20 watery movements / day (while in flare).

Asacol 4800mg / day and Prednisone 40-30 mg / day did not get symptoms under control, so they are now switching me to Remicade this week.

Get the blood work done - I had a tons of tests done and that one that actually tipped them off was C-Reactive Protein. It was slightly elevated (ever so slightly. all other tests were normal). From that they decided to perform a colonoscopy and biopsy; conclusive from both scope video and biopsy.

Good luck and sincerest wishes that you don't have any form of IBD!

 

[mnijihc]

ndw0317 - my bathroom situation is currently like some kind of horrid pendulum that goes between constipation and extremely watery diarrhea. When I do have the watery diarrhea it is maybe 2-3 times a day at most. Then nothing for a while and there is mucus in it when I have it.

As far as tests, I have had the blood work. My CRP is 91, ESR is also elevated, low iron, low B12. CT scan showed inflammation in the TI and cecum. On pred now but it isn't helping me at all. Seeing the GI on the 6th and we will go from there. They are pretty sure it is crohn's because I am also 22, a female, I just discovered a family history of IBD stuff.

 

[Ihurt]

I am still in the midst of trying to get a dx. I am being told by my GI doc that he is sure I have IBS. I have not had tests yet except for blood tests which were normal. I have mucus in my stool as well. I was told it has nothing to do with actual inflammation, more that the intestines are just irritated or annoyed as the GI put it. At least that is what I was told..

 

[ndw0317]

ndw0317 - my bathroom situation is currently like some kind of horrid pendulum that goes between constipation and extremely watery diarrhea. When I do have the watery diarrhea it is maybe 2-3 times a day at most. Then nothing for a while and there is mucus in it when I have it.

As far as tests, I have had the blood work. My CRP is 91, ESR is also elevated, low iron, low B12. CT scan showed inflammation in the TI and cecum. On pred now but it isn't helping me at all. Seeing the GI on the 6th and we will go from there. They are pretty sure it is crohn's because I am also 22, a female, I just discovered a family history of IBD stuff.

See if you can't get in sooner. Be insistent and cry if it heps get you an appt sooner (I have no shame anymore). They were only able to definitively diagnose me with a full Colonoscopy w/ biopsy. I am 40, female, been living with this for 1 year before diagnosis. Runs in my family too: mom has UC.

Many times I have severe Tenesmus and it's horrible. Frequently accompanies a movement followed by severe cramping and 'pushing'. (Apologies for the graphics). According to the Wiki page on IBD...Tenesmus is very common for people suffering from UC than Cronh's so that's something to keep in mind.

I really hope you are able to get in soon and that they can figure out what your diagnosis is. Above all else, I really hope you start to feel better soon. This is certainly no fun and I woudn't wish it on the devil himself. :ghug:

Nicole

 

[Boltmannz]

I was having a lot mucus first thing in the morning. 18 months ago I started on Humria and since reading this thread I realized that the mucus has slowed to the stage that I don't notice it any more. I am on 15 mg methotrexate once a week and 1 humria shot every 2 weeks. It seems to be working for me.

Best of luck.

 

[AlliRuns]

I don't know if mucous means anything at all. I often have mucous in my stool and sometimes I only pass mucous, but the doctors never give me any inclination that it's abnormal. (Like a poster above I'm also in process of trying to confirm a diagnosis)