Urgency...does it ever go away?

[Txarmywife]

I've always had problems with urgency. This awful pain that takes over and chills that tell me to find the nearest bathroom pronto. But I haven't been on any maintence meds in the 12 years since being diagnosed...so my question is is it possible for the urgency to go away? Or is it something us IBDers just learn to live with? What's your experience?

 

[shamrock15]

In my experience, it actually can dissipate and go away. Early on I had a couple dramatic examples when I started going out in a boat and fishing again. The day before and after the trip - 10+ washroom runs per day. Day of the trip? 3. No urgency. I am at a loss to explain it. I still also get times where the urgency is there. I do think that part of it is mental - worrying about getting caught in an embarrassing situation. If you have inflammation around your butt, it can certainly feel like you need to go when you really don't. And sometimes? There just really better be no one in the can when I get out of the car, because I can guarantee that stuff moves before my butt hits the seat!

 

[Jennifer]

Aren't you in a flare Txarmywife? Once its under control by whatever means, yes the urgency goes away. The only time it may not is if you have short bowel syndrome (need a lot taken out before you deal with that though).

 

[Txarmywife]

Aren't you in a flare Txarmywife? Once its under control by whatever means, yes the urgency goes away. The only time it may not is if you have short bowel syndrome (need a lot taken out before you deal with that though).

Yes I'm currently flaring. But I have urgency issues even when I'm not. I never have formed stools so I know when those awful symptoms come I have to go. I can hold it and it eventually will go away before it comes back a few minutes later. Obviously I've learned to do this particularly during college classes or outings with friends were it just wasn't possible to go. I've neer had surgeries on my intestines so I don't think I'd have the sbs. But during the course of my disease I've never been on maintence meds...just prednisone during a bad flare I couldn't deal with the symptoms. So I'm wondering if I were to go on maintence drugs (after this flare) if it's possible for the urgency to go away or am I always going to deal with this. In a flare it's debilitating. Not in a flare is just embarrassing

 

[Jennifer]

Maybe the flare never really went away (just goes from mild to severe ya know?)? Just a possibility. After your pregnancy maybe you could try some maintenance med/treatment and see if that does any good. Up to you but I think its worth a shot.

 

[Txarmywife]

I agree I'm done being stubborn about meds. The past two flares I've had have been bad enough to make me change my mindset about maintence meds I'm tired of feeling like I'm dying every time I have to go and I'm tired of missing out on life!

 

[Jennifer]

Good for you! There are a lot of different types of treatment options out there. Even David has shown me that EN http://www.crohnsforum.com/wiki/Enteral-nutrition can help almost as much if not close to medications. It's hard for me to understand what its like to be completely without meds as I've been taking them since my diagnosis 21 years ago. I've been in remission for so long with meds that I know I can push them on people sometimes but I feel like my case IS proof that meds can and do help. That doesn't mean we'll never flare again, it just means that we're more likely to have a longer remission and that's truly the main goal no matter how you go about it.

 

[Robert747]

Early on I had a couple dramatic examples when I started going out in a boat and fishing again. The day before and after the trip - 10+ washroom runs per day. Day of the trip? 3. No urgency. I am at a loss to explain it. I do think that part of it is mental - worrying about getting caught in an embarrassing situation.

So you are out and about and need to go - toilet nearby - no problem. Toilet three minutes away and you just make it with seconds to spare. My point is if the facilities were six minutes away I would still just make it with seconds to spare.

In a similar way I might be out and have an urgent need - but if something happens (meet someone or some incident) I no longer have an urgent need. I might feel fine then have a random thought that I have no idea where there are any toilets and suddenly, out of no where, I need to go urgently.

Now is this just me or does the mind have a big impact on urgency?

 

[Txarmywife]

Robert...I would say that the circumstances can Definetly play a part in it. I can control it if I have no other choice but I feel ill when I do. I get goosebumps and start sweating, feel like I may pass out. My No shame Army husband compares it to "reverse farting" as he calls it.

 

[2thFairy]

I've only had urgency during a flare, even with a mild flare. I had a flare that lasted 3 years nonstop and the urgency was really bad. I feel for you!

 

[Robert747]

Thanks - I have often thought about this and why I cannot 'control' my mind better in these situations. Maybe hypnosis is worth a try?

 

[Robert747]

Hey 2th Fairy - where did you come from!

 

[2thFairy]

I just sprouted up. Ha!